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Hello from Chan & Chen Orthodontics. We hope your July is getting off to a great start. As of May 25, 2020, our office is re-open and we are ready to see you!

Before your next appointment, there are a few new implementations to be aware of. We will have a pre-appointment questionnaire to be filled out before you arrive at our office. Please use the restroom and brush your teeth at home before coming to your appointment (our restrooms and toothbrushing station are temporarily closed). All forms, paperwork, and payments can be completed online, please let us know if you need any help. Remember to wear your mask!

Once you arrive, please call or text us when you arrive in the parking lot, and we will let you know when we are ready to have you come upstairs. Enter through the main entrance facing North Main St. We ask that patients come up to the appointment unaccompanied whenever possible. Upon entering our office, your temperature will be taken and then we will take you directly to the treatment area for your procedure. After your appointment is finished, please go down the side stairwell that exits the side door of the building facing Pearson St. For follow-up after your appointment, we will call or text you to provide updates and schedule your next appointment. We thank you for helping us make this process as smooth and comfortable as possible.

Also, please be aware that we have restructured our schedule in order to adjust our capacity. First morning appointments will be prioritized for patients with higher risks. We will continue to offer virtual appointments, especially for appliance, aligner, retainer checkups, dental development checkups, and consultations.

Need some advice on how to keep your smile healthy and happy? We recommend brushing after each meal and flossing before bed. You should brush your teeth for approximately 2 minutes, 2-3 times a day, and floss at least once a day (preferably at night to get any remaining food particles out of your teeth!). Your diet can affect your smile just as much as oral care! Make sure to eat foods that are low in sugar and acid.

Stay safe and healthy everyone! We look forward to seeing you soon!

“Yes,” you’re thinking, “I shouldn’t be chewing sugary, sticky gum while I’m wearing my braces.” Or perhaps, “I should check with my orthodontist to see if this sugar-free gum is safe for my braces.” And these are both great thoughts—but today, we’re thinking about gums of a different sort!

While you’ve been taking care of your teeth with regular brushing and flossing, you’ve also been taking care of your gums. And now that you’re wearing braces, your gums need a bit of special attention to keep them their healthiest.

We tend to think of gum disease as an adult problem. In fact, periodontitis, or serious gum disease, is one of the most common chronic infections in the adult population. But young gums need care, too! Gingivitis, a milder form of gum disease, is unfortunately a common problem for both children and adults.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused by the build-up of plaque and tartar. When plaque builds up, it irritates delicate gum tissue. And while gingivitis is not as serious as periodontitis, the symptoms caused by this disease are nothing to smile about:

• Redness
• Tenderness and soreness
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Bad Breath

If you’re already feeling a little tender or swollen after an adjustment, the added discomfort caused by gingivitis is the last thing you want. But even worse, neglected gingivitis can lead to more serious infections of gum and even bone tissue. Luckily, gingivitis is both preventable and treatable with proper dental care.

So, how to protect your gums? We have some suggestions.

• Brushing Better with Braces

It can be hard to brush around your brackets and wires, but keeping these areas free of food particles and plaque makes for healthy gums—and fewer cavities! There are specially designed manual toothbrushes made for braces wearers, and tiny interproximal brushes that can reach tight spaces. Or, perhaps an electric toothbrush will do a better job for you. Just be sure to brush after each meal for the most complete removal of bacteria and plaque.

• Learn New Flossing Techniques

You might wonder how on earth you’ll get in between your teeth with your wires and brackets in the way. We have the answers! We know the best techniques for flossing your specific braces, and we’ll recommend specially designed flossing tools to make the job easier. Water flossers can also be a great help for cleaning in tight spots. Be sure to make flossing part of your daily routine—you’ll be able to remove plaque from places brushing just can’t reach.

• Rinsing? Recommended.

Talk to Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen about the best dental rinses for reducing plaque and tartar, or how gargling can help prevent irritation. And drink water! Water helps wash away plaque and bacteria, and is a great way to rinse teeth and braces if you absolutely can’t brush after eating.

• Keep up with Professional Cleanings

Be sure to keep up with your regular dental exams and cleanings. Your dentist or hygienist will be able to remove any plaque or tartar build up that home brushing can’t handle.

We want your time in braces to be as healthy—and comfortable—as possible. If you have any gum discomfort, swelling, or sensitivity, give our Andover office a call. With prompt action, gingivitis can be treated, and with careful attention to your cleaning routine, gingivitis can be prevented altogether. Something to think about!

Happy Independence Day from Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen and team! The Fourth of July celebrations in America may have changed a lot over the years, but there is no doubt that we Americans love to celebrate the anniversary of our country's independence! Today we're devoting the Chan & Chen Orthodontics blog to some fun facts about the Fourth!

• My, how we have grown! This year the United States Census Bureau estimates that our country has 313.9 million residents celebrating the Fourth of July this year, but back in 1776 there were just 2.5 million members of the country.
• Our country loves to show how proud that we are of our independence. Did you know that there are 31 United States places with the word “Liberty” in their names? The state of Iowa actually has four towns with the word Liberty in the name: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty, and West Liberty.
• The United States loves Fourth of July food! It is expected that around 150 million hot dogs are eaten on the Fourth each year. One of the Fourth's most popular sides, potato salad, goes just perfectly with the hotdogs and hamburgers that are standard Fourth of July fare. Some people choose potato chips instead, but we wouldn't have such a plethora of potatoes if not for the prodigious production of the states of Idaho and Washington -- they provide about half of all the potatoes in the United States today!
• Americans love celebrating the Fourth outdoors: About 74 million Americans fire up their BBQ grill every Fourth of July.
• The Chinese contribution: Did you know that Americans have spent more than $211 million on fireworks that were imported from China?

No matter how your family chooses to celebrate the Fourth, stay safe, take precautions, and don't forget to brush after your fabulous Fourth feast!

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. Please check back often for weekly updates on fun and exciting events happening at our office, important and interesting information about orthodontics and the dental industry, and the latest news about our practice.

Feel free to leave a comment or question for our doctors and staff - we hope this will be a valuable resource for our patients, their families, and friends!