A narrow palate can cause tooth overcrowding, crossbite, and even breathing problems. It’s something that should be addressed as soon as possible, because it’s easier to treat in children than adults. That’s because the two bones that make up the roof of the mouth don’t fuse together until the mid-teen years, which means they can be spread apart more easily. But it’s not impossible for adults. A certain type of palate expander (sometimes called a palatal expander) can fix the problem.  Freeman Orthodontics knows all about palate expanders, including the maxillary skeletal expanders (MSE ..read more

Wearing braces during your treatment at Freeman Orthodontics can present some challenges when it comes to eating. Some foods may be difficult to remove from your brackets. Others could loosen those brackets or even break a wire.  So what can you eat safely with braces? Lots of things! While you have some food restrictions, there aren’t as many as you might think. The best part is these restrictions are TEMPORARY.  Once your braces come off, you can go back to eating these foods if you choose. However, many of the no-no foods aren’t that great for you (aka “junk food”), so you may f ..read more

The phrase  “buck teeth” refers to an overbite, usually a deep bite, where the upper front teeth protrude forward and sometimes even show through the lips. Some patients with a deep overbite feel self-conscious about their smile. At Freeman Orthodontics, we want you to be proud of your smile. Braces – Before and After Buck Teeth We often treat buck teeth to help our patients get the smile they’ve always wanted. Hide your smile no longer! The difference we see in our patients with buck teeth before and after braces is often astounding. They’re more confident and excited to show off their ..read more

It is rare for gums to bleed while flossing, but it does happen. They may even hurt a bit. Often, this happens because you’ve either flossed too hard or because you haven’t flossed in a long time. If there is pain while flossing, there are things you can do to ease that pain. But that pain could also be a signal of something more serious. Here are some tips to ease the pain during and after flossing. Be Gentle While Flossing Perhaps the most obvious way to combat gum soreness and bleeding after flossing is to be gentle. Over-aggressive flossing can hurt! If you are too rough with your gums dur ..read more

Most parents will tell you that it’s not a fun time when your toddler is teething. Parents breathe a sigh of relief when those adorable little baby teeth are finally out. As their child moves into their 2s and 3s, they may notice that their baby’s lower teeth are sitting forward of their upper teeth. Is a baby underbite in a 1-year-old normal? Will your toddler outgrow their underbite? Is an underbite in a 3-year-old cause for concern?  In rare cases, a child can outgrow an early underbite. Most of the time, however, that child will need orthodontic care to fix their underbite before it ..read more

After months of treatment with braces or clear aligners, you’re finally ready to show off that beautiful new smile! You may think you’re done with orthodontics, but you still have an important step — wearing your retainers! Your new retainers will keep your teeth in place while your jaw sets and your teeth stop trying to move. You’ll need to wear them almost constantly during the first few months, and you’ll need to keep them clean.  Freeman Orthodontics provides retainers as part of your orthodontic treatment. Your retainers are made to last for years, but only if you care for them pro ..read more

We’ve seen a lot of wild suggestions and trends out there when it comes to whitening teeth. Some are OK, such as ADA-approved whitening strips and professional whitening. Others may not be as good for your teeth as you think. In fact, they could be damaging to your teeth. Charcoal toothpaste is one such trend. Many believe it can whiten your teeth when used regularly, but in reality, It can actually damage your teeth.  Freeman Orthodontics is passionate about perfecting your teeth. We want you to have a smile you’ll be proud to show off. We know that, for many, that means having a white ..read more

The team at Freeman Orthodontics will tell you it’s never too late to get the smile of your dreams. We have many adult patients who come in wanting to get braces or clear aligner treatment to create the smile they’ve always wanted. But a few patients may be apprehensive about treatment because of a pregnancy. We all know pregnancy causes many changes in a woman’s body, and women have to be extra cautious about their health. They wonder, can you get braces while pregnant? Is it safe?  It is possible to get braces treatment while pregnant. However, there are several things to take into con ..read more

Are you tongue-tied? Usually, people hear that phrase and think it just means you can’t get certain words to come out. In a way, that’s related to what we think of when we hear “tongue-tied” because our version can affect your speech. But tongue-ties are a real thing, and they can affect more than just speech. They can also pull your gums away from your teeth and allow your teeth to move out of place. Tongue-ties in adults can cause more issues than you may realize. Freeman Orthodontics has seen the results of too-tight tongue-ties in both children and adults. Tongue-ties are often repaired i ..read more

Braces are a great thing to have because they bring about beautiful smiles! On occasion, though, they can be a bit of a pain — specifically, when a wire or bracket is poking you in the cheek or tongue. Ouch! Luckily, orthodontists offer a great tool to reduce or eliminate that pain. It’s dental wax.  We know what you’re thinking. Wax for braces? Like the stuff you find in candles? No, it’s not like candle wax. Dental wax — also called braces wax — is specially formulated just for use with braces. It’s designed to be non-toxic and easy to apply. It has several uses for patients with brace ..read more