Uneven Jaw

If you have an uneven jaw, you may have some difficulty or pain associated with eating, sleeping, talking, or even breathing. In some cases, an uneven jaw can be treated with physical therapy, braces, retainers, but in severe cases, oral surgery may be necessary. We at Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics want to make sure that our patients live a pain-free life. Dr. Wong specializes in orthodontic treatment and can assess the severity of an uneven jaw, and recommend a course of action.

Signs that you may have an uneven jaw:

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  Temple pain

  
  


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  Jaw joint pain

  
  


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  Jaw clicking

  
  


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  Tight jaw

  
  


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  Shoulder or back pain

  
  


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  Popping in the ear

  
  

 

Some causes of an uneven jaw include jaw trauma, birth defects or teeth misalignment. For temporary relief, ice or an over-the-counter pain reliever can be used. But if you are experiencing extreme pain in your jaw, it is recommended that you see your dentist as soon as possible. Though most cases of uneven jaw can be treated with dental appliances or exercises, surgery may be required.

 

 Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics is located at 15614 S Harlem Ave. in Orland Park, IL 60462. To schedule a checkup or for more information, please visit drcynthiawong.com or call 708-444-8341.

 

 

Bruxism and Night Guards

Night guards are placed in the mouth as a sort of “cushion” during sleep to prevent someone from grinding and gnashing their teeth together, though some patients do this consciously during the day. Also called bruxism, grinding your teeth damages enamel, wears down teeth, causes jaw pain and can irritate your gums. If you think you are grinding your teeth, contact Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics to see what you can do to stop it. 

Severe bruxism can lead to tension-type headaches and disorders in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), where a clicking noise can be heard when you open and close your mouth. Bruxism has also been seen in quite a few children. According to WebMD, “approximately 15% to 33% of children grind their teeth.”

There are several factors that increase the chances of grinding your teeth:

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  Stress and anxiety

  
  


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  Age (though common in children, bruxism goes away by adulthood)

  
  


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  Aggressive or competitive personality type

  
  


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  Psychiatric medications

  
  


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  Smoking tobacco

  
  


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  Consuming caffeine and alcohol

  
  


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  Family history of bruxism

  
  


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  Other disorders such as Parkinson's, dementia, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), epilepsy, night terrors, sleep apnea and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

  
  

Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics is located at 15614 S Harlem Ave. in Orland Park, IL 60462. For more information on night guards or bruxism, or to make an appointment, please visit drcynthiawong.com or call 708-444-8341.

 

 

Hygiene During Orthodontic Treatment

Oral hygiene is already important when it comes to a healthy mouth, but it’s even more important when the mouth is going through orthodontic treatment. There are more nooks and crannies when brackets are placed on the teeth, where food can be trapped and turn into plaque. Since Dr. Cynthia Wong specializes in orthodontic care, she takes pride in educating her patients about the importance of an at-home oral hygiene regimen. 

Patients with braces are at an increased risk for early stages of tooth decay and gingivitis if proper oral hygiene isn’t used. Dr. Wong recommends brushing your teeth with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, as well as flossing, two to three times a day. You should be brushing in and around each bracket and wire, brushing in a circular motion where the gums and teeth meet, and brushing in a back and forth motion for the tops of molars.

Other things to consider during orthodontic treatment:

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  Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Sugary foods and drinks erode enamel and make the teeth more susceptible to tooth decay, especially if you aren’t brushing properly or regularly.

  
  


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  Certain foods can loosen, break or bend wires. To limit stress on your braces, avoid eating hard or sticky foods.

  
  

Remember, broken or bent braces means more appointments and a lengthier treatment time! Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics is located at 15614 S Harlem Ave. in Orland Park, IL 60462. For more information on braces or orthodontic care, or to make an appointment, please visit drcynthiawong.com or call 708-444-8341.

 

Orthodontic Safety and Youth Sports

The fall sports season will soon be underway, which means now is the time for athletes to get fitted for mouthguards. As one of the south suburbs’ trusted orthodontic specialists, we at the Orland Park office of Dr. Cynthia Wong are especially concerned about children’s dental safety. It is vital for our patients to understand which mouthguard option will best preserve their orthodontic progress.

An Invisalign aligner is not a mouthguard, and patients will need to remove their aligner or retainer before putting a mouthguard in. Although mouthguards should be made of sturdy material, they should not cause obstructed breathing when fitted properly. The one-size-fits-all models available from athletic retailers are better than using no protection at all, but orthodontic patients may prefer boil-and-bite models. These oral appliances can be reshaped after each orthodontic check-up, allowing them to keep pace with the changes in a patient’s teeth’s position. They can also be shaped to accommodate traditional braces.

Student athletic associations generally require participants to have gotten their mouthguards refitted recently, and sports such as wrestling require participants with fixed braces to wear mouthguards on their upper and lower teeth. Like aligners and retainers, mouthguards and their cases need to be cleaned after each use. Cleaning instructions will vary by model, but unlike dentures and retainers, mouthguards and their containers should be kept dry to prevent the growth of pathogens.

Cynthia Wong, DMD, operates at 15614 S Harlem #B, Orland Park, Illinois, 60462. To contact her office, call 708-444-8341 or visit Dr. Cynthia Wong and send a message.