{"id":484,"date":"2015-06-30T02:06:14","date_gmt":"2015-06-30T06:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woowangdental.com\/blog\/?p=484"},"modified":"2019-08-28T02:10:50","modified_gmt":"2019-08-28T06:10:50","slug":"dwight-howard-a-bright-nba-star-with-a-smile-to-match","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woowangdental.com\/blog\/dwight-howard-a-bright-nba-star-with-a-smile-to-match\/","title":{"rendered":"Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Have you started orthodontic treatment recently? Are you having a little trouble getting used to your braces? If so, you are not alone: Everybody goes through an adjustment period during which they momentarily wonder if they\u2019ll really ever get used to this. Don\u2019t worry \u2014 you will! And we\u2019ve never heard anyone say, on the day their braces come off and their new smile is revealed, that they aren\u2019t glad they went the distance. Just ask Houston Rockets all-star center Dwight Howard, who discussed his own orthodontic treatment in a recent interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/woowangdental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Screen-Shot-2019-08-28-at-2.07.51-PM.png\" alt=\"Dwight Howard\" class=\"wp-image-487\" width=\"349\" height=\"339\"\/><figcaption><br><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m sure I was no different than anyone else who has ever had braces,\u201d he told <em>Mediaplanet<\/em>. \u201cAt first I hated them so much\u2026 That changed once I got used to them and I actually grew to love them.\u201d What\u2019s Howard\u2019s advice? \u201cDo exactly what your orthodontist says and know that the outcome is well worth it in the end.\u201d We couldn\u2019t agree more! Here are some tips for wearing braces comfortably:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Hard &amp; Chewy Foods:<\/strong> If you love fresh fruits and vegetables, that\u2019s great; there\u2019s no reason to give them up, just the really hard ones. You don\u2019t want to bite into an apple or carrot or any other hard foods like bagels and pizza that have any \u201csize\u201d to them. Small pieces may be ok as long as they can\u2019t bend your wires. Chewy, sticky candy should really be avoided completely. Same with soda, sports drinks and so-called energy drinks because they contain acids that promote tooth decay and can cause a lot of damage around the braces.<\/li><li><strong>Effective Oral Hygiene:<\/strong> Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever, but also more challenging than ever. It\u2019s easy for food to get stuck under wires and around brackets, but failing to remove it can cause tooth decay, gum irritation and soreness. Therefore, the cleaner your teeth and your braces are, the healthier you will be. Use interdental cleaning brushes and\/or a floss-threader to get behind your wires. A mouthrinse can also help strengthen teeth and keep bacteria in check. If you have any questions about how to clean between your teeth, please ask for a demonstration at your next visit.<\/li><li><strong>Pain Relief:<\/strong> Some soreness at the beginning of orthodontic treatment is normal. To relieve it, you can use an over-the-counter pain reliever and\/or a warm washcloth or heating pad placed on the outside of the jaw. If brackets or wires are rubbing against the inside of your cheeks or lips, try applying wax to these areas of your braces. If this does not offer enough relief, we may be able to trim the end of a poking wire. Call us if you need help with this.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Our goal is to make your orthodontic treatment as comfortable as possible on the way to achieving your all-star smile. If you have questions about adjusting to braces, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mybestdentalcare.com\/contact.html\">contact us<\/a> or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mybestdentalcare.com\/appointment.html\">schedule an appointment<\/a> for a consultation. You can learn more by reading the <em>Dear Doctor<\/em> magazine article \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.deardoctor.com\/library\/51938\/?&amp;issue=issue23&amp;startid=46\">Caring for Teeth During Orthodontic Treatment<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you started orthodontic treatment recently? Are you having a little trouble getting used to your braces? If so, you are not alone: Everybody goes through an adjustment period during which they momentarily wonder if they\u2019ll really ever get used &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/woowangdental.com\/blog\/dwight-howard-a-bright-nba-star-with-a-smile-to-match\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.13 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Have you started orthodontic treatment recently? Are you having a little trouble getting used to your braces? 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