Wentz Orthodontics: September 2015

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Fall Foods To Enjoy

Summer has ended and Fall is here.

The official start of fall is September 23rd. Fall brings about much change as the leaves turn rusted colors, the weather becomes cooler and many fruits and vegetables begin to be harvested. Many people spend summer time eating lots of sweet treats, but as we transition to fall we should focus on healthier foods. Here are our top 3 favorite healthy fall foods.

Apples: This fruit can be ate alone as a snack or baked into your favorite dishes, such as apple pies.

There’s a variety apples you can to choose from such as Granny Smith, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples.
Health Benefits: Full of Antioxidants, Provides Dietary Fiber
Harvest Season: August - November
Ortho-Friendly Ways To Eat Apples: Apple slices and apple sauce.

Pumpkins: Not only good for carving, pumpkins are great for pies, muffins and even its seeds eaten by themselves.
Health Benefits: Source of Potassium, Source of Fiber, Source of Vitamin B
Harvest Season: October - February
Ortho-Friendly Ways To Eat Pumpkins: Pumpkin soup, baked pumpkin spice treats, pumpkin pie.

Squash: Squash is a vegetable that is great as a side dish, paired with pasta or even cab be pureed and used as a dip.
Health Benefits: Contains Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Source of Vitamin A
Harvest Season: October - February
Ortho-Friendly Ways To Eat Squash: Butternut squash bread, squash soup, squash pudding and squash pasta.

Remember, while undergoing orthodontic treatment you must be mindful of what foods you are eating. Fall foods can be amazing, but we want to remind our patients that there are certain foods you must stay away from. For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. We not only want you to have a great looking smile, but healthy smile as well.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Rethink Your Drink

Maintaining proper oral hygiene is important to your oral health while having braces, but what you drink can play a part too. Sugar is the main ingredient in many soft drinks, juices, sports drinks and energy drinks and as good as sugar sounds it is actually harmful for your teeth. “But those drinks taste so good”, we know, however sugar can cause dental decay which isn't good at all.

How is sugar harmful?

Sugar particles spark overproduction of acid and plaque in our mouths which creates tooth decay. Acid breaks down enamel in teeth causing erosion that can cause pain and cause teeth to become very sensitive. The more sugary soft drinks, the more acid that is produced, the bigger problem you have. Plaque is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth and contains millions of bacteria. The bacteria in plaque can cause tooth decay and gum disease if not removed. Also, if you’re consuming drinks with lot of sugar while having braces you may find that your teeth have white spots, which is a condition called decalcification. When sugar is left on the teeth you can be left with a buildup of grim under your braces, thus causing white spots called decalcification.

How to prevent harm to your teeth from sugary drinks?
If you consume drinks that are high in sugar try not to do it often, and when you do make sure your brush and rinse after. However, eliminating sugary drinks from your diet and maintaining proper oral hygiene (visiting your dentist, brushing your teeth and flossing) is best for your oral health.

What are alternatives to sugary drinks?

Water
Fruit infused water
Tea
Veggie juice
Milk

For more information what you can and can not eat during treatment visit wentzorthodontics.com. If you have questions please contact our office, we are happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Brushing 101

Having a clean mouth is important. It gives you fresh breath and a nicer-looking smile. Brushing and flossing removes a thin sticky film of bacteria that grows on your teeth. This sticky film, called plaque, is the main cause of tooth decay and gum disease. You will notice that it is much harder to keep your teeth clean with braces. Food becomes caught in the brackets and between your teeth. Brushing after meals and flossing will help prevent plaque from forming and should become part of your daily schedule. Here’s a few things you need to know to make brushing a little easier.

Types of toothbrush you can use:

Soft toothbrush

Soft toothbrushes are toothbrushes with soft bristles. When shopping for a toothbrush you will notice they are labeled either “extra soft,” “soft,” “medium,” or “hard.” Extra soft is your best option for braces.

Electric toothbrush

An electric toothbrush, also known a power toothbrush, either battery powered or the kind you plug into the wall to recharge. Electronic toothbrushes clean teeth more effectively than traditional ones. Since you don't need to brush as hard with an electric toothbrush to get the same results, you are also less likely to injure your gums or inner cheeks.

How to brush: [source: oralb.com]

Prepare to brush. Take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.
Clean your braces. Use your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire and then from the bottom. (Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed, and that you work all the way around upper and lower teeth.)
Brush your teeth. Clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Do this for about 10 seconds. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

Remember you must see your dentist twice a year for your regular dental cleanings. If you are having any trouble brushing your teeth let us know about it during your next visit or give us a call.