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Activated charcoal seems to be everywhere you look these days. Drink it in a smoothie, lather it on your face, or even use it to brush your teeth. The popularity of charcoal toothpaste specifically has increased as it has gained attention across the internet. But is this internet miracle product really all it’s cracked up to be when it comes to getting and maintaining a whiter smile? Mack Orthodontics is committed to providing you with the best info on your dental/oral health and we’re here to dive into this topic and answer your questions.

Ever wished that you could improve your smile, but are unsure of which orthodontic treatment to choose? It can be difficult to select the best path to straighter teeth and a better smile; however, our Mack Orthodontics talented doctors and team are here to help ease the confusion about selection and will assist in any way possible to aide in choosing between our various types of treatment. One kind of braces that are becoming increasing popular is ceramic braces.

If you’ve ever considered using braces to straighten your teeth, you’re most likely familiar with direct-to-consumer orthodontic treatment options, such as SmileDirectClub. These companies have exploded in popularity recently—boasting their affordability and less fuss involved. However, not all aspects of direct-to-consumer treatment are good. There are strong, unwavering benefits to completing orthodontic treatment with a certified and experienced orthodontist vs. getting the quick fix of straight-to-order aligners. Here are some things you should consider before clicking “purchase” on a smile kit.

A bright white smile can be the key to your confidence. If you are someone that suffers from stained or discolored teeth, there's no need to worry, the experts at Mack Orthodontics are here to help!

It’s the New Year, which means plenty of New Year’s resolutions. This 2019 make one of your resolutions to keep your teeth straight by properly using your retainer!

Can you believe 2019 is coming? That means another year full of activities, social events, and adventure in general. So, whether it’s for yourself or for your child, it may be time to invest in a plan to straighten your teeth. But should you pick braces or opt for Invisalign? At Mack Orthodontics in Bettendorf, Eldridge, and Maquoketa, we offer both Invisalign and traditional braces as great options to straighten teeth. By considering your individual teeth, goals, and preferences, we can help you choose which option is right for you.

Having braces or Invisalign takes a bit of getting used to at first, and a lot of care. You may heed all directions from your orthodontist and still experience minor aches and soreness, which is completely normal. There may come a time however, although rare, that you may actually experience an orthodontic emergency. But how do you know when it’s just regular pain or an emergency? Continue below to read a summary of some common orthodontic problems, learn if they’re emergencies or not, and discover how to treat them.

Teeth crowding is one of a handful of very common orthodontic problems that people experience. Tooth extraction is the usual method for dealing with this issue. However, in some cases you can avoid extraction, and crowded teeth can be fixed with a procedure called interproximal reduction or slenderizing.

Usually, when people hear the word “braces,” they associate it with kids and teenagers. In fact, one of the most common questions we receive is: “Can adults get braces too?” And the answer is absolutely; it’s never too late! Here at Mack Orthodontics, we offer a wide range of dental and orthodontic treatments for patients of all ages in Bettendorf, Eldridge, and Maquoketa, as well as other surrounding communities.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is essential for tooth development and the prevention of tooth decay. Most of us have access to fluoride in our drinking water; however, it may not be a sufficient amount. That's one reason why we may recommend a fluoride supplement and/or the use of toothpastes and other dental products that contain this important mineral.

Summertime is in full swing and everyone knows that with the summer season comes the time off to travel. However, when you have braces, there is no time off from them -- even when you’re on vacation. That’s why our orthodontics team has taken the time to put together a brief guide for our Bettendorf, Eldridge, and Maquoketa patients of things to do and not do when you’re traveling with braces.

Invisalign is a great option for orthodontic treatment. The clear aligners are practically invisible, they’re removable, and best of all, you can eat any foods that you want. However, to get the most out of your experience with Invisalign, you have to take good care of your clear aligners and make sure you clean them properly. The Mack Orthodontics team has created a comprehensive list of the biggest do’s and don’ts when it comes to taking care of and cleaning your Invisalign clear aligners.

Your third molars are more commonly called "wisdom teeth." Usually appearing in the late teens or early twenties, wisdom teeth often lack the proper space in the jaw to erupt fully or even at all. This common condition is called impaction.

Mack Orthodontics is committed to bringing you the latest in orthodontic treatment, technologies, and information. We utilize our blog as a means to help our patients understand vital orthodontic treatment, oral, and dental topics. This month, we would like to highlight a great piece from the American Association of Orthodontists that debunks and explains seven myths about orthodontic treatment. Read the piece in full on our blog below, or view it here on the AAO website:

It’s never too late to begin orthodontic treatment. But when it comes to your child’s teeth, earlier is better than later. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an initial screening at age seven to determine if early orthodontic treatment is right for your child. In most cases, if orthodontic work is not needed, our orthodontists will simply monitor your child’s growth patterns until the best time for treatment is determined.

Sometimes braces alone aren't enough to move teeth into a better position, or correct a problematic bite or misaligned jaw growth. In those situations, one of our practice’s trusted orthodontists may recommend the use of special appliances, such as orthodontic headgear. Orthodontic headgear is worn partly outside the mouth and applies just enough force to move the teeth properly and guide your face and jaw growth.

Most people don’t associate teeth with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). However, a 2012 study revealed that many children who are diagnosed with ADHD don’t really have the condition. Rather, their behavioral problems are actually due to sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD), such as sleep apnea.

Just because your child won't keep his or her first set of teeth forever, doesn't mean those tiny pearly whites don't need conscientious care. Primary teeth (baby teeth) serve some extremely important functions. As your local Bettendorf, Maquoketa, and Eldridge orthodontics team, we believe maintaining your child's dental health from an early age will lead to health benefits that last throughout adulthood.

Braces can create a beautiful, straight smile for you. Mack Orthodontics offers many orthodontic treatment options, such as ceramic braces. Ceramic braces are a newer system of braces that provide the same service as traditional braces; however, they allow you to straighten your teeth in a much less noticeable way. At Mack Orthodontics, we can provide ceramic braces to patients at our three locations: Bettendorf, Maquoketa, and Eldridge, IA. Learn more today!

When you finish your orthodontic treatment, you are excited to be free of the appliances you’ve had to put up with—brackets, wires, aligners, and so on. However, while it is certainly important to revel in the freedom of your new smile, equally important is taking the necessary action to retain it. And that comes down to one word — retainers.

We all want a healthy, beautiful smile, but dental care goes beyond just helping teeth look good. At Mack Orthodontics, we're proud to provide expert, high-quality orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages throughout the Bettendorf, Maquoketa, and Eldridge, IA areas. We believe everyone deserves a smile they feel proud of, and our trusted orthodontist Dr. Mack and his highly trained staff work with you to customize a comprehensive treatment plan that meets the needs of your lifestyle.

Everybody gets dry mouth now and then. Sometimes temporary mouth dryness can be brought on by dehydration, stress, or a normal reduction in saliva flow at night. However, if your dry mouth persists long past the norm, you may have a chronic condition known as xerostomia.

Everybody gets dry mouth now and then. Sometimes temporary mouth dryness can be brought on by dehydration, stress, or a normal reduction in saliva flow at night. However, if your dry mouth persists long past the norm, you may have a chronic condition known as xerostomia

We all know that a healthy, balanced diet is critical to overall health; but did you know that diet has a huge impact on teeth? You may not realize it, but certain foods can contribute to developing tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease, while others can reinforce the integrity of your teeth and help you maintain a beautiful, healthy smile.

At Mack Orthodontics, we understand that you’ll have to go through some lifestyle changes when first acclimating to wearing braces. That’s why when deciding on pursuing orthodontic treatment it is important to choose an orthodontist that will go out of the way to assist you.

Fall is here, which means school stadiums all across Iowa are bustling with the sports of the season. And we at Mack Orthodontics are excited to be cheering them on. From football to field hockey, patients of our Bettendorf and Maquoketa, IA offices are busy partaking in fun sports, and we couldn’t be prouder. Of course, as we root for your victory, we’d be remiss if we didn’t remind you about wearing your mouth guard.

At Mack Orthodontics, we're passionate about helping our patients achieve healthy, beautiful smiles. As such, we're constantly working to make treatment more convenient and more effective for our patients. While traditional metal braces are still the most popular form of treatment we offer at our Bettendorf, Maquoketa, and Eldridge offices, there's a revolutionary alternative that's helping more and more people achieve a beautiful smile without the need for metalwork: Invisalign!

Today, orthodontic treatment is a normal part of life. Whether you go for more traditional types of braces or more innovative forms of treatment like Invisalign, straightening your teeth has become a common practice. But it wasn’t always that way.

Most people associate orthodontic treatment with teenagers. However, as a practice, we actually recommend starting orthodontic treatment much earlier.

At Mack Orthodontics, we don’t just appreciate our patients; we celebrate them! On June 3, Dr. Mack and the entire team of our Bettendorf and Maquoketa orthodontics practice will be taking patients out to the ballgame for Patient Appreciation Night.

Orthodontic treatment has come a long way since the introduction of braces. What used to be thick, heavy, and unwieldy strips of metal have evolved into the slim, lightweight, and comfortable modern braces we know today.