• Top Five Tips to Save You From a Broken Bracket
    • June 21, 2021
    • Braces

    Broken brackets can be super stressful, but with the right guidance they can be a cinch to solve. Here’s some important information even if you don’t have a broken bracket:

    Don’t panic, broken brackets happen to the best of us. Here’s what you can do in the meantime until you’re back in the clinic chair.

    First off, is the bracket still attached to the wire or is it completely off?

    You should only remove the bracket if it is extremely loose. Keep it safe until you can bring it with you to your next ortho appointment. 

    If the bracket is still attached to your wire, leave it where it is: trying to move it yourself can cause more damage.

    To keep you comfortable until your appointment, try some orthodontic wax:

    • Applying wax over the loose bracket keeps it from irritating your lips and causing sores.
    • If a loose wire is poking the inside of your mouth, put some wax over the sharp end. (add clipping instructions for wire ends here)

    Now that you’ve made things more comfortable, get help from your orthodontist.

    Even though damaged brackets don’t seem like an orthodontic emergency, get your doctor’s advice as soon as you can. 


    In certain cases, a delay in treatment could result in more damage, so give us a call at (872) 222-9567 or shoot us an email with pictures at info@wlortho.com and we’ll schedule an emergency appointment if need be.

    Do my braces still work?

    The short answer: Yes. One missing bracket doesn’t mean your treatment isn’t working any more!

    The long answer: When a bracket is broken, that means an individual tooth is no longer attached to the active wire. Which means that tooth can move in an unfavorable way. Ideally we want to prevent that from happening because that one tooth may linger behind while every other tooth continues to move.

    Every case is different, though. If the broken bracket does create a need to adjust the course of your treatment, your orthodontist will be able to tell you. Then you can plan accordingly together.

    Now that you’ve got your ortho appointment scheduled, read up on how to protect yourself from another broken bracket. Here are 5 tips to keep your orthodontics safe:

    Tip One: Avoid the Dangerous Dozen 

    Any foods that are hard, brittle, or sticky can damage your orthodontic treatment. To keep your brackets intact, steer clear of the 12 worst offenders:

    1. Caramels

    2. Taffy

    3. Hard candy

    4. Chewy candy

    5. Jelly beans

    6. Licorice

    7. Bubble gum

    8. Lollipops 

    9. Sour candy

    10. Popcorn

    11. Nuts

    12. Ice

    Don’t fret if you see your favorite treat on this list. For safer snacks that are just as delicious, the American Association of Orthodontists has you covered. Just make sure you brush afterwards!

    Tip Two: Prepare Before the Next Play

    We’re all about an active, healthy lifestyle. For athletes with braces, there are a few extra steps to play it safe. Whether you’re strapping into a football helmet or putting a mouth guard in before wrestling practice, make sure you’re taking the right precautions for your sport before you jump into the next game.

    Tip Three: Alternatives to That Dangerous Toothpick

    Using a toothpick can damage your orthodontics and your mouth. If there’s something stuck in your teeth, you’ve got much better options (that won’t give you tongue splinters):

    • Floss
    • Water irrigation
    • Interdental brushes

    You can purchase a Waterpik or orthodontic flossers in the oral care section of your local pharmacy. 

    Tip Four: Kick the Nail-Biting Habit

    Biting your nails is bad news all around. Besides the ick factor (here are 12 germ-tastic reasons to quit), chomping down on a nail could easily crack a bracket. 

    If you need help kicking the habit, try playing with slime or silly putty to keep your hands occupied, or coat your nails with one of these bitter-tasting treatments. Your brackets (and rest of you) will be grateful you did!

    Tip Five: Brush with Care

    Frequent brushing and flossing are an important part of caring for your braces (of course, you knew that already!). But did you know that brushing and flossing too hard can actually do more harm than good? 

    If you get too aggressive with your brushing, you could loosen your orthodontic appliances. 

    Thorough and gentle brushing after every meal and careful flossing and/or water irrigation at least once a day are the safest way to care for your ortho treatment as well as the rest of your mouth.

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Your West Loop Orthodontics Team!

Cheers to Nine Years! …and many more!

Dear Patients, Friends, and Families,

This week we are completing our 9th year as West Loop Orthodontics, and initiating our 10th year as a member of the West Loop and Greater Chicago community. We are incredibly grateful for all of you and will continue to do our best to bring the highest quality of treatment and experience to each individual patient and family that entrusts us with their orthodontic care.

This month we also have a wonderful orthodontist joining our team, Dr. Chichi Adeleke. As a talented, energetic, and passionate doctor, we are excited to welcome Dr. Chichi and can’t wait for you to meet her!

A big message of our practice has always been ‘Conquer Life‘ and our core belief that the greatest benefit of orthodontic treatment is a patient’s quality of life improvement – their increase in self-confidence and the power that comes from believing in themselves. As we progress into our 10th year, we will continue on our mission of empowering and inspiring people to believe in their own potential and continue to take chances on themselves.

Cheers to an amazing, joyful, and abundant Year 10!

With warmth and gratitude,

– The West Loop Ortho Team

Tongue Habits in Ortho: What You Need to Know!

When most people think about orthodontics, they focus on braces, aligners, and straight teeth. But did you know that your tongue habits play a major role in your oral health and orthodontic success?

At West Loop Orthodontics, we believe in educating our patients about all aspects of their treatment! Including the often-overlooked influence of the tongue.

What Are Tongue Habits?

Tongue habits refer to the repetitive movements or resting positions of the tongue that can negatively impact your teeth, bite, and jaw alignment. Common examples include:

  • Tongue thrusting: Pushing the tongue against or between the teeth when swallowing or speaking.
  • Low tongue posture: Letting the tongue rest at the bottom of the mouth rather than on the palate.
  • Mouth breathing: Often tied to low tongue posture, this can affect facial development and oral health.
  • Thumb sucking or pacifier use: Though not directly a tongue habit, these behaviors often go hand-in-hand and influence tongue position.

How Tongue Habits Affect Orthodontic Treatment

We see firsthand how improper tongue habits can lead to orthodontic issues such as:

  • Open bite: A condition where the upper and lower teeth don’t touch when the mouth is closed—often caused by tongue thrusting.
  • Overjet (buck teeth): Forward-protruding front teeth, worsened by tongue pressure from the inside.
  • Relapse after braces: Even after braces or Invisalign, poor tongue posture can push teeth out of alignment again.
  • Speech issues: Improper tongue movement may affect speech patterns, especially with “S” or “TH” sounds.

Identifying and Treating Tongue Habits

Early diagnosis is key. During your consultation, our team evaluates not just your teeth but your overall oral posture. If a tongue habit is detected, we may recommend:

  • Myofunctional therapy: A series of exercises that retrain the tongue and orofacial muscles to function properly.
  • Orthodontic appliances: In some cases, a tongue crib or other device may be used to discourage harmful tongue movements.
  • Breathing therapy or ENT referrals: If mouth breathing is involved, we may collaborate with other healthcare providers to improve nasal airflow.

Why It Matters

Correcting tongue habits can dramatically improve the effectiveness and stability of your orthodontic treatment. At West Loop Orthodontics, our goal is not just to give you a beautiful smile but to ensure it lasts a lifetime.

By addressing tongue habits early, especially in children and teens, we can prevent more serious issues down the road. And for adults, incorporating myofunctional awareness into your orthodontic journey leads to better outcomes and fewer surprises.

If you or your child are considering braces or Invisalign, don’t overlook the importance of tongue posture and habits. Let us help you achieve a healthier, more stable smile—starting from the inside out!

Meet Your Team: Edith

We at West Loop figured we needed someone who could assess our patients’ health needs, organizing information about the company, their treatment, and status of their health. Meet Edith, our new Patient Care Coordinator! She has taken over the mission of making sure appointments are thorough and helping patients leave with a better understanding than when they came in! On top of that, she ensures that patients has a clear feel for West Loop Ortho!

On her off days she is usually out exploring the world! She loves to have double the fun by trying new foods while traveling. When she is opting for a local adventure, she’ll go to concerts as a music fanatic or take activity classes.  Being friendly, thorough, and personable at all times makes Edith a perfect fit for becoming our Patient Care Coordinator. Expect customer service quality to be a strong focus and look forward to having a great experience! Welcome Edith to the team!

Meet Your Team: Jazmine

As the first person you will see in our office, Jazmine is prepared to get everything in order right off the bat! As our new Scheduling Coordinator, she will ensure that you’re slotted in no matter what! It’s a good thing that she’s passionate about providing a great experience for patients because that’s the key to great service. Give her a ring about your treatment schedule and without a doubt she’ll get the perfect time for you!

When she has successfully allotted patients, she focuses her time to wind down a bit. She takes her dog for a walk around the neighborhood, takes time to connect with mother nature, and explores restaurants in the city!  She’s a perfect fit for scheduling, and she’s our first line of offense in the office. Welcome Jazmine to the West Loop Ortho team! We’re lucky to have her!