Words of Wisdom No.9: “Brush Your Teeth When You First Get Out of Bed and Before You Get Back In at Night“ 1

Words of Wisdom No.9: “Brush Your Teeth When You First Get Out of Bed and Before You Get Back In at Night“

bed

If you currently do not brush your teeth every morning and night, your oral health may suffer in the future. Preventive care means being responsible for the health of your teeth and gums. Even though it may seem like an unwanted chore, it only takes a few minutes to brush your teeth twice a day. The results may reveal less cavities and stronger teeth. If you wear braces, you need to brush two times a day.

Avoid Plaque Build-up in Your Mouth

Plaque is an arch enemy of good oral health. If you do not brush your teeth before you go to bed, you are not eliminating the plaque build-up taking place in your mouth throughout the day. If you avoid brushing your teeth in the morning when you first get out of bed, you risk skipping the event until bedtime. One reason why it is important to brush your teeth in the morning is because you need to get rid of bacteria and plaque remaining in your mouth while you sleep. If you wear Invisalign braces, you still need to brush twice a day.

Do Not Brush Your Teeth Right After Eating Drinking Citrus Juice

If you drink a glass of orange juice or grapefruit juice in the morning, you should not brush your teeth right away. You could brush the acidic fruit juice onto your teeth and Invisalign braces. A good habit is to brush your teeth when you wake up and then rinse your mouth with an oral antiseptic mouthwash after eating breakfast.

Ask Your Orthodontist about Which Type of Toothbrush to Use

If you are not sure whether to use a manual or electric toothbrush, ask your orthodontist for professional advice. One thing to remember is that most orthodontists recommend brushing the teeth with a soft toothbrush. Make an appointment with Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics today.

Do Braces Make the Roots of Your Teeth Shorter? 2

Do Braces Make the Roots of Your Teeth Shorter?

makeupPeople are often concerned about root shortening (root resorption) when it comes to braces and Invisalign. With the use of modern orthodontic techniques, it is highly unlikely for a patient to experience any significant root resorption.

The Basics of Resorption

Research shows that for orthodontic patients, only 2% of them will finish treatment with root resorption that the eye can detect on an xray. Other studies indicate that some people are genetically more prone to root shortening. Other contributing factors can be a very long time in braces, pushing the teeth too hard, or trying to push the teeth too fast in the absence of acceleration techniques. Fortunately, a tooth can often withstand a significant amount of root resorption without having any long term symptoms. The literature reports that a root can lose as much as half of its length without having any impact on the person. Even people genetically predisposed to root shortening typically don’t lose more than 1/4 of the root length. That means that even though it is visible on the xrays, it is not a medical problem.

To minimize the incidence of root resorption, Drs Gorton & Schmohl focus on optimizing the treatment timing for each patient, to avoid having the braces on too long, they use the latest technology in gentle wires to move the teeth to keep the forces gentle, and they only move teeth more quickly if they have changed the surrounding environment with proven acceleration techniques such as Acceledent, Biolux, and/or PROPEL / microperforation. At the time of this writing, board certified Drs Jasmine Gorton and Bill Schmohl are the only orthodontic practice in the area offering all 3 of these innovative techniques to improve efficiency without increasing the concern about root resorption (as evidenced in our before and after records).

Fix Your Smile Today

Contact Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics today to set up your consultation. There’s no reason to put off a visit to our helpful team of professionals. It is our goal to help you make the most of your smile.

Dr. Jasmine Gorton

Dr. Bill Schmohl

When your teeth are aligned properly and your jaw is flowing smoothly, you will find more reasons to flash those pearly whites every day. Let Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics be your partner in good oral hygiene.

Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics
900 Larkspur Landing Circle, Suite 200, Larkspur, California 94939 415-459-8006

Words of Wisdom No.8: “Practice Flossing with Your Eyes Shut“ 3

Words of Wisdom No.8: “Practice Flossing with Your Eyes Shut“

flossing

Braces are an orthodontic treatment that can greatly improve the appearance of the teeth. However, if you don’t take care of the teeth while the braces are worn, then there won’t be as much of an improvement as desired. Invisalign is an option for those who want to be able to eat the foods that they enjoy while still getting the straight teeth as a result of the orthodontic treatment. One of the things that is essential when caring for the teeth is flossing.

All About Flossing

While you are flossing the teeth, consider doing so with your eyes closed. This will force your hand to examine the teeth and gums while you are using the floss. It can help to get the string around each tooth instead of looking in a mirror while flossing only the areas that you can see. The orthodontist can show you how to floss in this manner so that you get the best results. Invisalign makes this a little easier as you can remove the tray from the mouth while cleaning the teeth.

There are a few benefits of flossing the teeth that your orthodontist might not tell you about. One of the reasons to floss your teeth is to keep your teeth in your mouth. This might seem like something that couldn’t happen, but if you don’t floss between the teeth, there is bacteria that can build. This can create tartar. It can soon lead to gingivitis, which can cause loose teeth if it’s not taken care of as soon as possible. When you floss, you remove the bacteria that is between the teeth. Live bacteria can get into the bloodstream through the gums. This bacteria can lead to heart disease and other conditions that could easily be avoided if you floss on a regular basis.

To learn more about how to properly care for your teeth, Invisalign or braces, contact an orthodontist at Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics in Larkspur to schedule an appointment!

Words of Wisdom No. 7 - Stay Fresh 4

Words of Wisdom No. 7 – Stay Fresh

fresh food

Our grandmothers always told us to stay fresh when going out in public by wearing clean clothing and brushing our teeth. You can also stay fresh by making sure that your teeth are straight and strong by wearing braces that are designed by an expert orthodontist. If you are an adult with crooked teeth that cause a feeling of embarrassment, then learn about the benefits of clear Invisalign aligners. Clear aligners are perfect for mild to moderate malocclusions of your teeth, especially the ones toward the front of the mouth. These soft and comfortable devices are easy to wear for most of the day, and other people do not see these items inside your mouth.

Orthodontic Treatment can improve Your Overall Appearance

There are other types of braces that help you to keep a fresh appearance by reducing the wide spaces between your teeth. While traditional silver metal bracket and wire devices are still an affordable option, you can opt to wear self-ligating or ceramic orthodontia devices instead. It is possible for young children to undergo orthodontic treatment to ensure permanent teeth erupt into the correct positions, but more adults are choosing to keep fresh by improving their smile. Visiting an orthodontist is an important way to improve your overall health by correcting a bad bite that causes jaw pain.

Schedule an Appointment Today

An important part of orthodontic treatment is getting a natural and individualized smile. A knowledgeable orthodontist understands how to look at a patient’s facial anatomy to determine the best type of braces for their teeth, including:

• Invisalign aligners
• Damon devices
• Color brackets and wires

At Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics in Larkspur, Calif., patients are able to receive treatment from two experts:

• Dr. Bill Schmohl
• Dr. Jasmine Gorton

Schedule an appointment with an online form or telephone call to 415-459-8006.