Don't Brush Your Teeth!

When is brushing not a good idea?  Eating grapefruit wedges or drinking a glass of orange juice will leave acid on your teeth and brushing immediately after will rub the acid further in and can erode enamel. You should delay brushing a full 60 minutes after a citrusy meal or snack.  Other acidic foods that can harm your teeth:  fruit juice, soda (including diet), sports drinks, and even wine. When the enamel, the protective outer coating on your teeth, wears away, the softer dentin layer underneath is exposed, leaving them vulnerable to tooth sensitivity that makes drinking hot or cold beverages painful.  They are also more vulnerable to cavities.  Plus, the enamel does not come back; once it is gone, it is gone.

What are your favorite dental products?

Check out what the professionals at Advance Family Dental think!

Annie the Hygienist and Trista the Assistant: They both love their Sonicare power toothbrushes, they feel it makes their mouth really clean and is really easy to use! They both also do not like Crest Pro Health toothpaste. It gives them tissue sloughing, which is the peeling of your inner cheek.

Molly the Office Manager: Molly likes the Rotadent power toothbrush, she likes how small the brush head is. She also likes how the brush heads are removable, so her and her husband can share the Rotadent.

Michelle the Orthodontic Assistant: Michelle likes Aim toothpaste, it whitens, cleans and freshens! Michelle also likes Glide floss, because it really glides. She also hates power toothbrushes, because they vibrate too much and she doesn't like the tickle it gives off.

Rhona the Financial Manager: Rhona likes Crest with Scope toothpaste, it makes her mouth feel extra fresh!  She loves the Chic Flic whitening pen for whitening her teeth quickly and easily.  It’s so easy, she uses it in the car on the way to work!

Melissa the Assistant: Melissa likes the Sonicare, it makes her mouth feel extra clean!

Kelly the Treatment Coordinator: Kelly likes any power toothbrush. She also likes the Reach flosser, because it can get the hard to reach areas towards the back of her mouth and wisdom teeth.

Lori the Receptionist: Any kind of power brush, because they clean much better. Also Lori's daughter uses the Sonicare kids toothbrush, and she thinks it gives her a much better clean than any manual toothbrush.

Chance the Hygienist: Chance likes the Rotadent power toothbrush because it makes him feel like his teeth were just professionally polished!

Kalli the Assistant: Kalli likes mint floss, and any toothpaste with the bursting beads, makes her feel extra clean and fresh!

Dr. Zollinger: Dr. Z likes to use a manual toothbrush, but without any toothpaste. When he uses toothpaste, it gets all foamy, and he cannot tell if he is getting all the plaque off or not.

Dr. Z's wise words: Toothpaste can be good for certain people, such as those with a high decay rate, due to the fluoride in toothpaste. Otherwise, it is the bristles in the toothbrush that clean the teeth, not the toothpaste.

Dr. Zollinger’s extensive orthodontic and Fastbraces experience

Dr. Zollinger’s extensive orthodontic and Fastbraces experience, has made him a top lecturer and trainer for Fastbraces. He is one of only 10 dentists internationally that are qualified to demonstrate Fastbraces training. 

Recently, he and our staff conducted a Fastbraces training at our office for a local dentist. Our staff spent the day teaching how Fastbraces works and doing hands on training, placing brackets on patients that they brought with them.

We are so excited to be part of the Fastbraces team.  The fact that it is faster and  less expensive than traditional braces makes it an exciting option for many people.

Fun Facts

• The average American spends 38.5 total days brushing teeth over a lifetime.
• 60% of people don't know that a sore jaw, when combined with chest pain, can signal a heart attack- especially in women.
• 73% of Americans would rather go grocery shopping than floss. 
• Only 40% of young people age 6 to 19 have never had cavities in their lifetimes. That's down from 50% a decade ago.  
• More people use blue toothbrushes than red ones. 
• The average woman smiles about 62 times a day! A man? Only 8.
• Kids laugh around 400 times a day, grown-ups just 15. 
• Energy drinks have 11% more sugar than regular soda.
• People who drink 3 or more glasses of soda each day have 62% more tooth decay, fillings, and tooth loss than others. Put down the pop and sports drinks and pick up some nice fresh water instead!
• In 1994 a prison inmate in West Virginia braided dental floss into a rope, scaled the wall and escaped.  Floss is best used to clean between your teeth instead of climbing prison walls. If you do not floss, you are missing around 35% of your teeth's surfaces with brushing alone.

How our children’s oral habits can effect their teeth

Malocclusion, or misaligned teeth, may arise from a variety of early childhood habits, such as thumb and finger sucking, nail biting, hair chewing, tongue and lip sucking or other chewing maladies.

Experts in the field have determined the following:

• 60% of malocclusion is caused by prolonged finger or thumb sucking.
• 10% of six to eleven year olds suck their thumbs or fingers.
• 85% of thumb suckers have an open bite. Often open bites can not only lead to malocclusion but also TMJ problems due to lateral movements of the jaw to chew food.
• Nearly 60% of thumb suckers experience root resorption, the destruction of a tooth’s root structure.

It is important to catch these poor oral habits early in order to prevent problems later on in a child’s life. Make sure to monitor your child’s behaviors and schedule regular visits to their dentist!

Travel Tips for Your Teeth

1. Use a Tooth Brush Cover
A toothbrush cover will help to prevent dirt and grime that has accumulated in your luggage from reaching your brush head. However, make sure your case or cover has enough ventilation so mold or bacteria doesn’t begin to grow.

2. Dry Out Your Tooth Brush

Bacteria thrive in wet, dark areas. In order to prevent bacterial build up, dry out your toothbrush before you pack it up for vacation.

3. Pack Your Dental Products in Your Carry On

Way too often airlines lose our luggage. When packing, assume your luggage will be lost and pack your carry on as if you will be living out of it until your bags are found. This requires packing an extra outfit, shoes, and your toothbrush. Losing your luggage is already a hassle; don’t get stuck without your dental products as well!

4. Use Bottled Water to Brush

A lot of times when traveling to exotic locations such as Mexico or the Dominican Republic, you may need to avoid drinking questionable tap water. If this is a concern, drink strictly bottled water. People often don’t realize that the smallest amount of contaminated water can make you sick, even when simply brushing your teeth. Splash your toothbrush with bottled water instead of the tap to prevent Montezuma’s Revenge.

5. Pack Lightly

Packing miniature dental products, such as toothpaste or floss, can help save space in your luggage. Also, if you accidentally forget it in the hotel bathroom when you check out, it's no big deal. Lucky for you, Advance Family Dental offers free travel toothpaste and floss. Make sure to pick some up at your next appointment to have on hand for a vacation!

Why do I need to update my Medical History every time I go to the Dentist?

During your first dental visit, you will be asked to fill out a thorough medical history.  After that you will need to update your medical history every six months.  This history, along with the results from your exam will help to assess your immediate dental care needs and recommend the best treatment.  

It is important to list everything about your health, including surgeries or a major illness.  Many diseases can have significant effects on your mouth and teeth. For instance, diabetes can increase the risk of periodontal disease.  Other health conditions may require your dentist to change the type of anesthesia given.  Your dentist also wants to make sure that any medications prescribed do not interact with medications you are currently taking. 

Be sure to list any allergies you may have as well, such as latex, as the dentist may need to use a different kind of gloves.  Don't assume your dentist knows your medical history.  Make sure you mention any recent changes to the staff to assure proper treatment and to prevent any problems.