Summer Drinks For A Healthy Mouth

Refreshments To Keep Your Teeth And You Happy This Summer 

In our last blog, we learned something pretty surprising about oral health – consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages are a stronger risk factor for dental decay than snack food OR poor oral health. That means that just maintaining good oral hygiene is not enough to protect your teeth from the corrosive effects of sugar-sweetened drinks. Why? Sugar is food for the bacteria that naturally live in your mouth, and when they break down sugar they release harmful acids that can eat away at the enamel and structure of your teeth.

So for this blog, we’re giving you a couple summer refreshment ideas that are great for cooling off and keeping your teeth happy and healthy!

Alternatively Sweetened Homemade Lemonade

Everyone loves lemonade. The sound of ice clinking in a big glass pitcher, the distinctive summer sunshine color, and that classic sweet & sour taste all just say summer. But there’s danger lying in that glass – most lemonade is absolutely loaded down with sugar to counteract the tang of the lemon juice. And that sugar, combined with the citric acid from the lemons, spell disaster for your teeth, leading to cavities, tooth decay, and possibly a fortune in reparative dentistry.
But have no fear! You can still enjoy this timeless summer treat. Skip the store-bought stuff, where you have no control over the ingredients, and make your own – it only takes about a half an hour. Instead of cane sugar, try sweetening the lemonade with honey, coconut nectar, coconut sugar, or xylitol.

Milk

It turns out it’s not just good for cereal – milk has also been shown to contribute to the strength and health of your teeth. Milk is high in calcium, and while we all know calcium is great for bones, calcium also helps to protect your mouth from periodontal disease. You need Vitamin D to absorb all that calcium, though, so be sure to pair your milk with vitamin D rich foods! Or try the ultimate vitamin D producer – sunshine. Your body can produce almost a week’s worth of vitamin D with just a half hour of exposure to direct sunlight.

Water

Last but certainly not least, water is really the ultimate tooth-health elixir. Not only is it refreshing, vital to our survival, and thirst-quenching, but water actually does a lot to promote oral health. Water washes away bits of food debris and acid that accumulate in your mouth, reducing the corrosive agents acting on your teeth. What’s more, water helps to regulate the amount of saliva in your mouth. Saliva contains proteins and minerals that counteract tooth-eating acids, making it a number one protector for your teeth. If you want to mix things up a bit, try adding some sliced strawberries, lemons, mint, or cucumbers to your water pitcher to give it a refreshing essence!

Your Local Dover, DE Orthodontist

Although all of these delicious summer refreshments are good for your teeth, they certainly won’t move them anywhere! At Orthodontics On Silverlake, we are committed to providing you the very best in orthodontic care, including Invisalign, In-Ovation, and traditional metal braces. Dr. Steckel and our team of highly trained orthodontic specialists will work with you to craft a smile that is healthy, straight, and beautiful. To make an appointment, simply use our online form or give us a call at our Dover, DE practice. And check back soon for the next entries on our blog - more fun stuff to come!

Summer snacks, cool drinks and your teeth

Hope you are having a great summer-whether simply getting outside more and or going to local events in Kent County, DE, we're busy at Dr. Steckel's office helping our patients keep their smile improvements on schedule, and healthy. 

Our advice for our patients on diet choices was recently supported by a clinical study (Jain, P., Gary J.J; May/June 2014 General Dentistry, pgs. 63-68) undertaken at Southern Illinois University, to examine the relationship between 

1. Oral hygiene

2. Consumption of snack foods and 

3. Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages

Question: Which of these behaviors (or lack there of) present the greatest risk to developing dental decay? What do you think?

Answer: Sugar-sweetened beverages are a stronger risk factor for dental decay than snack foods!! The types of snack foods included fruit, ice cream, salty snacks, and soft candy.

Even though we may brush thoroughly, maintaining good oral hygiene is not sufficient to prevent dental decay!

Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is the stronger indicator of dental decay

All Orthodontics on Silverlake patients know this, and make a promise to limit their intake of these beverages. :-)

Look for the next blog post for suggestions on some summer beverage suggestions to keep those pearlies white!

Until then, how about a tall glass of water...?

It's Never too Late...

 

Maybe you did not want "braces' when you were a teenager. Now you're an adult and you notice your teeth have shifted, and have discolored. You do not like to smile. 

 

According to respondents to a recent study (1), conducted on behalf of the American Association of Orthodontists, 75% of adults surveyed reported improvements in career and personal relationships which they attributed to their post-orthodontic treatment smile. 92% of respondents say they would recommend orthodontic treatment to to other adults.

 
 

An overwhelming majority said their initial concerns went away shortly after treatment began: 

"With an attractive smile you can face your career and personal relationships with confidence"

"A more brilliant smile and the straightest teeth...gave me confidence to do anything."

"I found someone who cared about me"

 

When I meet with new patients at Orthodontics on Silverlake, my team and I get to know you and listen to what you hope to accomplish. We review before and after pictures together, and help you understand what to expect as your smile improves over time. 

Both Invisalign (R) and braces, with a well-prepared treatment plan, continue to yield excellent results for our adult patients.

 

Call us today at 302-672-7776 to start smiling more!

 

Or go to our website www.doverorthodontics.com

 

 

 

 

(1) Data from the 2012 AAO Economics of Orthodontics Survey (formerly the Annual Economic Survey and Biennial Patient Census Survey)

How to Best Prevent White Spots

We all know that wearing braces can lead to the accumulation of plaque, and plaque is a major etiologic factor in the process that can lead to demineralization or "white spots." Nobody wants to see white spots on their teeth after finishing their braces, especially Dr. Steckel.

Brushing is a great start! 

How do we reduce the chances of white spots from happening? Well, if you are a patient at Orthodontics on Silverlake (OSL) you know we talk about brushing your teeth at every visit- whether you're a fantastic brusher of if you need help to improve your brushing. So good brushing on a regular basis, what else? Avoid eating acidic foods and drinking acidic drinks like sodas and sports drinks- they can scar your teeth by reacting with the enamel of your teeth. 

Using Flouride Can Help!

How about using fluoride-containing toothpastes, rinses, gels? When used regularly, these products keep the surface of your teeth protected against white spots to strengthen the enamel and saturating the saliva with protective fluoride ions.(1) So we recommend using these, as does your general dentist, when you get your teeth cleaned every 6 months.

Chewing Gum Sweetened By Xylitol 

Chewing gum has a cleansing affect as well, and this is improved significantly when the gum is sweetened with Xylitol. Xylitol is a naturally-derived sweetener found in the Stevia plant. A study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of chewing-gum and the progression of dental decay. (2)The results showed a significant difference between children who chewed the gum sweetened with Xylitol vs. those that did not. No untoward side-effects from chewing the gum was noted.

I encourage patients who want to chew gum to chew gum with this natural sweetener! We haven’t seen any untoward effects as well, only happier patients at Orthodontics on Silverlake!

After Treatment

Once you get done with your orthodontic treatment, you want to be done! We want to help you with that by preventing white spots, tooth decay and any other common problem. By following these helpful tips, brushing regularly with fluoride toothpaste and chewing gum that is sweetened by Xylitol, you are significantly reducing your chance of continued treatment after braces. Our staff at Orthodontics on Silverlake is happy to answer any questions you may have so feel free to contact us as we are always delighted to speak with our patients! 

(1) Hellwig, E., Lennon A.M. 2004 Systemic vs Topical Fluoride. Caries Research 38,pp 258-262

(2) Kandelman, D., Gagnon G. 1987 Clinical Results After 12 months...Consumption of Chewing Gum containing Xylitol, JDR 66:8 1407-1411

Protect Your Smile...Get into the Mouthguard Habit!

At Orthodontics on Silver Lake, we're on Dr. Steckel's Teeth Straightening Team to get you the results you want with your braces, Invisalign or Teen Invisalign treatment. 

Any time you're engaged in an activity or sport where your face can come in contact with something hard-another player, a ball, the pavement, or a hard object-it's time to be wearing a mouthguard! NOTE- This includes practice or pick-up games as well.

Mouth guards can help prevent injury to your jaw, mouth and teeth. They cost a lot less than the cost to repair an injured jaw or tooth.

In 1999, a sports medicine study was undertaken at UNC where athletic trainers from 50 division 1 men's basketball programs were asked to report data on dental injuries and concussions. Only 13 percent of the players wore mouth guards, and those not wearing mouth guards were 6 times as likely to incur significant injuries.

Some injuries need immediate attention-such as

1. If there was a concussion or loss of consciousness- go to the hospital first 

2. If a tooth is knocked out -put it in a plastic bag with milk or with the injured person's own saliva and get to a dentist

3. If a tooth is moved from it's original position try to have the injured person bite down, and get to a dentist

4. If a tooth was chipped it may be sensitive to touch or cold- see a dentist within 12 hrs to assess the situation

Mouthguards can be designed to fit over your braces and give you the protection you need. If you are on a Dover or Kent County sports team, you can join Dr. Steckel's Teeth Straightening Team and protect that precious smile with a mouth guard. Or, you can always try another type of protection:

Whiter, Brighter Teeth at Orthodontics on Silver Lake!

At Orthodontics on Silver Lake, we want you to love your smile! From straighter teeth to brighter teeth, Dr. Steckel helps patients with every aspect of their smile. Many patients choose to do whitening once their braces have been removed to put the final touch on their perfect smile, but we are excited to share that we are now offering a whitening treatment that can be used with braces!

Teeth Whitening Treatment

After an examination with our orthodontist Dr. Steckel, she will work with you to customize your teeth-whitening treatment plan. The method we use offers a high quality and very effective result, leaving patients with a long lasting bright smile.

Before & After

This patient came to us looking for an effective whitening solution after trying over-the counter options and not getting the results she wanted:

Before

After completing the teeth-whitening regimen prescribed by Dr. Steckel, her smile was the brightest it had ever been! 

After

We will provide you with detailed instructions based on your personalized treatment plan to achieve your desired level of whitening. Our patients love their results and many of us at the office have used this method as well, so we have both professional and personal experience we will share with you!

Visit Dr. Steckel

At Orthodontics on Silver Lake we can help you achieve the smile you’ve always dreamed of, so whether that’s a whiter smile or straighter teeth, we will provide you with amazing results. We are a friendly team who work in a warm and inviting office, so if you are interested in any of our services, please contact us to learn more. We look forward to meeting you!

Longterm Health Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment

When patients consult with me at Orthodontics on Silver Lake (OSL), some of the more frequent reasons given are

 "Fix my Overbite" or "Deep Overbite"

Have you ever wondered why correcting a deep overbite is a good idea?

• An overbite can be damaging to the teeth and gums and can be an esthetic issue as well.
• It is measured in millimeters, and a normal measurement is 1-3mm. 
• If the overbite is greater than this then the front teeth may not be fitting together and this can lead to excessive wear of the teeth. Also, your lips may not fit together as well and this can result in damage to the front teeth and/or esthetic issues. 

Findings from a Systematic Review of the literature (Huang et al, Journal of the World Federation of Orthodontists, September 2012, 1-3):

1. Deep Bite occurs in 15-20% of the population
2. Correction of Deep Bite in the late adolescence is relatively stable, especially when the patient in the late teens is still growing after treatment is completed.
3. No large differences were found in stability of non-extraction vs extraction treatment
4. Retainer wear-longterm-is still a good idea to support the results 

The longterm benefits of overbite correction are appreciated by our patients and their family dentists. Call us @302-672-7776 or contact us @doverorthodontics.com to discuss what orthodontic treatment can do for you.