Our Blog

Mouthguards Matter! The American Association of Orthodontics has teamed up with Shock Doctor to stress the importance of wearing mouthguards, especially during braces. Orofacial injury rates in non-mandated sports are as high as 38%, so help protect those teeth! If you wear braces, select a mouthguard specifically designed for braces. Choose an Insta-Fit style which requires no boiling or fitting and adapts as braces are adjusted and teeth move. Dr. Hughes now carries Shock Doctor mouthguards at the office. Make sure to ask about them at your next visit!

Dr. Hughes and the entire staff at Lakewood Park Orthodontics believe that creating a beautiful smile should be a fun and joyful experience! Our theme days are an exciting way we create a fun environment for our patients and their families.
Theme days are celebrated at our office every month. Many times the theme days are coordinated with holidays and current events. We encourage our patients to participate in the theme days by dressing up with us and taking silly pictures in exchange for ‘wooden nickels’. (Wooden nickels are tokens that patients earn during treatment that can be traded for cool prizes).

Recent themes have included St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Pajama Day, Ugly Sweater Day, Chicken Dance Day and Red Sox Opening Day (just to name a few). No matter what the theme we are always willing to dress a little wacky to encourage our patients to have fun and feel like a part of our family during their time at Lakewood Park Orthodontics.

Do you have a great idea for our next theme day? Comment below or let us know at your next appointment and we may use your suggestion for our next theme day!

Dr.Hughes and the team at Lakewood Park Orthodontics know that keeping your teeth clean during orthodontic treatment can be a difficult task –especially when it comes to flossing. Weaving floss behind wires and brackets can be a challenge. This leads many of our patients to ask about the benefits of a water pick and whether or not it could replace flossing.

Some of our patients use a water pick to flush out food and bacteria stuck between their teeth and brackets. The water pick can reach places where floss simply cannot. Water picks are gentle on braces and on gums. They are less likely to cause bleeding for people with sensitive gums. People suffering from gum disease will find water picks effective in their ability to flush out bacteria from inside deep pockets.
Water picks have many benefits, but they are not an effective substitute for flossing. Water picks are not able to remove plaque from the teeth the way floss can. Water picks can rinse some of the sticky bacteria away but floss actually scrapes the bacteria off of the teeth. Although water picks are not a good enough tool on their own they can be used in combination with flossing and brushing to keep your pearly whites clean and healthy.

If you have any questions or concerns about water picks or your oral hygiene routine we encourage you to ask below or call our office.

Want straight teeth, but not willing to do the "braces thing"? Consider Invisalign! More than 25% of our practice is composed of adults, so it's never too late to have the smile you dreamed of! Call us today for your complimentary Invisalign consultation and check out our website for more information