Braces can be a big change, especially as an adult. You've lived your entire life without them, creating daily habits that didn't include caring for something attached to your teeth. It can be a bit challenging getting used to them, as well as learning to care for your teeth while they're on. But it's also well worth it. One challenge adults with braces can face is going to work with them. Below you'll find five tips for going back to work with braces that will help you adjust to your new day-to-day schedule. 

1. Create a Braces Care Kit:You can't stop caring for your braces just because you're at work. Bringing a braces care kit to work with you is a great way to ensure that you have everything you need to keep your teeth clean and healthy while you're at work. Braces can trap food, so bring a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss in order to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Use this kit to clean your teeth after your lunch break or snack. You may also want to pack some pain relievers for the first few days after you get your braces put on. Also remember to bring some dental wax to put on your braces and chapstick or vaseline in case your lips get dry. This care kit is small, easy to pack and store, and it'll come in handy. 
At your fitting visit we will supply you with everything you need.

2. Bring a Water Bottle: Bring a water bottle or visit a vending machine for a few throughout the day. Drinking plenty of water is always a good idea for your overall health, but drinking water can also help rinse away food particles and keep you from reaching for drinks you should stay away from. 

3. Be Mindful of What You Eat: During the days immediately after getting your braces put on, you want to stick to soft foods like scrambled eggs, pasta, or smoothies. After that, you should still avoid hard foods, sticky foods, sugar, and foods you have to bite into. It's very helpful to bring lunch from home. This way you have more control over what you eat, and you can cut your food into more manageable sized pieces. It might not sound like fun, packing a lunch if you're not used to it, but it'll be worth it. However, if you don't want to do that, you should find a place that serves appropriate food and make it your new delicious go-to lunch spot until your braces are removed. 

4. Keep Things Away From Your Mouth: If you're a nervous chewer, you'll need to break the habit. If your job requires you to keep a lot of pens or pencils lying around, make sure they never enter your mouth. You must resist the urge to chew on them or your fingernails. Chewing on hard objects can potentially damage your braces, which may lead to repairs or extra visits. 

5. Smile, and be Confident: Sure, your smile isn't perfect yet, but that's no reason to hide your pearly whites. Don't be ashamed of your braces. You should be proud of them. You're making a change and bettering yourself, and there is absolutely no shame in that. Plus, one of the great things is that the wire in your braces are the color of your teeth and brackets are clear, so they're barely visible. It's not like you're smiling with a bunch of shiny, silver metal brackets in your mouth. 
Use these helpful tips to adjust to work-life with braces, and pretty soon it'll become second nature.

Diabetes and your Oral Health
Most health experts say that Ireland is facing a huge increase in the number of people with diabetes.
Studies have also shown  that a majority of gum disease sufferers were found to be at high risk of developing diabetes.The researchers found that individuals with elevated levels of periodontal disease were nearly twice as likely to become diabetic within 20 years, even after adjusting for age, smoking, obesity and diet.
Diabetic patients with poor blood sugar level control are likely to have gum disease more frequently and also in a much more severe manner.
Good oral hygiene is KEY for patients with diabetes as gingivitis (the early stage of gum disease) can be treated and reversed. However if left untreated, periodontitis (the advanced stage) can occur which in turn may lead to bone loss(foundation around tooth) and tooth loss.

What can you do?
Diabetic patients need to pay much more attention to their oral health and ensure a visit to us every six months for a full dental health check and a thorough cleaning of your teeth. You should also inform us if you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes and ask for advice on keeping your mouth healthy.

Mouth ulcers are painful, clearly defined, round or oval sores that form in the mouth. They are sometimes also known as aphthous ulcers.
Types of mouth ulcer
The main types of mouth ulcer:

• Minor ulcers are the most common type, accounting for 80% of all cases. They are small (2-8mm in diameter) and usually heal naturally, within 10-14 days. A minor ulcer will not cause any scarring.
• Major ulcers are deeper and larger than minor ulcers, and usually have a raised or irregular border. They are usually 1cm or more in diameter. Major ulcers take longer to heal (several weeks) and can cause scarring.

How common are mouth ulcers?
Mouth ulcers are very common. Most people will have at least one during their lifetime. They affect at least 20% of the population. Studies have shown that mouth ulcers are more common in women.
Mouth ulcers are more common in young adults.

About mouth ulcers
Mouth ulcers are easily identifiable by their appearance. A mouth ulcer will be:

• round or oval in shape
• white, yellow or grey in colour
• inflamed around the edge

Most mouth ulcers usually occur on:

• the inside of the lips
• the inside of the cheeks
• the floor of the mouth
• the under surface of the tongue
• Occasionally they can occur on roof of the mouth

A mouth ulcer can cause pain and discomfort, particularly when eating, drinking or brushing your teeth.
Most mouth ulcers only last 10 to 14 days, although they may last for several weeks in more severe cases.

Causes of mouth ulcers
Most minor, single mouth ulcers are caused by damage to the mouth. For example, you may damage the inside of your mouth by accidentally biting the inside of your cheek while you are eating. Mouth damage can also occur from using a toothbrush incorrectly, or from a sharp tooth or filling.
Recurrent mouth ulcersThe cause of recurrent (returning) mouth ulcers is often unknown. However, a number of factors may increase your chances of getting recurrent ulcers. These are listed below.

• Stress and anxiety
• Oral trauma, such as excessive tooth brushing, or chewing sharp or hard foods.
• Hormonal changes: some women develop mouth ulcers during their period. This is due to changes in the hormone levels in your body during your menstrual cycle.

Eating certain foods can also increases your likelihood of developing mouth ulcers. Foods that have been identified as increasing the risk of mouth ulcers include:

• chocolate
• coffee
• peanuts
• almonds
• strawberries
• cheese
• tomatoes
• wheat flour

Around 40% of people who have recurrent mouth ulcers have a family history of the condition. 

Underlying conditionsIf you have recurrent mouth ulcers, they may be caused by an underlying medical condition, such as those outlined below.

• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Iron deficiency
• Coeliac disease
• Crohn's disease
• Reactive arthritis
• Immunodeficiency

MedicationOccasionally, mouth ulcers are caused by a reaction to a medicine that you are taking. 

Arrange a dental visit 
 If you have a mouth ulcer that is causing significant pain, or if you are getting mouth ulcers on a recurrent basis. Also visit  if your mouth ulcer has lasted for more than three weeks.

Treating Mouth ulcers
Self-careIf you have a mild mouth ulcer, there is some self-care advice that you can follow, which may help your ulcer to heal more quickly. You should:

• use a soft toothbrush when brushing your teeth
• Apply kin care gel or corsodyl gel which are available at the practice
• avoid eating hard foods
• avoid eating foods that have been known to cause ulcers in the past, until the ulcer has completely healed
• reduce your stress levels by doing an activity that you find relaxing, such as yoga, meditation or exercise

If your ulcer has a specific cause, such as a sharp tooth, it will usually heal naturally once the cause has been treated. If you suspect that a sharp tooth has caused an ulcer, make a dental appointment so that we can repair it.

MedicationIf your ulcer is causing you significant pain and discomfort, we can prescribe a medication to help ease your symptoms.

Blood Test
You may need to attend your GP to have a blood test if you are having frequent recurrences of mouth ulcers.

K loves her smile now. After K  cracked her front tooth she choose a dental implant as the foundation for her new front tooth. After she had the broken fragment of her front tooth removed, she had dental grafting and a dental implant placed. She had a temporary front tooth for a few months while everything settled in and her new front crown was attached to her dental implant today.