Hughes orthodontics

Electric Toothbrush

August 2nd, 2013

Keeping your teeth sparkling clean with braces is not easy! At Lakewood Park Orthodontics, we stress the importance of excellent brushing habits and agree with the recent studies done by the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics that electronic toothbrushes (particularly the Oral-B Professional Healthy Clean + Floss Action Electric Toothbrush with SmartGuide) do a better job than regular toothbrushes. They are expensive at stores, but you get a discount of 40% by buying through your dentist or orthodontist. Next time you are in the office, just ask any of the staff members for more information.

Here's some more information about electric toothbrushes in case you are considering purchasing one. In any case....just keep brushing!

Features of A Power Toothbrush: Simply stated, rechargeable electric toothbrushes (or “power” toothbrushes) provide superior plaque removal to regular manual toothbrushes. And because they provide the brushing action for you, many people find using power toothbrushes easier than using regular manual ones. Additionally, with so many different types and features available, it’s easy to find one that suits your specific oral health needs.

Superior Plaque Removal: According to a 2005 independent study, “Brushes that worked with a rotation oscillation action removed more plaque and reduced gingivitis more effectively than manual brushes in the short and long-term...

Ease of Use: Whereas you have to move a regular manual toothbrush back and forth along your teeth, power toothbrushes provide the cleaning action for you. That means you need only guide it along the surfaces of your teeth. Once they get the hang of it, many people find this method of brushing easier. Likewise, people with arthritis or other similar conditions may find using a power toothbrush less painful. Power toothbrushes may also help kids brush their teeth more effectively, but sure to check the age recommendations on an electric toothbrush before letting your child use it.

Technology and Features: Generally rich in technology and features, some power toothbrushes can even enable you to improve your brushing habits. And most come with convenient features like a brush head or toothbrush holder, bathroom-counter storage units and travel toothbrush chargers. Hi-tech features may include:

•Numerous brushing modes specialized for sensitive teeth, whitening benefits or gum-massaging action

•Pressure sensors to signal when you’re brushing too hard

•Timers to help you keep track of how long you’re brushing each quadrant of your mouth

•Digital reminders to replace your brush head

•Oscillating-pulsating and cupping, oscillating-rotating or sonic technology

•Multiple brush head compatibility so you can choose which kind of bristle design you prefer

Thumb sucking habit..... is it really a problem?

June 21st, 2013

Thumb/finger sucking habits, particularly if they continue once the permanent teeth erupt, can cause significant orthodontic problems. The habit generally must persist 6 hours a day in order to have an impact on the dentition and skeletal structure. If not stopped, habits such as thumb sucking can lead to a significant open bite in the front of the mouth, a posterior (back) crossbite and an overjet ("overbite") that may lead to the need for extractions and/or orthognathic surgery. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children are seen by an orthodontist no later than age seven because there are certain malocclusions and habits that may benefit tremendously from early diagnosis and treatment.

There are several reasons for the changes in the bite due to a thumb habit. Finger/thumb sucking is an active habit and causes intrusive forces on the incisors, while at the same time leading to an altered posture of the jaw that allows posterior teeth to erupt. The active sucking habit also causes a width change in the maxilla and leads to a narrow and V-shaped maxillary arch with a crossbite sometimes occurring.

If your little one has a habit, don’t hesitate to call us and speak to Dr. Hughes. On your own, you can try many tried and true home remedies to stop a thumb habit:

Use a reward system. Pediatricians sometimes recommend a game-playing, reward-based system for helping kids stop sucking their thumbs. Try buying a calendar and placing it on the refrigerator. For each day you don't see the child sucking his or her thumb, you can put a smiley-face sticker on the day. At the end of a set period of time, say a month, you can offer a modest reward, such as a toy or dinner at the child's favorite restaurant.

Try ordeal therapy. How about trying a little reverse psychology? Point out to a thumb-sucking child that he or she isn't being fair to the other fingers -- so why not suck them, too? Give the child a timer and explain that it's important to suck all fingers for the same duration. Often, the child will grow so tired of the process that they quit thumb sucking altogether. The only problem with this type of approach is that kids are likely to see through it when it comes from a parent (they know the parent really wants them to stop altogether). If you suspect that this will be the case, a pediatrician or close friend of the family may be able to help.

Offer the child the option of thumb sucking in private. Consider your efforts a success if the child quits thumb sucking in front of you or in public. Don't worry, the relatively brief time a child can spend sucking on a thumb in private won't be long enough to cause other problems.

Never use negative reinforcement. If the child has a slip, it may be destructive to use a negative reward, such as placing a sad-faced sticker on a calendar date. Failure has a nasty way of perpetuating itself.

Try "reminder fluid." Although some doctors see it as cruel, others recommend the use of bad-tasting fluids that are put on the thumb to keep the child from putting it in his or her mouth. However, don't use this method as a punishment. Rather, stress the positive by telling the child that the fluid will help by serving as a reminder of his or her goal. As an alternative, parents can place a glove or mitten on the child's hand as a reminder to keep the thumb out of the mouth.

Start with the easy stuff, then move on. First, you might suggest that the child stop thumb sucking while in public, or some other time when he or she is most likely to comply. Then you can move on to the times when the habit is most ingrained, such as bedtime. You may want to double rewards if the child doesn't suck his or her thumb during the more challenging times.

Don't yell. Although you may feel frustrated when your child slides back into his or her thumb-sucking behavior, don't punish or yell at the child. You will only make him or her nervous and upset, which will probably lead to more thumb sucking.

Wait it out. You know what happens to most kids who suck their thumbs at four, five, or even six years of age? They stop. Parents often notice that children engage in the habit a bit less with each passing year, or perhaps only suck their thumbs at certain times, such as when they're tired or watching television. Pediatricians say that many children give up thumb sucking altogether by age six or seven because of peer pressure -- ribbing from friends and schoolmates shames them into stopping.

The good news is that even if the above suggestions do not work, the early treatment of a habit by Dr. Hughes is a fairly simple and pain free one. It involves the fabrication of a habit appliance once it has been determined that the patient is unable to stop the habit themselves.

Dr. Hughes is happy to share her knowledge and advice should any of you parents have a question or concern so don't hesitate to call us.

Contest Winner

March 19th, 2013

Hannah was the winner of our Valentine's Candy Corn Counting Contest. She won a $25 itunes gift card! Congratulations Hannah and we will see you soon at your next appointment!

Website Scavenger Hunt Winner

February 4th, 2013

Jesse was the winner of our website scavenger hunt and won a $50 gift card to the Natick Mall. Congratulations Jesse!

"Am I Too Old For Braces?"

January 1st, 2013

Many adults ask the question, "Am I too old for braces?" and the answer is absolutely not! Orthodontic treatment for adults is becoming more and more common. In fact, the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed since the '90s and many offices now have 25% adults receiving orthodontic treatment! Adults are realizing that orthodontic treatment is not just for kids, and can help improve the esthetics of the smile and health of the mouth at any age. In a society where appearance matters and can help make the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing wisely to invest in orthodontic treatment.

Some of the most common reasons our adult patients come to us considering orthodontic treatment include:

• Teeth that are crowded or spaced apart

•Teeth have shifted over the years because a retainer was not worn

• Pain or pressure from crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw

As an adult patient, we recognize that you have different needs than our younger patients, and we will work with you to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment and that your needs are met with understanding and respect from us.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit us for a consultation. We understand you have a busy schedule, therefore our office offers evening and Saturday appointments in order to find a time that is convenient for you. Please give our office a call to schedule your appointment with Dr. Hughes today! Make 2013 a better, brighter, healthier New Year.

Candy Corn Contest Winner

November 14th, 2012

Sofia won our Fall Candy Corn contest and walked away with a $25 iTunes gift card. Congratulations! Stay tuned for our next contest..... a scavenger hunt on our website for more great prizes.

Photo: Congratulations to Sofia Bouqartacha who won our Candy Corn Contest. Great guess Sofia!

Top ten tips for keeping your BRACES sparklin’ clean!

October 23rd, 2012

Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces! Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these top ten tips:

1. One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.

2. It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.

3. The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.

4. Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

5. Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

6. Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.

7. Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.

8. Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.

9. Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.

10. Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need help finding the right Dentist for you, feel free to contact our office - we’d love to help!

We hope this helps, and remember to give our team a call if you ever have any questions!