According to the Academy of General Dentistry, the average person only brushes 45 to 70 seconds a day.  Jordan Landing Smiles recommends 2 to 3 minutes per day.  How much time do you spend brushing your teeth each day?

How to keep your teeth & gums healthy during ortho:

-Brush your teeth and braces at least three times a day (and especially after eating).

-Floss at least once daily; definitely just before you go to bed.

-Use a fluoride tooth paste

-Use a fluoride mouth rinse at least once daily to help reduce the risk of cavities.

-Try to carry your toothbrush and floss with you at all times so that you can clean your teeth even when you are not home.

How to clean all areas of your mouth while wearing braces:

-First, take off any elastic bands and removable parts.

-One brushing method is to place your brush at a 45 Degree angle to the gum. Apply gentle pressure as you brush with a short back-and-forth motion, cleaning each tooth individually for about 10 seconds.

-Use the same brushing motion on all inner and outer tooth surfaces.

-Don't forget to brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth.

-Finish by cleaning around your braces, brushing first from the top and then from the bottom.  Brush gently and take care not to break or bend any of the brackets or wire.

It is vital that you clean your braces every time you brush your teeth.  Braces can act as a "plaque trap," increasing the amount of plaque in your mouth, which can lead to an increased risk of cavities and gum disease.

When a person doesn't have enough saliva to keep the mouth wet, he or she has a condition called dry mouth. 

Symptoms of Dry Mouth:

-A dry, sticky or burning feeling in the mouth

-Cracked Lips

-A dry tongue or dry feeling in the throat

-Difficulty speaking, tasting, chewing or swallowing

-Sores in or around the mouth

Tips to alleviate discomfort  for Dry Mouth:

-Drink plenty of water through out the day

-Brush your teeth at least twice a day

-Floss Daily

-Use a fluoride toothpaste

-Avoid caffienated & sugared beverages

-Avoid tobacco & alcohol

The end of the year is arriving fast and most insurance's renew in Janurary.  We want to encourage all our patient's to use their insurance benefits to their max.  Which means if you have any treatment that needs to be done we would suggest to come in before the end of the year to use your benefits before they renew.  Hurry and make an appointment with our office today. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Brush at least twice a day

Brushing your teeth regularly is important in all stages of life. Brushing helps to remove the thin film of bacteria that builds up on your teeth each day and contributes to tooth decay. You should brush your teeth for two minutes with fluoridated toothpaste at least twice a day. If you can brush your teeth after every meal, that’s even better.

When you brush, you should keep the bristles angled against the gumline and brush along the gumline and the inner and outer surfaces of each tooth. You should finish by brushing your tongue, which helps remove bacteria from your mouth.

Special concerns as you age: Although decay may occur in any area of the tooth, as you age decay is more likely to develop around old fillings or in the softer root of the tooth that is exposed as gums recede. Be sure to visit your dentist regularly so that he or she can keep an eye on these vulnerable areas.

Floss daily

Flossing your teeth can help keep your gums strong and prevent plaque from building up between teeth. Make sure to floss at least once a day, preferably before bed, to clean the places where a toothbrush can’t reach.

How important is flossing? According to the Academy of General Dentistry, flossing is the only activity that can remove plaque from between teeth and below the gumline, where decay and gum disease often begin.  

Eat nutritious food

What you eat can help you keep your teeth. Antioxidants and other nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts improve your body’s ability to fight bacteria and inflammation, helping to protect your teeth and gums.

Some foods may actually help defend against tooth decay in special ways. For instance, recent studies have indicated that fresh cranberries interrupt the bonding of oral bacteria before they can form damaging plaque.