Keep Calm, Brush and Sparkle!

Don’t forget to brush!  Those are the four magic words for dentist and orthodontist everywhere.  Every time you go to the dentist they always tell you to brush. Sometimes your face gets all red because you’re scared that they noticed you didn’t brush before you came.  However, all they’re saying is that you need to keep your teeth clean, even if you have the prettiest teeth in town.  Trust me I’ve been told many times to brush my teeth twice a day. 

                Before I got my braces on I said I was going to wear my rubber bands, brush three times a day. All I wanted was teeth like Mr. Clean when I got my braces off.  One of my friends had braces and when she got hers off she had pretty straight white teeth that sparkled. After I had seen her teeth I said I wanted to look just like that when I got mine off.  On the other hand, when I got my braces on I only stuck to that  for about a week. After that week I started getting really lazy and quit brushing as many times.  By the end of my treatment I regretted ever getting lazy, because now I have to pay even more attention to keep my teeth nice and clean.

                Many kids think that brushing is only a thing to keep your teeth clean.  In reality, it actually helps you from getting cavities, tooth loss, and gum disease.  Also, brushing isn’t just a twenty second thing to really get your teeth clean you need to brush for at least 2 minutes. When you brush it helps clean the surface of your teeth and when you floss it gets the plaque between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.

                In conclusion, if you focus on brushing and flossing then your teeth will sparkle when you get your braces off. Plus, the next time you go to the dentist you won’t be red faced because they noticed you didn’t brush your teeth.

                                Blog was written by a former patient of McDaniel, Sternstein & Aleman!

Nothing But A Floss Thing!

Do you ever wonder why your dentist/hygienist and orthodontist are always asking patients about how often they are flossing? Really, how important can it be…. right?   Well, according to the Academy of General Dentistry it is the most important thing that can combat against plaque.  Not only does flossing remove junk caught in between your teeth, it polishes the tooth surface, controls bad breath and decreases the chance of getting gum disease.  Many people say that they do not have the time floss, you could practice flossing with your eyes closed, if you can master that you can floss anywhere for example, in your car, at your desk (make sure your co-workers are ok with it), or even in bed each night before you go to sleep.  Buy extra packages of floss and keep them in handy places and when you have an extra minute grab some floss and floss away!

Here are a few tips on flossing.

1.       Waxed floss generally is easier to slide, but unwaxed floss will squeak on clean teeth – this is a sign that the plague is gone

2.       Generally you will want about 18inches of floss, and will wind most of it around the middle finger of one hand

3.       Hold the floss tightly between the two hands, you will have about an inch between each hand

4.       Gently glide the floss back and forth between your teeth

5.       Wrap the used floss around the middle finger of the other hand as you floss (this way you won’t re-use the floss)

6.       Once the floss is between the teeth make a “C” cupping the tooth with floss, gently rub the floss against the tooth moving it up and down the tooth

7.       Do this on all your teeth, this does include your molars

8.       Discard floss when finished

In the orthodontic office many people will ask us about the use of water picks or electric toothbrushes, although these are good tools to use, we do not recommend that our patients hurry out and purchase them.  At McDaniel, Sternstein & Aleman, we believe that a manual tooth brush and flossing will work just as sufficient provided they are being done daily.   

Remember, you don’t need to brush and floss all your teeth, only the ones you want to keep!!!