Tooth Decay

Dr.Hughes and the team at Lakewood Park Orthodontics know that keeping your teeth clean during orthodontic treatment can be a difficult task –especially when it comes to flossing. Weaving floss behind wires and brackets can be a challenge. This leads many of our patients to ask about the benefits of a water pick and whether or not it could replace flossing.

Some of our patients use a water pick to flush out food and bacteria stuck between their teeth and brackets. The water pick can reach places where floss simply cannot. Water picks are gentle on braces and on gums. They are less likely to cause bleeding for people with sensitive gums. People suffering from gum disease will find water picks effective in their ability to flush out bacteria from inside deep pockets.
Water picks have many benefits, but they are not an effective substitute for flossing. Water picks are not able to remove plaque from the teeth the way floss can. Water picks can rinse some of the sticky bacteria away but floss actually scrapes the bacteria off of the teeth. Although water picks are not a good enough tool on their own they can be used in combination with flossing and brushing to keep your pearly whites clean and healthy.

If you have any questions or concerns about water picks or your oral hygiene routine we encourage you to ask below or call our office.

Each February the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.
Why is attention to children’s dental health important?

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, despite the fact that it’s almost entirely preventable. More that 40 percent of children ages 2 to 11 have had a cavity in their primary (baby) teeth, and more than two-thirds of 16 to 19-year-olds have had a cavity in their permanent teeth.

Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Good oral hygiene practices such as thorough brushing with fluoride toothpaste can help keep children from getting cavities.

Make sure to brush two times a day for two minutes (that’s 4 times a day for those of you with braces), floss once a day and see your dentist every 6 months.
Lakewood Park Orthodontics is promoting children’s dental health

As an active member of the ADA, Dr. Hughes strongly supports this effort! She will be headed out to local Natick Schools this month to hand out toothbrushes, dental information and give fun classroom presentations on dental health.

When you get your braces on our staff explains all of the ways you can help keep your mouth healthy and make your treatment move faster. We tell you to avoid hard and sticky foods that cause broken brackets and to floss every day.  We also tell you to brush five times a day - after every snack or meal. However, there are some times when it is better to not brush after your meal or snack… Actually brushing your teeth after certain meals can hurt your enamel!

When you eat foods that are highly acidic like citrus fruits, soda and sugary foods it changes the PH balance in your mouth from alkaline to acidic. After eating highly acidic foods your teeth are susceptible to damage. When you brush your teeth in this weakened state you can damage the enamel because the bristles can wear away the surface.

Now, for all of you who hate brushing, don’t get too excited – you still have to brush five times a day. However, after eating highly acidic foods it’s best to wait an hour before brushing. Other preventative measures you can take after eating acidic foods include rinsing or drinking water and concluding your meal with milk, cheese or another non-acidic food. After you have given your mouth time to return to a healthy PH balance continue to brush as normal.

How Your Diet Can Improve Your Oral Health

Improving your diet may prevent two of the most common diseases of modern civilization, tooth decay and periodontal disease. Decay is caused when teeth and other hard tissues of the mouth are destroyed by acid from oral bacteria. Certain foods and food combinations are linked to higher levels of cavity-causing bacteria. Many researchersbelieve that periodontal disease progresses faster and is more severe in patients whose diets do not supply necessary nutrients.

Poor nutrition affects the entire immune system and increases the susceptibility of many disorders. People with lowered immune systems have been shown to be at higher risk for periodontal disease.  Research also shows a link between oral health and systemic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Eating a well-balanced diet, and therefore increasing fiber and vitamin intake, may not only improve your dental health but may also reduce the risk of other diseases.

Planning Meals and Snacks to Promote Better Oral Health

Choose foods from the five major food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein. Avoid fad diets that eliminate entire food groups as these often result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Always keep your mouth moist by drinking lots of water.  Saliva protects both hard and soft oral tissues. If you have a dry mouth, supplement your diet with sugarless gum or candy to stimulate saliva.

Foods that cling to your teeth promote tooth decay. When you snack, avoid soft, sweet, sticky foods such as cakes, candy and dried fruit. Choose dentally healthy foods instead, like nuts raw vegetables, plain yogurt and cheese. (If you have braces skip the nuts and make sure to cut your vegetables in thin slices)

When eating fermentable carbohydrates, like crackers, cookies and chips eat them as part of a meal, instead of by themselves. Combinations of foods neutralize acids in the mouth and inhibit tooth decay. For example, enjoy cheese with your crackers.

Do not over-snack. Each time you eat, you create an environment for oral bacteria to develop. Studies show that dental disease is just as related to overeating as heart disease, obesity, diabetes and hypertension.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, despite the fact that it’s almost entirely preventable. More that 40 percent of children ages 2 to 11 have had a cavity in their primary (baby) teeth, and more than two-thirds of 16 to 19-year-olds have had a cavity in their permanent teeth.
Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Good oral hygiene practices such as thorough brushing with fluoride toothpaste can help keep children from getting cavities.
Make sure to brush two times a day for two minutes (that’s 4 times a day for those of you with braces), floss once a day and see your dentist every 6 months.