Our Blog

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends to:
Play it safe!

Wear a mouth guard at every practice and every game!! Mouth guards and other types of protective gear can prevent or reduce injuries that happen during organized and recreational sports.

Mouth guards offer protection by absorbing high-impact energy from potentially traumatic blows.

Mouth Guard Care

• Keep your mouth guard clean - rinse before and after each use
• Store in a perforated container to let your mouth guard dry out
• Avoid chewing on the mouth guard
• Don't wear removable retainers with your mouth guard
• Replace your mouth guard when it shows signs of wear

Wish you could wrap your kids in bubble wrap to protect them?

True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur, we are here to assist you. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment with our office.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you get in to see us.

The following solutions may help you relieve your discomfort:

Poking Wire: Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.

Loose Bracket or Band: If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket with a tissue.

Loose Wire: Using tweezers, try to place your wire back into place. If doing this and using wax does not help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it.

Loose Appliance: If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part of your appliance.

Headgear Does Not Fit: Sometimes headgear discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by your orthodontist. Please refer to the instructions provided by your orthodontist. If the facebow is bent, please call our office for assistance. Surprisingly, headgear becomes more comfortable the more it's worn, so be sure you’re getting in the prescribed hours.

General Soreness: When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or what you would normally take for headache or similar pain.

Remember, after alleviating your discomfort, it is still very important that you call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem.

• Laconia: (603) 524-7404
• Plymouth: (603) 536-7404
• Littleton: (603) 444-7403

Each February the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces. Other options for braces such as Invisalign, which is removable, make it easier for kids to maintain good oral health during orthodontic treatment.

If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Alan Kennell and his team are available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing are some of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited us lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!

With 2021 in our rearview and 2022 under our feet, we're moving forward from one of the most challenging years we've had to face. Although we faced many obstacles throughout the year of 2021 we did have a lot to celebrate as well.

In 2021 the Kennell Ortho team was able to:

• Have a week long patient appreciation Ice cream social
• Celebrate the birthdays of team members and patients
• Give out awesome prizes for some fun rewards contests
• Celebrate the work anniversaries of our wonderful employees
• Celebrate Boss' Day
• Help with a food drive for our local Boys and Girls Club (2 months in a row)
• Enjoy a Christmas party with our team
• Had a world-renowned coach and consultant Rosemary Bray visit our office

Oh..And snacks we survived on LOTS of snacks!!!

We are truly blessed to do what we love every day, and to be able to do it with the best team and group of patients is honestly the greatest blessing!

We look forward to making many more memories with you in 2022!

Happy New Year!!!

-The Kennell Ortho Team