Keep Teeth Healthy While On The Road

It's Spring Break season so this means vacation traveling. Even when you are not in the comfort of your own home don’t let your healthy teeth habits fall to the wayside. 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.

The best way to keep your teeth healthy while on the road you must keep a kit with you to make sure everything you need is on hand while under Orthodontic treatment.

Here are some of the items that need to be in your kit:

• Travel Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Threader floss
• Rubber bands
• Mini Mirror

& in case of a dental emergency

• Dental wax
• Cold pack
• Over the counter pain killers

Putting together a mini dental travel kit is the easiest way to support your healthy habits while on the road. Get a small bag that can easily fit in your carrier and fill it with all the items you need. Also, make sure you keep a contact card with Dr. Poser's information inside your kit just in case you have an emergency and need to contact our office.

It's National Frozen Food Month

March is National Frozen Food Month!!!

Pioneers in food preservation and frozen food brands are recognized for their contributions to this revolutionary industry during this month. Charles Birdeye is heavily acknowledge this month as he is credited with inventing frozen foods. Frozen foods include healthy produce, portioned meals and a variety of cuisines and dishes. Freezing is ultimately the best way to preserve foods. Frozen foods make the world of cooking much easier, keeping food safe and fresh.

Frozen Foods Facts (source: easyhomemeals.com)

• The bestselling frozen food is ice cream.
• Freezing acts as a natural preservative so many of your favorite foods contain no preservatives.
• Flash freezing (quickly freezing foods at extremely cold temperatures) was introduced in the 1900s by Clarence Birdeye.
• Frozen fruits and veggies that are properly packaged can be stored for up to a year!
• The freezer aisle in most grocery stores comprise of about 3,700 different foods.

Frozen foods can be used to make some of the best meals. From breakfast to dinner, from lunch to snacks, frozen foods help you create meals you and your family love. For frozen meal recipes easyhomemeals.com

Remember, whether cooking for yourself or someone else who is under orthodontic treatment be sure to check out our foods to avoid list to make sure your food wont harm your braces.

Make Flossing with Braces as Easy as 1, 2, 3

Flossing can be seen as a tedious task, add wires and brackets to the mix and you may have a challenge on your hands.

Getting your child to floss daily is a tough for most parents, but with braces it is even more challenging. The wires on braces prevent the ability to floss traditionally. However, flossing is an important part of maintaining a healthy smile. Braces may hold food particles that without properly removing by floss could cause harm to teeth and gums.

How to Floss with Braces:

Step 1 – Starting between the first two teeth on one side of your mouth, insert the stiff end of Super
Floss between the teeth and above the arch wire for the upper teeth and beneath the arch wire for the lower teeth. Move floss in an up-and-down motion (not a sawing motion) between contacts of the two teeth.
Step 2 – Remove floss and then reinsert floss between the next two teeth. Repeat this procedure until all the teeth have been completed.

3 Tips for Making Flossing with Braces Easier (Source Colgate.com)

• 1. Use The Right Tool

Using floss on teeth with braces is difficult and frustrating. Sliding the floss between the teeth above the wire is a bit like threading a needle. An orthodontic floss threader is an inexpensive and disposable tool available in nearly any store that sells toothbrushes and toothpaste. It is indispensable when flossing teeth with braces because it allows you to pull the floss through the teeth above the wire and reach the gum line.

• 2. Help Younger Children Floss

Do not expect younger children with braces to have the dexterity required to floss successfully. You most likely will need to help your child floss. It's best to have him kneel or sit in a well-lit area, as it can take a long time. If your child has a difficult time sitting still, have him sit where he can watch a favorite show or listen to music while you floss.

• 3. Use Waxed Floss

Non-wax floss is more likely to catch on braces and leave behind shreds of floss. When flossing with braces, it is best to use waxed floss with a floss threader, which will slip between each tooth without catching more easily. Gently slide the floss up into the gum line of both teeth before removing the floss and threader and going to the next tooth.

Proper brushing and flossing removes plaque. Plaque is a sticky, white substance that collects on your teeth. It is made up of bacteria, food and saliva. If plaque and trapped food are left on your teeth and around your braces, it can cause bad breath, cavities and swollen gums. Ideally flossing should be done every day. If this is not possible, please floss at least 2-3 times a week. For more information regarding oral hygiene visit poserortho.com/hygiene-and-diet.php

Dentist vs. Orthodontist

March 6th is National Dentist Day, created to show appreciation for your dentist. 

Many people assume that Dentist and Orthodontist have the same job, but that is wrong. While they both work to keep your mouth nice and healthy, they both specialize in different things. Your dentist helps you keep your teeth clean, checking for cavities, tooth decay and gum disease. On the other hand your orthodontist focuses on development of the face, teeth and jaws which is done by orthodontic appliances; ie braces.

Here’s the breakdown:

Dentist:
 helps you maintain your overall oral health care which includes:

• Check-up every 6-month
• Removing/ repairing problem teeth
• Filling cavities
• & teeth whitening

Orthodontist:
helps with issues such as overbites, underbites, gaps and crowded teeth and determines a treatment that fits your case which is usually fixed by:

• Braces
• Wires
• Retainers
• & other appliances

Having braces creates additional nooks and crannies where food particles and bacteria can hide. Visiting your dentist regularly will also help protect your teeth from decalcification. Decalcification is a condition in which white spots form on your tooth surfaces and decalcification is irreversible. Plaque and tartar can also form around your brackets and bands which can lead to cavities. Having your teeth professionally cleaned can help ensure that plaque and tartar are removed.

While your visits with Dr. Poser help maintain your braces, you still need to visit the dentist. You’re working hard to get that perfect smile and need to work just as hard to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy. You can still get cavities while having braces so in addition to brushing and flossing, remember to visit the dentist two times a year (6-months) to keep good oral health.