Take Care of Your Teeth While Wearing Braces

So, you just got your braces on, and you're wondering why you should continue visiting your general dentist since you’re seeing your orthodontist every other month. Patients always ask us if they should continue to see their dentist while in orthodontic treatment. In short, the answer is yes. While you are wearing braces, it is essential that you take care of your teeth and gums so it is crucial to keep up with your regular visits with your dentist in addition to going in for your regular orthodontic adjustments . 

One of the best reasons to visit your dentist while you undergo orthodontic treatment is to remove plaque and tartar. Having braces provides additional nooks and crannies in which food particles and bacteria can hide. Eventually, plaque and tartar can form around your brackets, bands or other appliances which can lead to cavities. Having your teeth professionally cleaned can help ensure most, if not all, plaque and tartar is removed. Even if you are undergoing clear aligner treatment, dental checkups and cleanings are equally as important.

The next reason to visit a dentist is to help protect your teeth from decalcification, or the loss of calcium in your teeth. A potentially serious condition in which white spots on your tooth surfaces, decalcification is irreversible and if left untreated, can lead to cavities. Decalcification is preventable; patients who cut down on sugary sweets and acidic foods, practice good oral hygiene, and visit their dentist regularly can help prevent decalcification.

The final reason we recommend visiting your dentist while you have braces is this: cavities can prolong your treatment. If you are interested in completing your orthodontic treatment on time and without any delays, visiting your dentist every six months or as recommended can go a long way toward making that a realistic goal. Your dentist can provide fluoride treatments or other treatments that strengthen your teeth and protect them from cavities. Making sure to visit your dentist will help ensure your teeth look their best once your braces come off.

DON'T BE CONFUSED ABOUT DENTAL CLEANINGS!

 

The different types of dental cleanings that we perform can be confusing and we are asked often about the differences in treatment and cost for getting teeth cleaned. Since it has become such a common question, I thought I would try to explain the differences here in not so abstract terms!

DENTAL CLEANINGS: According to the American Dental Association, this is the definition of an adult dental cleaning (technically a prophylaxis): "A dental prophylaxis performed on transitional or permanent dentition, which includes scaling and polishing procedures to remove coronal plaque, calculus, and stains. Some patients may require more than one appointment or one extended appointment to complete a prophylaxis.
MY Explanation: A lot of scary words in there, so let me break it down. A dental cleaning is done for people with healthy gums. It removes plaque and calculus (also known as tartar) from above the gum line. This is typically completed by a hygienist in one visit. The hygienist may use a scaler/curette (patients refer to them as metal picks) or an ultrasonic scaler (commonly referred to as the tool that "vibrates, buzzes and shoots water"). Lastly, the hygienist will polish your teeth with an air-driven slow-speed prophy cup filled with flavored pumice. The key: the patient has healthy gums (meaning no bone loss, no periodontal disease) and the teeth are simply cleaned in one visit.

ROOT PLANING: According to the American Dental Association, root planing (deep cleaning) is defined as follows: "This procedure involves instrumentation of the crown and root surfaces of the teeth to remove plaque and calculus from these surfaces. It is indicated for patients with periodontal disease and is therapeutic, not prophylactic, in nature. Root planing is the definitive procedure designed for the removal of cementum and dentin that is rough and/or permeated by calculus or contaminated with toxins or microorganisms. Some soft tissue removal occurs. This procedure may be used as a definitive treatment in some stages of periodontal disease and/or as a part of pre-surgical procedures in others."
MY  Explanation: This is not a cleaning. The patient getting root planing does not have healthy gums. It is therapy or treatment for diseased gums. Your teeth are probed/measured for the purpose of diagnosis. Patients with good oral hygiene can manage pocket depths at 3-4mm. Probing depths 5mm and above with evidence of plaque, calculus, inflammation or infection require treatment of the tooth and root surfaces. This is done typically one corner of the mouth at a time with dental anesthetic. It is always followed up with a reevaluation, to make sure the treatment was successful. The key: the patient has been diagnosed with periodontal disease (bone loss has occured and acute or chronic gingival inflammation is present). This treatment is completed 1/4 of the mouth at a time with dental anesthetic. The patient may leave with an antibiotic or an antimicrobial rinse.  

PERIDONTAL MAINTENANCE: This is the most confusing part of periodontal therapy. Periodontal Maintenance is defined by the ADA as follows: "This procedure is for patients who have previously been treated for periodontal disease. Typically, maintenance starts after completion of active (surgical or nonsurgical) periodontal therapy and continues at varying intervals, determined by the clinical diagnosis of the dentist, for the life of the dentition. It includes removal of supra and subgingival microbial flora and calculus, site specific scaling and root planing where indicated, and/or polishing teeth. When new or recurring periodontal disease appears, additional diagnostic and treatment procedures must be considered."
MY Explanation: This seems like a cleaning, except it's for patients who have previously had gum surgery or root planing...aka they do not have a healthy mouth. The hygienist will go after troubled spots, numb if necessary, and constantly evaluate the "state of disease." The name explains a lot: Periodontal Maintenance, in other words the dentist/staff are maintaining the current conditions and trying to prevent them from getting worse. They may be more frequent than dental cleanings too. The key: Not a cleaning, but it sure feels like one, because the whole mouth is treated in one visit. It is more active, more thorough and more involved.

The Best New Year’s Resolution You Can Make For 2013

 

A lot of New Year’s resolutions will be health related this year – we want to lose weight, quit smoking, etc. The sad reality of these good intentions is that once February rolls around, most of us will be done; we’ll get caught up in our busy lives and go back to our old routines. The reason why we don’t keep these well intentioned resolutions is this: We want to be thin before we’re fit, meaning, we want all the superficial benefits of good health without wanting good health itself. We’ll pay big bucks for a quick teeth whitening before our Vegas trip or wedding to look good, but we neglect to spend just minutes each day taking care of our bodies.

This year, why not make a New Year’s resolution that will actually change your life and give you back tenfold in health and happiness what you put into it. THAT’S a resolution you’ll have no problem keeping well into February and beyond, for your whole life! 

Do you value your smile? The more you smile, the longer you live – this has been proven by a UC Berkeley study that found that the width of a smile in a yearbook photo accurately predicted a person’s happiness and well-being 30 years later. Smiling wider has been proven over and over to improve happiness, salary, marriage, self-confidence, and longevity. The best way to smile more? Take basic preventative measures to take care of your teeth. It might sound like the least sexy, most boring New Year’s resolution you could make, but consider the following:

• Smiling is contagious. If you smile, others smile, even if they don’t want to, as we’ve found from many studies. Think of how this might affect you at work, or in that big interview, or in your marriage or dating life.
• Smiling immediately improves your mood. Imagine how resilient this will make you as you work towards your other New Year’s resolutions this coming year.
• Smiling causes production of endorphins, which are the same chemical produced by exercise. Endorphins boost your immune system, relieve stress, and lower your blood pressure, just like exercise does.
• Smiling causes the release of serotonin, which will allow your brain to work at optimum levels.
• Here’s the best part: Smiling makes you look more attractive and confident. Attractive and confident people have higher salaries, better marriages and friendships, and ultimately longer and more fulfilling lives, which leads to – more smiling!

So if any one of your New Year’s resolutions includes looking and feeling better, getting healthier, making more money, improving relationships, or becoming happier and more fulfilled – consider that little tube of toothpaste or that forgotten container of floss in the back of your bathroom cabinet. You can reap all of the benefits above by flossing daily, brushing after each meal, making sure to brush properly so you aren’t damaging tooth enamel, and making an appointment to see your dentist in the new year. These basic prevention methods are some of the simplest and most impactful things you can do for your health and happiness all year.

Teeth-Saving Thanksgiving Tips!

Thanksgiving is almost here, and that means holiday food. While traditional Thanksgiving foods will leave your stomach satisfied, they can leave a bitter aftertaste of dental woes – stained teeth and cavities. You don’t have to give up your favorite foods; just alter your recipes. Try these tasty variations on holiday staples that will keep your teeth, and the rest of your body, healthy.

Sweet Potatoes: These tasty tubers get their bright orange color from beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant. Look for varieties with darker orange flesh, as they’ve got more beta carotene. Traditional Thanksgiving sweet potato dishes often add marshmallows, sugar, and lots of butter. Cut the sugar and try making mashed sweet potatoes with a little butter, brown sugar, and a hint of rosemary. If your family is willing, try making oven-baked spicy sweet potato fries.
Cranberries: Like sweet potatoes, these berries get their bright color from antioxidants. Cranberries are bursting with Vitamin C, and also feature a hefty dose of Vitamins A and K, which prevent cavity-forming bacteria from sticking to your teeth. If you make cranberry sauce from scratch, use less sugar – most people don’t taste the difference. Add orange juice or zest to complement the tart and tangy tastes. Add a little apple or grape juice to unsweetened cranberry juice.
Berry Pies: Blueberries, cherries, blackberries, and black raspberries have many of the same health benefits of cranberries. Their deep colors indicate the presence of Vitamins A and K, manganese (an essential mineral), and compounds that may help lower cholesterol. Unfortunately, these bright colors can also stain your teeth, and most pie recipes call for quite a lot of sugar. Try reducing the sugar in your recipes, substituting some honey for sugar, or mixing some apples in with the berries. Rinse well with water after eating berries or drinking their juice.

Swish with water after having tea, coffee, or wine (red or white) to help prevent stains. Wait about an hour after you’re done eating to brush your teeth. Acid from food or drinks temporarily softens enamel; waiting gives it time to re-harden.

From Silver to White



Have you recently visited with a friend or coworker and had a flash of silver catch your eye? We’ve all seen them, and some of us may still have them. So what exactly are we referring to? Those unsightly silver amalgam fillings that used to be the standard way of filling all cavities.

Fortunately, today’s advances in dentistry and oral health awareness are causing these silver alloy fillings to gradually become a thing of the past. At our office, we now offer you, our valued patients, beautiful white composite fillings that match your teeth. When you open wide and visit with people, your fillings will no longer draw unwanted attention. In fact, it’s practically impossible to even tell the fillings are there!

If you still have silver amalgam fillings from your past, we may recommend that you consider having them replaced—and not just because of their less aesthetically-pleasing appearance. Silver amalgam fillings don’t bond as well to teeth—in order to make sure the filling is held in place, it has to be prepared with “undercuts” that can weaken the tooth structure and result in fractures. Amalgam fillings can also corrode over time as they swell and expand, putting you at risk for cracks. Additional problems can also occur as moisture and bacteria leak through microscopic spaces that develop between the tooth and the filling over time. Often, if not given immediate attention, this can cause a tooth to decay completely and/or break.

White composite fillings don’t require undercuts in your teeth, making them much more proficient in bonding, and definitely superior. In fact, such fillings can actually help strengthen teeth. And of course they’re much more aesthetically pleasing. Still have questions about silver amalgam fillings and what to do about them? Set up an appointment with us! We’d love to go over all the options with you.

Don't Stress About Halloween Candy

 

It's almost Halloween! Costume stores are springing up, yards are decorated with ghoulish décor, and our day of sweet indulgence without guilt is almost here. Everywhere you look, there's your favorite candy or chocolate wrapped in scary yet appealing packaging. Well, to all the sweet tooth Halloween lovers -both adults and kids- here are some practical tips from a Dentist who shares your love for most things sweet.

Sort the candy. When you are raiding your five-year-old's candy bag at 2 in the morning, separate the stack into two parts. Place the taffy, the caramels, the gummy bears, anything that is sticky, chewy or sour into the first pile. All of the other candy goes into the second pile.

Avoid the first pile. Dental cavities have a proven cause-and-effect relationship with extended exposure to sugary or sour substances. Oral bacteria thrives in this environment and converts these substances to acid that can, in turn, lead to cavities.

Watch your family’s consumption of these sweet treats during this season. A great tip is to leave the candy wrappers in a visible area so that you remember how many of these ghoulish confections you’ve eaten. The greatest danger candy poses for teeth is when patients "graze" on it all day.

Chew sugar-free gum to help you ration your sweet intake. Ingredients like Xylitol and Sorbitol, low calorie sweeteners found in some gum, can actually be beneficial to your oral health. Research has shown that these sweeteners starve destructive bacteria, allowing your mouth to replenish minerals to your teeth. Get advice from your Dentist on the frequency and amount recommended.

Talk to your kids about oral health. This is a great time to reinforce the twice-a-day brushing routine and the daily 'oh-so-dreaded flossing regime. Always remember, children will mostly do as they see. The most ideal scenario would be to brush after the consumption of candy. If that’s not possible, then encourage your child to eat the candy within a few minutes instead of snacking throughout the day, and then wash away some of the sugar by drinking a glass of water. And remember, Halloween is a great time to call your dentist and get the family scheduled for a check-up!

In the words of Robert Louis Stevenson, "There is only one difference between a long life and a good dinner; that in the dinner, the sweets come last." Enjoy the sweets in moderation and have fun this Halloween!

The Miracle Smoothie for Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Surgery

 

 

 

Recovering from wisdom teeth surgery makes it hard to eat, but this is the when your body needs nutritious food the most so it can heal itself and build back immunity. A great and easy-to-make drink when you’re recovering from wisdom teeth surgery is a wheat grass smoothie. Wheatgrass is a superfood that will help you recover faster, provide instant relief, and give your body the nutrients it needs to repair itself. Preparation is easy. Just blend the ingredients below until smooth.

Ingredients

One orange, peeled
Splash of coconut water
One handful of wheatgrass
1/2 cup of ice
A few scoops of protein powder (optional)

Instructions

Throw the ingredients in a blender on the highest (or liquify) setting, until smooth. Make sure the ice is fully blended – you do not want any hard bits in your smoothie because you must avoid anything crunchy while recovering from wisdom teeth extraction. Do not use a straw to drink your smoothie – use a spoon instead! Using a straw can cause a dry socket.

Benefits of Wheatgrass for Healing

Chemicals in wheatgrass are said to increase the production of hemoglobin, which is the chemical in red blood cells that carry oxygen, thereby preventing tooth decay, improving wound healing, and preventing bacterial infections. Some studies have shown that wheatgrass helps with anemia and wound healing, but so far there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support this.
Wheatgrass is a nutrient dense food that is likely to make you feel better as you recover than eating a diet of strictly apple sauce and ice cream, as is the typical diet of people recovering from wisdom teeth extraction. Wheatgrass is dense in Vitamins A and C, which are scientifically proven to make your recovery from wisdom teeth extraction faster and smoother. Other vitamins in wheatgrass include Vitamins E, B12, K, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, and Potassium.

After having wisdom teeth surgery, you must stick to a liquid or soft food diet for several days. Vitamin C aids in the maintenance and repair of gum and mouth tissues and getting plenty of Vitamin C is critical to having a shorter and smooth recovery.

Feeling puffy? Wheatgrass has anti-inflammatory chemicals that will soothe your inflamed, irritated gums from the wisdom teeth extraction. The ice in the smoothie will also provide instant relief for puffy, sore gums.

Benefits of Protein Powder

Throwing in a scoop or two of protein powder is a great way to feel full and get some protein while you’re stuck with an all liquid diet.