Getting Braces

I remember when my dentist told me I needed to consider getting braces. I was petrified, at the time I already did not like going to the dentist. I could not fathom having metal studs and bands in my mouth. I can remember the talks I had with my mom about the situation. She was adamant that I get them. Not to mention the insurance was helping quite a bit so i think that is why she was so steadfast about me getting them. A few weeks following the dentist's  recommendation my appointment with an orthodontist surgeon.

The orthodontist we went to seemed like it was for the younger people, I was a freshman going into my sophomore year at this point. We checked in and had to fill out a lot of paperwork. Shortly after my mom finished filling everything in and hanging the papers back to the receptionist I got called back.  They had to do x rays on me first and foremost. I am not a fan of the x rays at the dentist and I came to find out these are worse. I had to put on a lead apron, put the weird ‘T’ looking plastic piece in my mouth by my molars, stand in the center of a machine which whirled around my head and bite on a plastic piece so my head would not move, it was horrible. 

After that horrific experience, they sat me down in one of their chairs to take a look at my teeth with their own eyes. It was not like the dentist thank goodness. They didn't try to poke and prod around with their metal tools. Shortly after they put in these metal spacers, they kind of looked like staples to me. They had to be placed between my molars. It was painful. After about a week or so I would need to go back to have the spacers removed and have my braces put on. They told me I should heavily apply chapstick the day and night before as my mouth will be open for a while and that'll dry my lips out really bad. Thank goodness i listened.

Having the braces put on was no easy or fun task. They had to put this plastic red mouth and lip separator in and that was no joke. I did not enjoy that one bit but that was only the beginning. For the next hour to hour and a half i had my mouth forcibly staying open, a miniature vacuum tube to suck up any saliva and fingers in my mouth. The process was long. They had to clean my teeth very well before they could put the glue on that hold the metal studs in place. I can still remember the glue and the odd smell and taste it had. Once the stud was set in the glue an odd tool was used to super dry the glue. It worked in a matter of seconds and the once wet glue was hard as concrete. Once all the studs were in it was time for the metal bars to go across the studs. I was not ready for the pain it gave me. After about an hour or so I was done and my mouth in pain. 

Getting braces was not a fun experience by any means. The monthly checkups and rewiring was a nuscenec. On the other hand I am glad I did. Now I have a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth and that's that. The pain I had to go through for braces sucked to put it blunt but as I said, I am happy that I got braces because now my teeth are as straight as they can be.

Don't forget to floss at night

Every year I learn more and more about different things I could have done better or should be doing better.  When it comes to my health I am always learning and even in 2021 I am getting new information that helps me improve and get past these damn mask issues.  Nearing middle age I have begun to look at life a little differently.  I am noticing that I am really truly not as young as a once was.  I went to play basketball this last weekend and it had been almost a year since I had previously played.  The next morning my body felt wrecked.  My knees hurt and my back felt like I had run a marathon.  Clearly, I am a bit out of shape, but it also got me thinking about all other aspects of my life and health.  One area I have always feared was my dental hygiene.  I have always feared my teeth being filled with cavities and eventually falling out.  It was always a nightmare of mine as a child, but even with this fear, my dental health has not always been perfect. But I am ready to make every change I can to save money and add health and happiness.

We all have a schedule that we keep.  We all lie to our dentist but we know the truth.  In reality, I brush my teeth about once a day and sometimes I forget.  So I am wondering if now I need to add flossing to my daily routine to keep my teeth healthy.  Apparently, I have joined 36% of Americans who do not floss at all.  I really only floss when I get something truly stuck in my teeth. So in reality it's about once a month and that is only because I have to do it to get some meat out of my teeth. 

Now that I know more I simply know better.  Looking into the topic it seems that flossing is very important and something I should start doing on a daily basis if I can remember to do it.  The extra flossing helps get rid of extra bacteria, plaque, and food that has gotten stuck on enamel.  So in the end it will help get rid of cavities and tooth decay.  Upon hearing this I was astounded that I have been missing out on such an important part of my health. 

We all know where things come from now thanks to our wonderful cell phones.  And apparently, bad breath comes from tarter.  I learned that tarter is created when plaque builds up on tooth enamel.  This is the main cause of bad breath and shows me that brushing and using mouthwash is not enough.  I need to start flossing to get rid of plaque before I go to sleep. And not only that it helps a more serious health issue.

Now flossing is super important to your health and can save your life.  So when you have gum disease due to cavies and plaque and tartar buildup you have a chance of it getting into your gums. That bacteria that gets into the bloodstream from the gums can actually cause heart disease. So flossing not only is important for dental health but also your whole body’s health and cardiovascular health too. As always see your healthcare provider for more information and to see if flossing should be a part of your daily routine too. If you need more information bring it up on your next dental trip. 

Use a new Tooth Paste for Brighter Teeth

I have struggled most of my life to keep my looks up.  Not only with diets and working out, but with my dental routine as well.  I think that it is a struggle to keep up with the American dream of looking good all the time, but there are some easy tips in order to stay healthy and look better at the same time.  There are really good reasons to try new things in order to increase not only your look but your health and the older I get the more I seek out these ideas.  Now I am a big fan of natural items to increase my health because all the reliance on chemicals seems to be unhealthy in the long run.  So today I want to go over a good change in your regular daily routine that can help your smile look brighter and also increase the overall feel of your self.

 

This area that I am talking about is something that we should be doing every single day.  That is brushing your teeth of course.  Now generally most Americans only brush their teeth once a day in reality.  The amount they should be brushing is twice a day according to the ADA and that is a minimum amount.  In reality, if we were at the top of our dental game we would be brushing 3 times a day or after every single meal.  That would be ideal for keeping your mouth clean of bacteria causing food and sugar.  But most of us are content with just brushing twice a day.  Now there is a big toothpaste substitute that can take your regular smile and pump it up a whole level of brightness.

 

This new toothpaste is a charcoal-infused toothpaste.  It is a fairly new concept for this year and many people are starting to take it seriously and change their lifestyles.  The social media buz behind this trend has been to show the effects of charcoal toothpaste while brushing.  Yes, it is real charcoal and it does turn your mouth black while brushing.  There are so many videos of people doing this and it seems to be a big trend to keep kids excited to brush their teeth.  This in my opinion is wonderful because it is putting dental health in a good light and people are starting to take care of this area of health.

 

What they are also showing is that after a month of consistent habits of brushing is that their smile gets brighter.  The charcoal is actually a light abrasive and is slowly getting rid of that plaque and bacteria that helps to turn your teeth yellow and cause your enamel to decay.  This is a wonderful thing because the smiles are getting better after about a month of brushing and their overall health is increasing.  The need for this trend could not come at a better time either.

The pandemic has left many people stuck at home and they are eating and drinking more than normal.  This means that their teeth are being attacked more each day and the trend to take care of your dental health this year is really helping to avoid lots of dental emergencies. So give it a try andn see if it fits your dental routine this wild year!

Avoid those bad Foods that hurt your teeth

It is always a hard thing to make sure your diet is helping out your whole body.  Sometimes we simply forget that parts of our mouth actually play a big roll in our overall health.  The diet that we eat and drink can have a major roll in that area and can either keep your body more healthy or hurt you over time.  I am pretty sure that most of us are not entirely certain of what our diet is doing to our teeth.  So even if you are being rather healthy I want to point out a few areas of things that you can avoid in order to better your health.  Now, this can be really easy or a bit complicated.  But there are some simple staples of things that you shouldn't do and maybe a few things that you should.

 

It seems obvious to many people but there are a few things that are generally universally known to be bad for your health.  You guessed it, sweet sugary drinks are indeed one of them.  We all love these and sometimes they even sneak into your diet without you really thinking much about them.  The once a week trip to the fast-food location for lunch could be a culprit and the extra refill you get as you are walking out could be a big health hit for your teeth.  The extra sugar actually breaks down your tooth enamel.  This over time can be a really big issue because they can break down more enamel than you can produce.  The big issue later in life is that your mouth stops producing enamel and at some point, you have reached the actual point of no return.  That is a sad thing and certainly something that you should be aware of.  The drinking of sugary drinks can literally wear away your teeth and cause major tooth erosion over time.  So if you are able to cut back on this diet area it is worth doing.  There is a great alternative to sugary drinks.

 

The answer is to substitute them for more water.  Water does a great job of helping your health.  It truly is a wonderful addition to your diet by drinking the correct amount for your body.  Water increases the flow of saliva and the production of it in the mouth.  This is the body's natural teeth cleaner and can help move the food away from your teeth and keep your body protecting itself.  Now drinking water is complicated for many people due to lack of what feels like style and availability.

 

One way I have found to drink more water and not sugary drinks are to use a personal water bottle.  This could be a plastic BPA free bottle or a stainless steel bottle.  I suggest finding one that fits the location you are going to be drinking the most.  Usually, this is going to be the place you work or live.  At work, I found that I am able to find an appropriate looking bottle that fits my environment. It is not always the case, but generally, if you can drink coffee at work you can find a good cup to fit your location. I hope these tips are able to help you and your dental health.

Water, Not Sugar Saves Teeth

The air is starting to cool down and with that comes a lot of changes in our lives.  The Fall has just arrived and we are going to be making a lot of changes due to the season.  The vast majority of Americans take Fall as the time to start drinking and eating more sugary drinks.  Now, I am not going to say this is a bad thing.  As a matter of fact, I love the fall and all the nice warm drinks and sweet treats that come with it.  Many holidays happen and a ton of get-togethers are on my own personal calendar and I know that lots of treats are on the way.  The big thing to me though is that I protect my body and use the easiest ways available to do it.  Staying hydrated is very important and water can help protect your dental hygiene this season.

 

The reason this all matter is because the extra sugar and acid that we consume during the holiday season hurt out teeth.  The unfortunate side effect of yummy treats is that acid and sugar can help speed up tooth decay.  This is when you tooth enamel starts to soften due to all the acid breaking it down.  The bacteria and plaque also created by sugar stay on your teeth and slowly create holes and cavities.  It really is a sad thing to see, but there is hope and a way to help protect your mouth.

 

The first thing to do is to stay hydrated and drink water.  Water is a natural mouth cleanser and helps to rinse your teeth from the unwanted acid and sugar.  I really do like to indulge on fall sweets and acidic drinks and to counter some of the bad that comes from those I always keep water nearby.  Water helps rinse those bad drinks off my teeth and it also hydrates my body.  The human body creates more saliva when hydrated.  The saliva in our mouths is a natural cleaner. This is a great reason to keep drinking water after your snack.  You are instantly helping your mouth and creating more cleaner by hydrating yourself.

 

I like to be able to drink more water and creating habits to do it.  I think that the best way to drink water is to simply have it nearby.  The water bottle idea is nothing new and it is something that has helped change my life.  I keep a work water bottle and a sports water bottle with me nearly all the time.  At work my stainless steel water bottle allows me to refill it and look classy at teh office.  People usually have coffee but I drink water and am able to blend in and stay healthy.

 

My sports water bottle is something that I use when I am not at work.  It fits my active lifestyle and allows me to not look super fancy when I am in the car or at the gym.  I love being able to also separate the bottles so my nasty sweat from working out never gets on my work water bottle.  It is the little things that mentally helpme out. I hope these tips help you to better your life and keep your teeth safe during this fall season.