The Importance of Changing Your Toothbrush

McClellan Orthodontics

Maintaining proper oral hygiene is essential for overall health and well-being, and one of the most basic yet vital aspects of oral care is brushing our teeth regularly. For individuals with braces, this practice becomes even more crucial due to the increased complexity of cleaning around your orthodontic appliances. Among the many dental habits, changing your toothbrush regularly is often overlooked but plays a significant role in ensuring optimal oral health.

Over time, toothbrush bristles become worn out and frayed, making them less effective at removing plaque and food particles. For people with braces, this concern is amplified due to the presence of brackets and wires, which can trap food debris and create hidden breeding grounds for harmful bacteria. A worn-out toothbrush cannot reach these nooks and crannies, leading to a greater risk of plaque buildup and dental issues like cavities and gum disease. By changing your toothbrush regularly, ideally every three to four months or sooner if the bristles show significant signs of wear, you ensure that it remains effective in combating bacterial buildup.

Preventing Damage to Braces: Braces consist of delicate components designed to gradually shift the teeth into their proper positions. Using a toothbrush with frayed bristles can lead to more forceful brushing, increasing the likelihood of damaging the braces. Damaged braces can result in extended treatment time, increased discomfort, and additional expenses. By replacing your toothbrush regularly, you maintain the bristles integrity, which allows for gentle yet effective cleaning around the braces, preventing unnecessary damage.

Maintaining Gum Health: Good oral hygiene practices not only protect your teeth but also play a crucial role in maintaining healthy gums. Neglecting gum health can lead to gum disease, causing symptoms such as redness, swelling, bleeding, and even tooth loss in severe cases. For individuals with braces, maintaining healthy gums is even more critical, as braces can create additional spaces for bacteria to thrive and cause gum problems. Regularly changing your toothbrush ensures that your gums receive the gentle care they need to stay healthy throughout your orthodontic journey.

Improving Orthodontic Treatment: Wearing braces is a long-term commitment that requires dedication to the treatment plan. Keeping your teeth and braces clean is vital for the treatment's success. A fresh toothbrush allows you to clean your teeth and braces effectively, maximizing the efficiency of your orthodontic treatment. By removing plaque and food particles regularly, you create an environment that facilitates the desired tooth movements, potentially shortening the overall treatment time.

Fresh Breath and Confident Smile: Maintaining oral hygiene is not just about preventing dental issues; it also contributes to your confidence and overall well-being. A clean mouth with fresh breath will make you feel more comfortable and confident while interacting with others, especially during the braces-wearing period, which might already make some people self-conscious. Regularly changing your toothbrush and having excellent oral hygiene will help you maintain fresh breath, ensuring you feel more at ease during your orthodontic treatment.

Changing your toothbrush regularly is a small yet significant step towards maintaining excellent oral health. By preventing bacteria buildup, reducing the risk of damage to braces, maintaining gum health, and improving the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment, a fresh toothbrush plays a crucial role in your overall dental care routine. Embrace this simple habit, and you'll not only protect your smile but also boost your confidence throughout your braces-wearing journey and beyond. So, the next time you pick up your toothbrush, remember that a healthy, beautiful smile starts with a fresh bristle!

Still have questions? Contact the team at McClellan Orthodontics...we are here to help.

 

Prevent Enamel Erosion While in Braces

McClellan Orthodontics

Braces are a spectacular tool for straightening smiles and correcting jaw problems that impact self-confidence and overall oral wellness. Your wires and brackets are fundamental to the treatment process, but they also can make it difficult to remove food particles that get stuck under and between your brackets and wires. Unfortunately, if this food is left to fester, the acidic content of the food can eat away at your tooth’s vital tooth enamel.

If you have braces, your teeth and gums can be prone to many dental issues. One of those issues is enamel erosion. Enamel erosion occurs when acid attacks the teeth and wears down the enamel. This can make your teeth vulnerable to tooth fractures and cavities. To help you prevent enamel erosion while in braces treatment, Dr. McClellan encourages you to do the following:

Avoid Acidic Foods and Beverages: Consuming acidic products can expose your teeth to the acid that can harm them. So, it’s best to avoid consuming acidic foods and drinks as much as possible.

Wait to Brush Your Teeth: If you do happen to consume an acidic food or drink, please wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. Your enamel is extremely vulnerable immediately after eating acidic foods and the bristles of your toothbrush can worsen the damage.

Use Fluoride: Fluoride can strengthen your tooth enamel and help you avoid enamel erosion. So, make sure to expose your teeth to fluoride regularly. You can do so by using fluoride toothpaste and fluoride mouthwash, drinking fluoridated water, and receiving a professional fluoride treatment.

There are many oral health problems that can happen with braces if you are not focused on your orthodontic care and brushing/flossing of your teeth. Your diet can damage your teeth during your orthodontic treatment, which is why we want you to avoid certain foods and drinks. Overly acidic or sugary foods and drinks can lead to tooth decay and acid erosion that harms your tooth enamel. If you would like to learn more about how you prevent enamel erosion while wearing braces, the friendly staff at McClellan Orthodontics are available to train you in methods for keeping your teeth clean and strong.

 

4 Things You Didn't Know About Your Teeth

McClellan Orthodontics

Learning how to take care of your teeth is as much a part of growing up. However, when it comes to our teeth, many of us still have a thing or two to learn. Here are 4 facts about your teeth that you might not know.

1. Your enamel is the hardest part of your body - The enamel is the outermost layer of your teeth. Like a hard shell, its primary purpose is to protect the rest of the tooth. Even though it is there to protect your teeth, your enamel can still chip or crack, and it isn’t safe from decay. Sugars and acids, like those found in soft drinks, interact with bacteria in your mouth and attack your enamel, which marks the start of tooth decay.

2. Yellow means decay - When you think of reasons your teeth might be looking yellow, your first thought likely goes to stains. And while teeth can get stained by foods, drinks, and other substances, these stains are not the only reason your teeth might change color. Enamel is partly responsible for your teeth’s white appearance, and when it decays, your teeth may start to appear yellow.

3. Your mouth is home to 300 types of bacteria - Plaque contains millions of bacteria, made up of 200 to 300 varied species. White and sticky, Plaque is constantly growing. If you don’t remove it regularly by brushing and flossing, it can cause tooth decay. Without removal, plaque hardens and develops into tartar. So, brush and floss at least twice daily and see your dentist for regular cleanings.

4. Your teeth can be an indicator of your overall health - One in 7 adults aged 35 to 44 has gum disease. For adults older than 65, that number increases to 1 in 4. Tooth decay and other infections in the mouth may be associated with health problems such as strokes and diabetes. People who have higher levels of gum disease also have a higher level of heart disease.

You use your teeth to bite, chew and talk countless times throughout your day. It's easy to take your teeth for granted, but healthy teeth and gums are critical contributors to your overall good health. If you have any questions about proper oral hygiene or your dental health, please give McClellan Orthodontics a call.

 

 

The Benefits of Brushing for 2 Minutes

McClellan Orthodontics

Your mouth is the gateway to your overall health, and an unhealthy mouth can be linked to diabetes and heart disease. Did you know that dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease? More than 16 million children in the United States suffer from untreated decay.

The 2 Minutes 2 Times a Day campaign was created by the Ad Council for The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives, a coalition of nearly three dozen dental health organizations, including the American Dental Association.

Together with the American Dental Association (ADA), McClellan Orthodontics recommends that kids, as well as adults, brush their teeth in a soft, circular motion for two minutes, twice a day, and floss daily.

Two minutes twice daily is the optimal prevention brushing regimen as it takes two minutes for the tooth enamel to uptake the fluoride in toothpaste. In addition to allowing time for fluoride to work, there is the physical massage of the tooth surfaces that removes the plaque and makes a clean surface for the fluoride to do its job. When the enamel absorbs fluoride, it makes the tooth surface harder and more resistant to the bacteria-produced acids that cause tooth decay.

The benefits of brushing for 2 minutes:

• Clean teeth 
• Healthy gums 
• Nice breath

Beginning with the eruption of the first tooth, parents should begin brushing their child’s teeth with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste. The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives recommends that parents supervise their child’s brushing until age 8. Supervising your child’s brushing gives you an opportunity to teach them how to brush. Please remember that a baby or toddler should never use fluoride toothpaste unsupervised or independently.

It is also important to floss at least once a day, to clean in between the teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach. Parents should start flossing their child’s teeth as soon as they notice that teeth are touching…which could be as early as two years of age.

2min2x.org has videos to help your child brush the recommended 2 minutes each time. It can be fun to play the video for your kids to watch while brushing to get them started with this healthy habit.

If you need additional tips and tricks for better brushing habits, feel free to contact our Kenilworth Orthodontic office.

 

Eating With Orthodontic Appliances

McClellan Orthodontics

There are certain dietary habits that are known to cause orthodontic appliances to break, as well as increase the risk of dental disease. Teeth move best in a healthy environment and in individuals with excellent overall health, so be sure you have a well-balanced diet.

If you have orthodontic appliance, you must use caution when selecting foods to eat. Remember, Dr. McClellan aims to achieve your treatment goals with as few disturbances as possible. And damage to your orthodontic appliances due to poor diet choices may extend your overall treatment time. It’s up to you to ensure that you are eating healthy foods to keep your orthodontic appliances in proper condition and to improve your overall health. 

Orthodontic appliances, like braces, are attached to your teeth with an adhesive that will typically withstand the forces of eating. However, appliances can be dislodged, and wires can be bent or broken while eating certain foods.  

Foods and drinks that may cause cavities should be restricted while wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances. Sticky foods should also be avoided because of the increased risk of dental decay and appliance breakage. Between-meal snacks should be confined to foods without refined sugar and followed by brushing or vigorous rinsing.

It’s best not to eat hard foods, sticky foods, and foods high in sugar. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods as they can cause tooth decay and other related problems. You should also refrain from nail-biting and chewing on foreign objects such as pens. Below is a list of foods that may be appealing but are dangerous to eat during orthodontic treatment:

• Ice 
• Sticky food or candy of any kind
• Hard food or candy of any kind
• Foods high in sugar content 
• Foods that require biting into

While you will have to avoid certain foods if you have orthodontic appliances, there are still plenty of healthy and delicious food options available to you. Some of the best foods to eat if you have orthodontic appliances are:

• Yogurt 
• Bananas, grapes, oranges, strawberries, and other fruits without pits 
• Light crackers or cookies 
• Cheese 
• Mashed potatoes 
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• Ravioli, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, and other noodle dishes

If you are unsure about dietary restrictions or healthy food options, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at McClellan Orthodontics. We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Remember, it is essential to regularly check your orthodontic appliances for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, call our office immediately to arrange for a repair appointment.

 

Whiten Your Teeth

McClellan Orthodontics

The feeling you have after getting your braces removed is the absolute best! 

Unfortunately, some people get their braces off and are disappointed by the color of their teeth. From toothpaste to whitening trays…there are many options for whitening your teeth after your braces have been removed.

Whitening Toothpaste – Whitening toothpastes are different from regular toothpastes as they includes more abrasive ingredients to scrub the surface of the teeth to remove surface stains. Whitening toothpastes are the least expensive and most easily accessible option for brightening your smile. However, it can take several weeks to begin to see results. 

At-home Whitening Kits – At-home whitening kits like Crest Whitestrips are relatively effective and can help whiten your teeth after braces. At-home whitening kits are able remove stains from under the tooth surface with bleaching agents that contain hydrogen peroxide. The bleaching agent reacts with the internal aspect of your tooth, mixing with the discolored areas and breaking them apart, giving your teeth a noticeably whiter appearance.

Professional Teeth Whitening – If you have serious stains or white spots on your teeth after your braces have been removed, a professional whitening treatment is the best choice. With professional whitening, you’ll be able to quickly reverse years of staining in a single appointment.

If you or a member of your family has just completed orthodontic treatment and are looking for teeth whitening options in Kenilworth, IL, the team at McClellan Orthodontics can help answer any questions you may have. Give our office a call today! 

 

Achieve a Healthy Smile in 6 Easy Steps

McClellan Orthodontics

For many people, an ideal smile is a mouth full of bright white, perfectly aligned teeth. But in addition to straight white teeth, you need to make sure that your smile is a healthy one.

Follow the steps below to make sure your smile is the picture of health.

1. Brush your Teeth Twice a Day

Brushing removes leftover food particles that can bond with saliva to form plaque. These particles feed the bacteria that naturally live in our mouths and these bacteria can eat through our tooth enamel and cause tooth decay.

2. Floss Once a Day

Flossing removes plaque between teeth and out from under the gumlines, where a toothbrush can’t reach. If left alone, plaque and tartar build up under the surface of the gumlines can cause periodontal disease, which leads to bone destruction and tooth loss.

3. Limit Sugary Drinks

The bacteria in our mouths thrive on sugar which makes sugary drinks a major contributor to tooth decay. Reducing the amount of sugar in your diet combined with regular brushing and flossing can help keep the bacteria under control.

4. Maintain a Healthy Diet

Good nutrition provided by healthy foods help your bones and teeth grow and stay healthy. Also...a lot of fruits and vegetables are crunchy and chewy, which promotes the production of saliva. Foods that require a lot of chewing are good for the teeth because more saliva means the mouth is naturally washed out more often.

5. Stay Hydrated

Water is the healthiest drink for your smile and your body. Drinking water helps rinse teeth clean and discourages tooth decay. Not only that…but keeping your body hydrated helps your mouth produce enough saliva to keep your mouth and teeth clean.

6. See your Dentist Twice a Year

Regular dental visits are necessary to preserving your oral health. Having routine cleanings every six months helps to promote good oral health and a beautiful smile. Regular dental checkups are the key to maintaining a healthy smile.

It can take some time before you start to notice changes from improved oral hygiene. While these changes won’t come overnight, they are certainly worth the time and effort, both for the sake of your smile and your overall health. If you have any questions regarding the health of your teeth and mouth, don’t hesitate to call our office. 

 

 

5 Signs You May Have Gum Disease

McClellan Orthodontics

More than 80 percent of Americans are living with gum disease, which most often than not, goes unnoticed.

At McClellan Orthodontics our goal is to raise awareness of the prevalence of gum disease while encouraging our patients to take an active role in better oral health.

Gum disease is something that most people will experience at some point in their lives. But because the symptoms of gum disease are so subtle, most people don't realize their oral health is at risk. 

If gum disease is left untreated, the consequences could be severe.  Gum disease has been linked to a host of general medical problems, including: Heart disease, Endocarditis, Lung problems, Alzheimer’s disease, Colorectal cancer, Diabetes, and Kidney, pancreatic and blood cancers in men.

According to the American Association of Periodontology (AAP), you may have gum disease if:

• Your gums are red, swollen, and sore to the touch. 
• Your gums bleed when you eat, brush or floss.  
• You see pus or other signs of infection around the gums and teeth. 
• Your gums look as if they are "pulling away" from the teeth.  
• You frequently have bad breath or notice a bad taste in your mouth.

A great oral hygiene routine and regular dental visits are the absolute best way to take a preventative measure against gum disease. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day and that you floss your teeth every day to ensure your gums are healthy and pink.

With good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups, you can keep your teeth for a lifetime and avoid many significant health problems.

If you have any questions regarding the health of your teeth and gums, please don't hesitate to give McClellan Orthodontics a call.

It's time for a New Toothbrush

McClellan Orthodontics

The toothbrush is your number one oral hygiene accessory.  Toothbrushes help keep your teeth and mouth clean, but how long should you keep a toothbrush?

Replacing your toothbrush is essential since it is constantly being exposed to germs and bacteria. At McClellan Orthodontics, we recommend that you switch out your old toothbrush for a new one every 3 to 4 months. People who wear braces should change their toothbrushes more frequently because braces break down and fracture bristles which makes the toothbrush lose its effectiveness. If you notice the bristles of your toothbrush have become worn that's a clear sign you need a new toothbrush.

3 Reasons to Change Out Your Old Toothbrush:

1. Bacteria - Your toothbrush is a tool for removing bacteria from your teeth…but it doesn’t actually kill bacteria. No matter how well you store your toothbrush, it’s still going to harbor bacteria in between brushings. Same goes for everyone else’s toothbrush.This means if your toothbrush comes in contact with somebody else’s, it’s liable to pick up some of the germs from that neighboring toothbrush.

2. Bristles - Like any tool, a toothbrush wears down. Worn bristles are tough on your enamel and can wear it away over time. If your toothbrush’s bristles can no longer stand up straight, that’s a surefire sign it’s time to buy a new brush. Bent, frayed, or excessively worn bristles simply aren’t going to be as effective at removing plaque and other particles from your teeth compared to bristles that are in better shape.

3. Illness - Always change your toothbrush after you’ve been sick, even if it’s not “technically” time to switch out your toothbrush. you should also replace your toothbrush if you have dropped it. Even if your toothbrush lands somewhere it shouldn’t for just a few seconds, that’s enough time for it to pick up all sorts of nasty bacteria. No matter whether you drop your toothbrush on the floor, in the sink, or anywhere else, the introduction of foreign bacteria into your mouth from your toothbrush could provoke illness. Better to be safe than sorry.

Having a clean mouth is important. It gives you fresh breath and a nicer-looking smile. Brushing removes a thin sticky film of bacteria that grows on your teeth. This sticky film, called plaque, is the main cause of tooth decay and gum disease. Replacing your toothbrush on a regular basis is one of the best ways to ensure it does its job to the best of its abilities.

Pro Tip: Put that old toothbrush to work doing odd jobs around the house. Old toothbrushes are great for cleaning around facet fixtures and in between tile. They can even be used to clean tools, computer keyboards, and tennis shoes.