Orthodontic Health Month and Halloween Candy

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October is an exciting time- football, pumpkin spice lattes, cooler weather, and of course Halloween! For orthodontists, it’s Orthodontic Health month. We at Davis Orthodontics like to celebrate beautiful, healthy smiles by sharing the importance of oral health, benefits of orthodontic treatment, and of course a few Halloween candy braces tips and tricks!

The Importance of Oral Health

Brushing your teeth is the most important action anyone can do to take care of your smile. We like to say “Brush the teeth you wish to keep!” Brushing at least twice a day helps remove food and harmful bacteria that can result in bad breath, decay, and infection. Flossing also helps remove food and plaque between teeth and the gum line. Additionally flossing daily helps prevent sore, puffy gums as well as gingivitis, which if left untreated can lead to periodontitis.

Orthodontics

Orthodontics is a dental specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, correction and management of misaligned teeth, jaws, and bite.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that a child should have an initial orthodontic screening at age 7. Although orthodontic treatment may not begin at this time, the team at Davis Orthodontics can guide your child through their dental development to minimize any potential problems that may occur due to habits or their growth.

Halloween Candy Go’s and No’s

Halloween is a festive time of year for our young patients as well as for our older ones. It’s fun to collect candy and enjoy all the Halloween spooky treats at fall parties. Knowing what candy you can and can’t eat is crucial to your treatment (and happiness) in order to care for your brackets and wires. Not all candy is equal when it comes to being braces safe.

Candy Goes:

  • Soft candy/chocolates (without hard caramel or nuts)
  • Pixie sticks
  • Peanut butter cups
  • Sugar-Free Gum
  • KitKats

Candy No’s aka No Ooey, Gooey, Sticky, or Chewy candies

  • Hard Candy like Jolly Ranchers or Jaw Breakers
  • Popcorn
  • Laffy Taffy
  • Airheads
  • Caramel
  • Starbursts
  • Skittles
  • Tootsie Rolls
  • Bubble Gum
  • Twislers
  • Nuts
  • Gummy candies like Swedish Fish or Sour Patch Kids

By following these guidelines, you will minimize the risk of broken brackets and damaged wires while in braces. Additionally you can prevent prolonged treatment times and additional visits to the office to repair loose appliances. Happy Halloween!

National Dental Care Month

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Oral care plays an integral role in your aesthetic and physical health. At Davis Orthodontics, we invite you to read the importance of maintaining optimal dental health, a brief history of National Dental Care Month, and how you can observe the occasion.

DENTAL HYGIENE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Practicing good dental hygiene should begin during childhood and continue throughout your life. Children are less likely to experience problems like tooth decay and gum disease. However, oral care problems in children could contribute to potentially serious problems like oral infections, pain, and even nutrition deficiencies due to the inability to chew or digest foods properly. Dental care professionals recommend that children start receiving oral care as early as six months old and receive subsequent care at least once or twice per year.

Adults who fail to practice optimal oral hygiene stand at risk of developing serious oral care problems, lost teeth, and severe gum disease. Additionally, poor oral care in adults has been linked to potentially serious, even life-threatening illnesses like systemic infections, cardiovascular disease, certain kinds of head and neck cancers, and diabetes.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL DENTAL CARE MONTH

National Dental Care Month was founded by Dr. Tim Stirneman and Jim Wojdyla after the discovery that there were not enough national holidays that celebrate oral health. At the start of 2018, the National Day Calendar made it official to observe National Dental Care Month annually during the month of May.

OBSERVING THE OCCASION

The best way for you to observe this national holiday is to remember the importance of maintaining proper oral hygiene and engaging in practices designed to help you achieve this aim. This includes:

Brushing And Flossing Regularly
Oral care experts recommend that you brush at least twice per day and floss at least once. Brushing should be executed for two to three minutes per session using wide, circular strokes to read every tooth. Floss should gently be placed between the teeth. Both of these activities remove lingering food products and help cleanse bacteria from the mouth.

Limit Sugar Intake
Sugar has a notorious reputation for damaging teeth. Therefore, the consumption of foods and beverages containing sugar should be reduced to avoid further damage.

Avoid Cigarette Smoking
The chemicals contained in cigarettes can stain teeth and damage the tooth enamel. Additionally, smoking weakens the body’s immune system, which can prove detrimental to the gums, especially following injuries and dental procedures.

Visit Oral Care Professional Routinely
Optimal oral health involves seeing your dental care provider at least once or twice per year. During these visits, oral care practitioners can provide professional cleanings, identify any underlying problems, and address issues before they require more aggressive treatment.

CONTACTING US

If you are looking for an experienced dental care professional, we encourage you to consider the experts at Davis Orthodontics. We pride ourselves in combining old-fashioned customer service practices with cutting-edge technology to offer you care that is second to none. For further information about our practice and the services we provide, contact our offices today.