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The year is almost over and you probably have a list of wishes that you want to see come true in 2023.

It would be wonderful to not only take care of your overall health, but also take into account your mouth to always wear a smile on your face. And if you don't like the way your teeth look, make it a goal to get orthodontic treatment.

There are a variety of treatments to straighten teeth. From metal braces to in-office aligners, with the best technology on the market. Dr. Salas will tell you in your consultation what would be the ideal treatment for you since each case is different and therefore, the type of braces to use and the time it to takes to straighten teeth is also different.

Those who have completed their orthodontic treatments can attest to how beautiful it is to see the before and after of their teeth and, of course, how proud they are to have made their teeth a priority.

Don't neglect yourself at Christmas. Teeth should be taken care of even during the breaks we have this time of year. It is very tasty to eat the Christmas dishes and desserts that are prepared to celebrate that the year is ending, that a new year is about to begin, and that it is time to get together and share with our loved ones and friends to express gratitude and tell them how much we love them.

The routine of brushing your teeth changes a little, especially if you have braces. That is why Dr. Anna Salas advises you that better hygiene will be your best defense.

And of course, lower your sugar intake, avoid snacking on food during the day and drinking carbonated beverages as all this can cause tooth decay and put your orthodontic treatment at risk and/or delay it. Remember that very hard foods, in addition to loosening the wire or detaching braces, can split or crack a tooth or molar.

Some people believe that chewing gum helps clean teeth if you do not have enough time for a dental cleaning at home. This is a mistake, since it is sticky and can stick to the braces and even pull them off.

To conclude, Dr. Anna salas and her team wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2023 and remember that you are never too old for a new smile. The best is yet to come.

When a patient begins orthodontic treatment they usually have many doubts and among them is what to eat with braces, as it can be complicated, no matter whether you are a child or an adult.

Like any dental treatment, when you begin orthodontic treatment it is necessary to protect the teeth and eat the foods that Dr. Anna Salas indicates, so that the whole process is more bearable and is fulfilled in the agreed period.

What is clear is that the idea is not to eliminate certain foods from the regular diet, although there are certain restrictions. In most cases, it is simply a change in the way of cooking and eating food that is required, not avoiding them completely.

The simplest thing to do is to list a list of foods that are recommended and others that should be avoided.

Among the restricted foods are those that are hard, such as toasted bread, certain vegetables (it is preferable to sauté them instead of raw), pizza edges (it is better to chop them into small pieces), popcorn, nuts, hard candies, among others, since eating them exerts force, twists or bends the dental arch and detaches the braces. The same happens with ice. You can suck it, but never bite it.

In order to make the process easier for you and not have the anguish of braves falling off, a soft smooth diet will avoid overtaxing the oral structures, so we recommend that you purée your foods, eat soups, broths, yogurts, compotes or ripe fruits, boiled eggs, steamed fish.

These foods will help you maintain a balanced diet without subjecting your teeth to excessive stress.

As for non-edible products. It is important to emphasize that you should avoid biting on pens or other objects, or using your teeth to cut or open a container. Teeth are only for cutting, chewing, tearing, crushing, grinding and are not a substitute for scissors, a hammer, etc.

Don't forget to adopt good dental hygiene so that your treatment goes as planned.

Patients beginning orthodontic treatment are given a lot of emphasis on hygiene both at home and deep cleaning with their dentist during the process.

Yes, just as you read. Braces do not represent any impediment to remove tartar from the teeth and although many people believe that it is not possible, on the contrary, it is done every 6 months to prevent complications or diseases such as gingivitis and tooth decay.

And when you have braces, it is difficult for the toothbrush to reach some areas and although people are much more consistent in their cleaning, they should still follow the advice given by Dr. Anna Salas regarding professional cleaning to show off a healthy and beautiful smile with braces.

It should be noted that to ensure maximum cleaning of the mouth and remove any tartar (causing inflammation of the gums), resin stains, coffee, among others this professional cleaning is done with ultrasound which is an electrical device that combines vibration with a jet of pressurized water. It is simple and painless, so you can do it with confidence.

For this procedure, it is only necessary to remove the rubber bands and wires. The pressure exerted with the water should not be too strong so that the braces do not come off. This is usually done on one of the days when the patient has adjustments in orthodontic treatment.

Once the cleaning is completed, the orthodontist will replace the wires and rubber bands. If the patient has excellent control and hygiene of her teeth, this procedure should not take more than half an hour.

Only dentists or hygienist are trained to perform this type of check-up, which is essential for the correct application of the treatment.

And just as this cleaning is important, oral care at home is also essential.

It is necessary to put into practice the steps that Dr. Anna Salas taught you to follow when brushing your teeth. Do it when getting up and going to bed, and after every meal and snack.

Many patients wonder why it is necessary to wear retainers permanently after orthodontic treatment is completed. The answer is simple: teeth have a natural tendency to move. So it is advisable to prevent this from happening and to maintain the position of the teeth achieved with braces.

How can you keep your teeth perfectly aligned for years? The best ally is the retainer (which is used in the retention phase, once the orthodontic treatment has been completed). Do you know what it is?

It is an oral appliance, which can be removable or fixed, to prevent the teeth from moving back to their initial position after orthodontic treatment. The idea is to "stop" any movement. This is usually made of plastic and metal and is either removable or a fixed wire attached to the teeth.

It is important that as a patient you follow the instructions of Dr. Anna Salas, to maintain the excellent results achieved with orthodontics.

There is a high percentage of patients who neglect their teeth once the orthodontic treatment is finished. And why does this happen? Simply because they forget to wear their retainers or don't like to be seen wearing them (when they are removable).

At first, these removable appliances will be worn for a couple of months for 24 hours, only to be removed for eating and then only at night. They must be cared for, so it is necessary to store them when they are removed and to wash them often.

It is important to emphasize that it is the patient's responsibility to keep the teeth in their final position and not let them go back to the initial position of the orthodontic treatment. One must be aware of how indispensable it is to use retainers.

In the case of fixed retainers, the situation is simpler as they are a thin sheet of wire that is placed from fang to fang, both in the upper and lower teeth. The cement used does not damage the enamel of the teeth, it is only so that they do not come off. They are aesthetic, are not noticeable and are comfortable. They don’t create sores or wounds. Best of all, they don’t interfere with speech!

And to top it off, a semi-annual or annual visit with Dr. Salas, is the ideal care to continue wearing a proud smile.