Preventing Decay While Wearing Braces

Having braces can present some new challenges when it comes to oral hygiene. Preventing tooth decay can be a big challenge simply because of the tendency for braces to trap food under the wires and between the teeth and the brackets. Here are a few tips to keep your teeth healthy while wearing your braces:

1. Eat Braces-Safe Foods
Keeping your teeth from decay starts with a proper diet. Foods that are high in sugar or starch can cause more plaque which is difficult to remove during your brushing. There are certain foods that should be avoided while wearing your braces. First, sticky foods like caramel or gum can get stuck in your braces and be difficult to remove during brushing. Next, hard foods such as nuts and candy could bend wires or even break a bracket. Foods that are firm or hard to bite into like apples, carrots, or corn on the cob should be avoided. As much as we like to snack on them, those crunchy treats can harm your braces. Things like chips, ice, popcorn can also bend or break your braces. On the other hand, bananas, mangoes, milk, water, poultry, and pasta all tend to be low in enamel-busting acids.

2. Proper Brushing
You want to place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums in order to clean the whole tooth, and brush gently in the area between the wiring and the teeth. Use a softer toothbrush with fluoride paste for best results. Rinsing every day will help, too. Rinsing is important regardless, but especially important when you have braces as you need to disinfect the entire mouth, including those spots under the braces where your brush can't always reach.

3. Ask About Special Cleaning Tools
There are also special brushes, or other tools, to get under and clean your braces. You can also find many of these items at your local pharmacy.

4. Regular Teeth Cleaning
It's important to keep your routine appointments with your dentist and dental hygienist for a thorough cleaning twice a year or as directed. The exact frequency of these visits will be up to your dentist as some types of braces are more demanding of a regular cleaning than others.
As long as you practice good oral hygiene and follow these basic tips, you should have no problem keeping your teeth from decaying while you wear braces.

When Should My Child See an Orthodontist?

Orthodontic treatments vary from dental treatment, in that they primarily address malocclusions, jaw spacing and tooth alignment, rather than the actual health of the teeth. That is why it is often more difficult for parents to determine when a child needs orthodontic treatment than dental treatment. So how can you know it is time to take your child to the orthodontist?
• Bad Bite - As the adult teeth begin to replace primary teeth, bite occlusions can develop. These often become visible to parents between middle childhood and the pre-teen years, although an orthodontist can identify a bad bite with early evaluation.
• Visible Tooth Crowding - If your child's newly emerging teeth are already crowded, you should make an appointment with our office to discuss braces.
• Tooth Grinding (Bruxism) - Children who grind their teeth at night may do so unconsciously, but the condition requires treatment to prevent the development of headaches, TMJ, and tooth damage. Oral appliances are available to correct nighttime tooth grinding.
• Difficulty Chewing, Biting, or Speaking - If your child is displaying difficulty speaking or eating, or if he or she often experiences cheek biting, schedule an orthodontic consultation.
• Asymmetry - If your child's face is asymmetrical, or if his or her teeth do not meet together in a natural way, orthodontic treatment may be necessary.
Evaluation and Preventive Care
Even if your child has no visible tooth or jaw alignment problems, the American Association of Orthodontics recommends that every child visit the orthodontist for an initial examination no later than age seven. The reason for early evaluation is because orthodontists are capable of finding subtle problems with the jaw and teeth growth and spacing before they become more pronounced and also more difficult to treat. By bringing your child in for an evaluation, you may be able to treat orthodontic conditions with shorter and more simplified treatments that are also more affordable than treatment during the teenage and adult years.

The benefits of a beautiful smile

We know that having an attractive smile puts a spring in your step—or two—as well as increases your self-confidence, no matter if you’re 14 or in your late forties. Smiling not only makes people happy and puts them in a good mood, doing it often can even help you live longer, according to previous studies!

If you’ve been hiding your smile because you have crooked teeth or gaps between your teeth, it’s time to consider orthodontic treatment at our practice. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn how quickly and efficiently today’s most advanced correction techniques can straighten your smile!

Don’t hide your smile any longer — give us a call today to schedule yours or your child’s orthodontic consultation.

Love your smile? Tell the world all about it!

At Cottingham Orthodontics, we are dedicated to helping you achieve a healthy beautiful smile that gives you the comfort and confidence you deserve! Dr. Karen Cottingham and our staff are committed to making your orthodontic experience a positive one.

Whether you've visited our Indianapolis or Avon offices for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office is faring! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice with the rest of the world, but we encourage you to head to our Google Places page and write a review there.

If you wish, you may also review Dr. Cottingham and team on our Yelp page.

Thank you in advance, and we hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend! We look forward to reading your reviews!

"Celebration of Caring" Fundraising Gala

Last Friday, Dr. Cottingham attended the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St.Vincent "Celebration of Caring" Fundraising Gala on March 4th. In its fourth year, the event helped benefit programs and services at Peyton Manning's Children's Hospital at St. Vincent here in Indianapolis.

Check out more photos from the event on Dr. Cottingham's official Facebook page!

Cottingham Orthodontics, dispelling the myths about braces

Trust us when we say Dr. Cottingham knows there are a lot of myths and half-truths floating around these days when it comes to orthodontics. But, before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts first!

Our good friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts of orthodontics, and we encourage you to check them out before settling for rumors about braces!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment at Cottingham Orthodontics, feel free to give us a call!

Here comes the Braces Brigade!

At Cottingham Orthodontics, we know our patients want to get as much out of their treatment as possible. That includes asking a lot of questions and making sure they take care of both their appliances and oral health.

Would you like to learn more about what to expect during orthodontic treatment, from someone with firsthand experience? Well, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recently developed the Braces Brigade blog, where past, present, as well as future orthodontic patients from coast to coast document their (or their child’s) orthodontic journeys. Check out this week’s post from Whitney!

Our team at Cottingham Orthodontics encourages you to visit the Braces Brigade blog to read these great and informative blogs—who knows, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two! As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call at our Indianapolis or Avon office if you have any questions about the Braces Brigade or your own orthodontic treatment with Dr. Cottingham!

Make 2011 the year to improve your oral health, from Cottingham Orthodontics

Many of our patients and folks here in Indianapolis consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2011? Dr. Karen Cottingham and our team recommend that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It’s important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum disease during your orthodontic treatment? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities while you’re wearing braces. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

Be sure to give us a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health, or visit this helpful article from our friends at the Academy of General Dentistry. After all, we know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

If your resolution is to attain a great-looking smile, we’d love to help! Please contact Cottingham Orthodontics at (317) 202-1873 and schedule your initial consultation. We look forward to working with you, your family and all of your wonderful smiles!

Happy New Year from all of us at Cottingham Orthodontics!

Happy New Year from Cottingham Orthodontics!

The 2010 holiday season is upon us, and our team at Cottingham Orthodontics would like to wish all our patients and their families the merriest of holidays and best wishes for the New Year.

We thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2011? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year, from Dr. Cottingham and all of us at Cottingham Orthodontics!

What puts you at ease at Cottingham Orthodontics?

Dr. Karen Cottingham and team understand not everyone is always thrilled about visiting their orthodontist. But here at Cottingham Orthodontics, we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We are not only a doctor and orthodontic team—we are also parents, patients, and people with needs and concerns just like you. We understand what you expect from us, and we are dedicated to helping you achieve a lifetime of healthy, beautiful smiles!

Today, we’d like to know: What is it about Cottingham Orthodontics that makes you comfortable or puts you or your child at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our courteous and experienced staff? Dr. Cottingham herself?

Let us know by posting on Facebook or by giving us a call!

Staying connected with Dr. Cottingham

At Cottingham Orthodontics, we embrace technology, whether it’s through the innovative orthodontic treatments Dr. Cottingham offers, our interactive website, or our Facebook fan page. As you can probably tell, we love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our fan page. For social media to work, however, we understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks are hugely popular these days, we know they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While we take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Please post your thoughts on Facebook or give us a call!

What are happy patients saying about Cottingham Orthodontics lately?

At Cottingham Orthodontics, we are always happy to receive testimonials and feedback from past and current patients who are in love with their smiles! Check out what some of them are saying about our office!

“I love her staff, especially the ladies at the front desk.” ~ Michelle W.

“Dr. Cottingham is very nice, and always complements my braces!” ~ Nuri M.

“Her personality.” ~ Daniel G.

“Everything is very convenient and the staff is so professional.” ~ Sebastian H.

“I feel the office is helping me like I am a human, not just a number.” ~ Julie E.

“Her great personality & the way she works with the children.” ~ James K.

“Dr. Cottingham is simply awesome and she has such a friendly, professional and very knowledgeable staff assisting her!! I have always experienced great service.” ~ Randy R.

If you’re IN LOVE with your smile, we want to hear from you! Please send us your feedback about your experience on our Google Places page or on our Facebook page! Your generous testimonials help us build more beautiful smiles in Indianapolis, Avon and surrounding communities!

Lastly, our Evening with the Stars gala was a big success that raised $385,000! One lucky fan went home with a package that includes dinner for 8 with Dallas Clark and his wife, Karen. Dr. Cottingham and her husband, Gene, enjoyed the event with four of her referring dentists and their spouses. For photos from the gala, head to our Facebook page!

What's going on at Cottingham Orthodontics?

This week, Dr. Karen Cottingham and our team thought we'd give you a quick update about our office! Most schools started recently here in Indiana, and our staff delivered baskets of travel-sized hand sanitizers to area school teachers to promote good health and hygiene.

And, football season is right around the corner (Sunday, as a matter of fact). As always, we will be cheering on the Colts this season, and this week, as the Colts open their regular season on the road against division opponent Houston. Look for our staff to wear our Colts jerseys in support of the team. We wear them on Thursdays, unless the team is playing on Monday. Go Colts!!!

When should you call Cottingham Orthodontics?

Great question! Our good friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. Karen Cottingham. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us at either our Indianapolis or Avon office this fall:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth

6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give us a call as soon as possible! Have a wonderful and relaxing Labor Day weekend!!

Dr. Cottingham wants to know: Do you know where your retainer is?

If you’ve recently completed treatment at Cottingham Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you again! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Karen Cottingham will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After your braces come off, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Cottingham is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are a few things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until Dr. Cottingham instructs otherwise. Wearing your retainers at night ensures that your pearly whites won’t relapse.

* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)

* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.

* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.

* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.

* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).

We hope this helps! You can always give us a call if you have any questions!

August featured patient reviews for Dr. Cottingham!

Dr. Karen Cottingham recently received a few nice reviews from past patients, and thought we thought we'd share them today! We are always happy to receive testimonials from our patients who are in love with their smile! Have a great weekend everyone!

“Dr. Cottingham was very sweet and wanted to help with every problem I had. The staff is wonderful and made sure I was comfortable the whole time.”

"Everyone at the office is very nice and easy to talk to."

"Always on time."

“Dr. Cottingham is great, the best in the business! Very easy to work with and quick to get you in. They have payment plans … and are very professional and understanding with everything they do! They have two offices and are a sure bet for anyone living on the Westside!”

Thanks for writing in! If you'd like to be featured in September, please send us your feedback about your experience at Cottingham Orthodontics! Or, feel free to post your reviews on our Google Places page or on Yelp!

The importance of regular checkups, from Dr. Cottingham

Our staff at Cottingham Orthodontics want to know: Are you brushing your teeth twice a day during your orthodontic treatment? If yes, that’s what we want to hear! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist every six months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting our office, of course). An oral checkup is vital for maintaining good oral health for kids with and without braces.

Your general dentist can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth during your treatment.

During an oral exam, the dentist can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, let Dr. Cottingham or one of our staff members know during your next visit with us, and we will provide a few great references in the greater Indianapolis area!

Summer plans?

Summer is only halfway through, which means another seven weeks of vacations, adventures and great memories are ahead of us. Whether you’re headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, hitting the open road with family, watching the Colts practice or just having fun in the sun, Dr. Karen Cottingham and our staff want to hear all about it! We encourage you to leave a comment on our Facebook fan page and tell us about your summer adventures!

We also encourage you to post any photos from your summer to our Facebook wall!

Happy (and safe) travels,

The Cottingham Orthodontics team

Dr. Cottingham, helping you save face this summer

With summer 2010 in full swing, Dr. Karen Cottingham would like to remind all our athletes in treatment to be extra careful when out on the field. After all, most mouth and facial injuries occur during the summer months.

If you'll be playing sports this summer, it's important that you consult Dr. Cottingham for special precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard. Mouth guards are advised for playing spring sports such as baseball, soccer, rugby, lacrosse and many more.

In case of any accident involving your face, we want you to check your mouth and appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances are damaged, please schedule an appointment to see your general dentist or Dr. Cottingham immediately. And don’t forget to ask us at your next scheduled appointment—Dr. Cottingham will be more than happy to provide a proper mouth guard for any patient in treatment!

Our staff at Cottingham Orthodontics will tell you that only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries this summer. Please give us a call at our convenient offices in Indianapolis or Avon if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at our office.

We hope you’re having a great summer!

Welcome, Dr. Mitchell!

Indianapolis orthodontist Dr. Karen Cottingham routinely invites new orthodontists from around the region into her practice to allow them the opportunity to see an established practice in action. It helps the new orthodontist understand how a practice operates and how staff members interact with patients. It also gives them the chance to ask questions and seek advice from an experienced orthodontist. Dr. Cottingham is proud to have another orthodontist—Dr. Morgan Mitchell from Prospect, Kentucky—observe her practice in action next week.

Dr. Cottingham enjoys having others observe her practice, such as high school students looking to fulfill career day requirements. Many times, these students have an interest in dentistry or orthodontics and want to learn more about it. On many occasions, these students are patients of Dr. Cottingham. She has also had college students and dental students in her practice, as well as anyone interested in specializing in the ever-exciting world of orthodontics.

We look forward to seeing Dr. Mitchell! If you’re in for an appointment next week, be sure to say hi to her!

If you have thought about observing a caring, lighthearted and smart practice at work, we invite you to join us for day. Please give us a call for more information!