For the first quarter of 2019 we are kicking it off by giving away an iRobot Roomba in March. Getting entered into the raffle is easy! Refer any family member or friend to our office for a consultation and make sure they mention your name when they come in for the consultation. After their consultation, your name will be entered into the raffle for the iRobot Roomba. The more friends you refer, the more chances you have to WIN! Our office will be giving away 1 iRobot Roomba. The winner will be chosen at random on April 1st. The winner will be called and announced on our Facebook page on April 1st, 2019. New patients must come into the office from January 1st 2019 – March 29th 2019 for the referring patient to be entered into the raffle.
Author: smilespecialadmin
The Daily Grind of Bruxism
Categories: Brace Yourself Blog
MOST PEOPLE GRIND OR CLENCH their teeth briefly when annoyed or in a tense situation. That level of teeth-grinding isn’t really something to worry about. It’s when you do it far more frequently, often without even realizing it (you might even do it in your sleep!), that it can potentially become a serious problem. The medical term for this kind of teeth-grinding is bruxism. Bruxism: What and Why The main causes of bruxism is stress and an imperfect bite. Symptoms of Bruxism: Frequent headaches from all the strain Enlargement in your jaw muscles (because you’re giving them quite the workout!) Shifting teeth Flattened chewing surfaces of teeth Exposed dentin and increased tooth sensitivity Chipped/cracked/split teeth Tooth loss Your Next Steps Depending on which type of bruxism you have, there are a variety of treatments or approaches to either reduce the grinding or the damage it causes. Relaxation Particularly for stress-related bruxism, relaxation techniques such…
How A Nail Biting Habit Affects Teeth
Categories: Brace Yourself Blog
NAIL BITING IS A HABIT shared by between a quarter and a third of children and nearly half of teenagers. Compulsive behaviors don’t always have negative effects on a person’s physical health, but this one definitely does. In addition to leaving the nails torn and uneven and doing damage to the nail beds, nail biting can lead to a variety of oral health complications. Nail Biting Versus Teeth And Gums You might think that your teeth are much tougher than your fingernails, but over time, nail biting can cause significant damage to both teeth and gums. Here are some of the biggest ways this happens: Erosion, chipping, and cracking: the grinding friction of teeth against nails can gradually wear the enamel away, or even cause teeth to chip or crack. Malocclusion and gaps: biting nails doesn’t just damage the teeth, it can also cause them to move, leading to malocclusion’s (problems with the bite) and gaps.…
Going Back to School with Your Braces or Retainers? Try to remember these important tips…
Categories: Brace Yourself Blog
For those of you with braces, pack an extra toothbrush in your backpack. Don’t let the remnants of your lunch sit on your teeth and braces all afternoon! Let your teacher know how important it is for you to brush your teeth after meals. If you like to buy your lunch, remember it’s your responsibility to make good decisions about food. Avoid items on the “no-no’ list such as hard, crunchy or sticky foods that can break your braces. Is your team sport starting up again? Those traditional “boil and bite” mouth guards cannot be worn with braces on! We have specialized orthodontic mouth guards in our office that will properly fit over the braces. For those of you with retainers that you wear during the day, pack an extra retainer case in your backpack or lunch bag. Avoid wrapping your retainer in a napkin or paper towel during meals! …
How To Clean Invisalign
One of the biggest advantages to Invisalign® treatment is that they can be removed before eating or drinking anything. But before they go back in, they need to be cleaned properly to prevent discoloration and buildup of bacteria. Invisalign® and Invisalign Teen® are available from Dr. McSurdy’s office, your local orthodontist for Collegeville and Gibertsville. How To Clean Invisalign® To keep your teeth and your Invisalign® clean try following this list of Do’s and Don’ts: Do: Aligners should be rinsed under lukewarm water each time they are taken out to prevent bacteria and plaque buildup. After eating and or drinking (anything other than water) brush your teeth and your aligners. Floss every day Use a soft toothbrush with a small amount of toothpaste to clean your aligners. Some have found that using toothpaste can scratch the aligners because it is abrasive. If you do not want to use toothpaste, try…