Are Clear or Mail Order Braces the Right Choice For You?

  Clear braces are the current rave...and many young adults and teens are hoping to escape those "ugly metal braces".  But are they right for you?  Maybe not!

Clear braces may sound like a more attractive deal than they really are.  There are many mail order types available, ranging from $79 kits to $1895 packages that allow you to take your own impressions, mail them in and then wait for the aligners to come in the mail.  What many people don't understand is that there are  certain dental maladies that clear braces cannot fix, such as a tooth that has not fully erupted or grown in, or a twisted tooth, or even a misaligned jaw.  Those things require metal braces. While companies like Invisalign have come a long way in recent years, i.e. treating more severe cases of malocclusion, there are still advantages to wearing metal braces. Additionally, you may be required to wear clear braces for a longer period of time than you might with metal braces.  

Clear braces are expensive.  Although some insurance companies now cover Invisalign, be sure to see a certified Invisalign provider to make sure it is the right fit for you!  

Keep Smiling!  

Don't Waste Your Time Taking Pain Medication Before A Dental Bleaching!

Did you know that taking an over-the-counter pain medication may not help with pain during or after professional dental bleachings?

 "According to a new systematic review published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, patients who took the drugs before having their teeth bleached experienced similar levels of sensitivity as those who did not."

I wish I had known this before but I learned the hard way! The first time I ever had my teeth whitened, I didn't think anything about it, it never crossed my mind that I would experience major tooth sensitivity afterward. This was one of the most painful experiences in my life, I swore that I would never do it again. 

Anyway, a few years later, I was told that they (my dental office) had a new bleaching product that was made for people with sensitive teeth.  I gave it another chance but this time I took Ibuprofen beforehand. Well, my experience was the same, I actually didn't complete the bleaching process and still had major tooth sensitivity.

In my opinion, dental bleachings are not worth the pain associated with it! 

Have you ever experienced major tooth sensitivity after dental bleaching? 

Can Baby Teeth Identify Possible Mental Disorders?

Did you know your baby teeth can reveal many clues about your childhood? If your answer is no, then you are in for a treat! Baby teeth can expose physical stress such as poor nutrition or disease. The enamel on the tooth is affected causing growth lines inside the tooth. Similar to the rings found inside of a tree! Interestingly, the thicker the growth rings, the more stress the individual has faced in their short life.

Eric C. Dunn, ScD, MPH created a hypothesis to see if the thickness of the neonatal line (NNL) had any effect on whether the infant's mother had higher levels of physiological stress during pregnancy. 

Mr. Dunn and two people from the Psychiatric and Neurodevelopment Genetics Unit conducted a study. This study consisted of mothers filling out a survey. Some of the questions asked were about stressful events during the prenatal period, maternal history of psychological problems, neighborhood quality, and level of social support.

After the mothers completed the survey Mr. Dunn and his team measured and analyzed the NNL on each tooth. 

Interesting findings emerged from this study!

Children who had mothers with depression, psychological problems, and/or anxiety during their pregnancy had thicker NNLs.

With this new information, Mr. Dunn believes "that the NNL and other tooth growth marks could be used in the future to identify children who have been exposed to early life adversity. Then we can connect those kids to interventions. So we can prevent the onset of mental health disorders and do that as early on in the lifespan as we possibly can."

Click here for the full article!

Help Your Child Build Strong, Healthy Teeth!

 Have you ever heard the old wives’ tale that women should expect to lose a tooth with each child?  Well as it turns out, long ago that belief was well rooted in reality! Now, however, this is a proven modern-day myth. Your baby actually gets the calcium he needs from your diet and if your diet does not contain enough calcium, the body will access the mineral from the supply in your bones, not from your teeth. But today, with careful management, most of us should be able to avoid losing our teeth. So what steps can you take to ensure that you keep your teeth in top condition, and what can you do for your child after he is born to keep his teeth healthy?

The following are some important points to remember for you and your child to ensure healthy teeth:

While you are pregnant:

Eat a healthy diet rich in calcium to keep the stores in your body at a healthy level. Dairy products and green leafy vegetables are good sources of calcium.

Brush and floss daily. It is important to keep plaque and tartar at bay. A healthy mouth will lead to a healthier baby!

Ages 0 To 10

STUDIES have shown that if we have tooth decay as babies, then we are more likely to get decay in our permanent teeth. Dental hygiene can and should begin with newborns. Bacteria can be removed by wrapping a piece of gauze around your finger and gently wiping the baby’s gum pads.

Apart from their food-processing function, baby teeth are important as space maintainers so that permanent teeth have a space to grow into. If these teeth are lost early through decay, the space may not be saved, so permanent teeth can drift - a problem more likely to lead to a need for braces later. Consequently, a baby’s sugar intake should be monitored, bearing in mind that even health foods such as milk and fruit contain sugars.

Baby toothbrushes with soft heads should be introduced as soon as teeth come through, along with specially formulated children’s toothpaste. These contain the optimal dose fluoride for youngsters.

Have their teeth cleaned regularly from the age of  2 years.  Regular dental screenings can prevent loss of teeth in early years, and helps get your child in the habit of practicing good dental hygiene.

Nursing Bottle Syndrome - a condition which causes rampant decay in a baby’s teeth - can occur from six months, and constant sweetened drinks are often blamed. Studies have shown that 50% of five and six year old children may have erosion of their front milk teeth - a condition that can cause pain and sensitivity. At around the age of six, the first molar teeth start to appear. These can be sealed with a plastic coating, known as fissure sealant, to prevent decay.

Overall, good hygiene for both mother and baby is essential to healthy teeth. The better their teeth when they are young, the longer they will keep them as adults!! In my line of work, I encounter people almost daily in their 90's who still have their own teeth. In part because of a healthy lifestyle and partly because of amazing technology and advancement in dentistry.

Keep Smiling!

Are You Cleaning Your Electric Toothbrush?

Most people brush their teeth, rinse off the toothbrush, place it back in its holder, and hopefully replace it every 6 months.

Well, an electric toothbrush needs a little more TLC. It's still important to clean the head of the toothbrush after every use and replace it every 4-6 months. But, did you know that cleaning and caring for the electrical base is just as important?

Below are a few steps to keep your electric toothbrush kicking:

• Unplug the base and wipe it with a mild cleanser or bleach solution.
• Dip a cotton swab (q-tip) in the same solution and clean the area where the head attaches and around any buttons.
• If there is excessive gunk build-up, use a toothpick to gently loosen it. 
• Sanitize if possible. Sometimes electric toothbrushes come with a sanitizing machine, use it!
• To ensure the best battery life, use the toothbrush until it dies. Then recharge it, and repeat the process. *keeping the toothbrush constantly plugged in, will eventually ruin the battery*

Fun Trivia Facts About Animal Teeth

 Since we really cant focus on our own teeth right now given that most dentist offices are closed for routine care, I thought it would be fun to re-post this blog about animals. Here are some facts about different animals I collected from various sites on the web. Just a little fun trivia for everyone to read. Enjoy!

• Beavers, Gophers, Rats, Mice and Hamsters teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. They must grind their teeth down to keep them at a reasonable length.
• A dolphin has only one set of teeth to last throughout it's lifetime.
• An Armadillo has 104 teeth.
• A Blue Whale is the largest mammal on earth but it has absolutely no teeth!
• A Cat's jaws cannot move sideways.
• Turtles and Tortoises are toothless.
• Rabbits are born with their permanent teeth.
• African Elephants have only 4 teeth.
• Mosquitoes have 47 teeth. (They drink blood, what's to chew, lol?)
• A snail has thousands of tiny teeth, yet it's mouth is smaller than the head of a pin!

Keep smiling!!!

Healing with Aloe Vera Gel

  We've all heard or have read about the benefits of using Aloe Vera for healing...i.e., scrapes, scratches, burns and ailments such as stomach ulcers, etc. It's not surprising, therefore, that dentists have incorporated its uses into the field of dentistry.

Some dentists have found it useful in their own practices for healing and preventing dry socket following extraction, periodontal disease, mouth sores, canker sores, denture irritation...the list goes on and on!  This miracle plant has many, many uses.  Check with your dentist or at your local health food store for Aloe Vera gel or Aloe Vera toothpaste!
As always, keep smiling!