The importance of oral health from your orthodontist Dr. Allen Davis at Escondido Orthodontics in North San Diego County, CA. Your teeth are precious. Once your permanent teeth
come in, they need
to last you a lifetime. Extensive tooth decay can lead to dental caries
and the need for fillings, crowns, bridges, and dentures.
While these fixes can go a long way toward maintaining your quality
of life, they cannot compare to your natural teeth. Getting braces is no
excuse to let up on your thorough oral health routine: You need to take
good care of your teeth before, during, and after braces to benefit
completely from the gains you get from newly straightened teeth.
Why You Should Maintain Good Oral Health for Life
Begin a complete oral health regimen as early as possible in life,
and maintain this routine throughout your life. Keeping your (or your
child’s baby) teeth clean establishes a routine. It preserves healthy
baby teeth whose function is to save space for the permanent teeth when
they are ready to come in. Care of your permanent teeth helps preserve
the enamel and prevent decay.
Take Special Care with Braces
It is important to pay attention to oral health when you have braces.
If you do not take special care of your teeth during the months or
years that you have braces, you risk irreversible damage to your teeth.
Care is more difficult with braces because food can easily get stuck. In
addition to brushing twice daily and flossing each day, we suggest avoiding sticky foods.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
The Importance of Oral Health
Labels:
Braces,
Dr. Allen Davis,
Escondido Orthodontics,
Escondido orthodontist,
Oral Health,
Orthodontics,
Orthodontist
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Chewing Gum Advise
Chewing gum advise from your orthodontist Dr. Allen Davis at Escondido Orthodontics in North San Diego County, CA. Chewing
gum with braces is generally a no-no because it can be so messy and can
cause breakage. There's a moment many of our patients have experienced.
One second you're
chewing on a piece of gum, then suddenly you forget to keep chewing and
swallow the entire rubbery gob whole! It's at this point you remember
your mother warning you as a child that if you swallow gum it will stake
a claim and take up residency in your belly for seven years. We hate to
take all the
fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when
swallowed, will enter your stomach and move through your digestive
system just like any other piece of food. So, if you ever accidentally
swallow a piece of gum, there is no need to worry
That being said, it's important to know that gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not exactly harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are an avid gum-chewer, we encourage you to chew sugarless gum, especially if you are wearing braces, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but has fewer cavity-causing ingredients. In fact, many brands contain an additive called xylitol, a natural sweetener known to fight cavity-causing bacteria. Xylitol is also known to increase salivary flow as it rinses away plaque and acid.
The fact is, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long-term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!
That being said, it's important to know that gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not exactly harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are an avid gum-chewer, we encourage you to chew sugarless gum, especially if you are wearing braces, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but has fewer cavity-causing ingredients. In fact, many brands contain an additive called xylitol, a natural sweetener known to fight cavity-causing bacteria. Xylitol is also known to increase salivary flow as it rinses away plaque and acid.
The fact is, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long-term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!
Labels:
Braces,
Chewing gum,
Dr. Allen Davis,
Escondido Orthodontics,
Escondido orthodontist,
Orthodontics,
Orthodontist
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Energy and Sports Drinks Bad for Teeth
Energy and sports drinks are not so good for your teeth says your orthodontist Dr. Allen Davis at Escondido Orthodontics in North San Diego County, CA. Sports and energy
drinks cause irreversible damage to the teeth of teens and young adults.
A recent study published in General Dentistry
states that energy and sports drinks contain so much acid that they
begin destroying teeth after only five days of consistent use. According
to the Academy of General Dentistry, an estimated 30 percent to 50
percent of U.S. teenagers consume energy drinks and as many as 62
percent consume at least one sports drink per day. The high acidity
levels in the drinks erode tooth enamel and the result is irreversible
damage
We encourage our patients to limit their intake of sports drinks. The enamel erosion ultimately makes teeth more susceptible to bacteria and that can lead to hypersensitivity, staining, and tooth decay. If you do consume an energy or sports drink, make sure to wait at least 45 minutes until you brush, as consumption of acidic drinks causes tooth enamel to soften, making teeth more vulnerable to wear from the abrasives found in toothpaste.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma. It’s also preventable with proper care. We can help identify early signs of erosion and offer solutions on how to prevent further damage and more serious problems from occurring.
We encourage our patients to limit their intake of sports drinks. The enamel erosion ultimately makes teeth more susceptible to bacteria and that can lead to hypersensitivity, staining, and tooth decay. If you do consume an energy or sports drink, make sure to wait at least 45 minutes until you brush, as consumption of acidic drinks causes tooth enamel to soften, making teeth more vulnerable to wear from the abrasives found in toothpaste.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma. It’s also preventable with proper care. We can help identify early signs of erosion and offer solutions on how to prevent further damage and more serious problems from occurring.
Labels:
Dr. Allen Davis,
Energy Drinks,
Escondido Orthodontics,
Escondido orthodontist,
Orthodontics,
Orthodontist,
Sports Drinks
Thursday, August 4, 2016
The Best Foods for Oral Health
The best foods for oral health from your orthodontist Dr. Allen Davis at Escondido Orthodontics in North San Diego County, CA. Some foods
are just terrible for your teeth — think cookies and candy
bars — but there are certain foods that are beneficial to your oral
health. Below, we have covered five of the
top foods to keep your teeth and gums healthy!
1. Crispy, low-acid fruits and vegetables: Fruits like apples and vegetables such as carrots and celery act like “natural toothbrushes,” helping to clear plaque from your teeth and freshen your breath. Just make sure you cut these foods into small pieces before eating them so they won't break your braces.
2. Kiwis: These little green superstars are packed with vitamin C which is essential for gum health. The collagen in your gums is strengthened when you consume foods that are high in vitamin C, like kiwis, thus helping to prevent periodontal problems.
3. Raw onions: Onions have long been studied for their antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Proliferation of bacteria is what leads to tooth decay and cavities. By including raw onions in your diet, you'll be doing your part to wipe out those little microbes before they can multiply!
4. Shiitake Mushrooms: A specific compound in shiitake mushrooms, lentinan, has been shown to have antibacterial properties that target the microbes that cause cavities while leaving other beneficial bacteria alone. It may also help prevent gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums.
5. Green Tea: Often lauded for its high antioxidant content and many health benefits, it turns out green tea also benefits your oral health! A Japanese study found men who drank green tea on a regular basis had a lower occurrence of periodontal disease compared to men who drank green tea infrequently. It's believed this is due to the catechins in green tea, a type of flavonoid that may help protect you from free radical damage, but more research needs to be done. Either way, drink up for your overall health, as well as your teeth!
1. Crispy, low-acid fruits and vegetables: Fruits like apples and vegetables such as carrots and celery act like “natural toothbrushes,” helping to clear plaque from your teeth and freshen your breath. Just make sure you cut these foods into small pieces before eating them so they won't break your braces.
2. Kiwis: These little green superstars are packed with vitamin C which is essential for gum health. The collagen in your gums is strengthened when you consume foods that are high in vitamin C, like kiwis, thus helping to prevent periodontal problems.
3. Raw onions: Onions have long been studied for their antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Proliferation of bacteria is what leads to tooth decay and cavities. By including raw onions in your diet, you'll be doing your part to wipe out those little microbes before they can multiply!
4. Shiitake Mushrooms: A specific compound in shiitake mushrooms, lentinan, has been shown to have antibacterial properties that target the microbes that cause cavities while leaving other beneficial bacteria alone. It may also help prevent gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums.
5. Green Tea: Often lauded for its high antioxidant content and many health benefits, it turns out green tea also benefits your oral health! A Japanese study found men who drank green tea on a regular basis had a lower occurrence of periodontal disease compared to men who drank green tea infrequently. It's believed this is due to the catechins in green tea, a type of flavonoid that may help protect you from free radical damage, but more research needs to be done. Either way, drink up for your overall health, as well as your teeth!
Labels:
Braces,
Dr. Allen Davis,
Escondido Orthodontics,
Foods for oral health,
Orthodontics,
Orthodontist
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)