Brace Yourself Blog

Get started. Remove elastics, bands, or removable parts of orthodontic appliances. Clean your braces. Carefully clean around wires and pins. Brush each wire. Move top to bottom, and all the way around upper and lower teeth. Brush your teeth. … Floss once a day. … Rinse, and then check your teeth. Final step — rinse your teeth with phos-flur for one minute. Our office asks that each patient uses the fluoride rinse Phos-flur. For more information about Phos-flur visit our past blog. *If you would like a diagram like the one shown to keep in your child’s bathroom as a brushing guide, please ask at your next appointment. They are available in both the Collegeville and Gilbertsville office locations. 

You may not realize it, but consuming carbonated beverages, fruit juice, and highly acidic foods every day can be harmful to your teeth!  Acidic foods and drinks can create an oral acid imbalance, which over time can cause your teeth can lose minerals and strength.  The acid in the foods we eat and drink pull the minerals, calcium and phosphate from tooth structure.  The loss of calcium and phosphate from your teeth is called decalcification.  The consumption of highly acidic food and drinks in combination with the accumulation of plaque (a sticky, colorless film of bacteria) on the teeth can make a person highly susceptible to decalcifications.  Sometimes referred to as white spot lesions, decalcifications have a chalky-white appearance and can cause sensitivity as well as make teeth more prone to tooth decay. How to Prevent Decalcifications? Practice good oral hygiene by brushing at least 2 x per day and…

Sticky candy (caramel, sugar bubble gum, laffy taffy, etc) Beef jerky / slim Jims Raw vegetables such as carrots should be broken into tiny bite size pieces Hard pizza crust Nuts Hard pretzels Hard rolls (bagels should be broken down into tiny pieces) POPCORN Ribs & Wings (meat should be taken off the bone with either a fork or your fingers) Ice Doritos, tacos, hard chips (ok in small amounts but broken down into tiny pieces) Eating the above foods or any like foods will break and loosen both wires and brackets. Broken appliances result in longer treatment time! REMEMBER that we give extra points to patients for not having anything loose or broken when they come in for their regular scheduled appointments.  If you have any questions about a particular food, feel free to call the office or ask us a question on our Facebook page. We also have…

Reflection™ Advanced Tooth Whitening System can provide you with the dependable quality of a 22% Carbamide Peroxide Bleach Solution.   It has a refreshing mint flavor and the added benefits of Potassium Nitrate which has been shown to help reduce sensitivity.  Our kits include two extra large syringes – 5mL each – enough to whiten and save for touch-ups! The viscous gel is designed to make direct contact with your teeth for maximum whitening.  This kit provides a fast and easy way for you to do at-home teeth bleaching.  It’s important to remember to whiten only under the supervision of a dentist, and make sure to use trays or retainers that are custom fitted for your teeth.

Starting January 16th we will be changing our rewards program. As always, we want to thank you for sending your family and friends to our office. Please see below how the program has changed. We are looking forward to implementing this program and giving out some awesome prizes!  When you refer any non-family member to our office (and they start active treatment*) you will be rewarded two ways: A $25 gift card to a retailer of your choice. A chance to enter the grand prize drawing.  The grand prize is a Fuji Film Instax 70 Camera. There will be two winners, one per office location. *Active treatment is considered traditional braces or Invisalign.