RETAINERS FOREVER

Retainers are for life....

Life after braces is a long road that we would love to keep your smile straight and perfect.

When are you finish with your with your retainers?  Well the only insurance that your teeth will be straight forever is to make sure you wear your retainer on a regular basis for as long as you'd like to keep them straight.  So the answer is NEVER!

Now don't let that news scare you too much....

We ask our patients to wear their retainers for the first month full time (24/7 except eating and brushing) 20-22 hrs a day.  Then after they have worn it for the first month we ask our patients to wear retainers 1/2 the time (12 hrs EX: 6pm-6am) and then nightly after that.  

Sometimes you forget to wear a retainer over the weekend and your retainer is very tight on Monday morning???

How Much Toothbrush Are You Using?

When brushing your teeth many people are using way too much...

For years on commercials we all see the toothpaste companies swirling on a large dollop of toothpaste filling the whole toothbrush bristles from end to end.  

We suggest using a pea size amount of paste so that not only you can see where you are brushing but also minty fresh breath.  It is more important to get all of the food and plaque off of all of the teeth and gums.  For patients that are having a hard time removing this we tell our patients to brush for one minute with just wet toothbrush so that you can easily rid the teeth of debris and then use a small pea sized amount to freshen breath and add a shield for the teeth to help keep them clean and healthy throughout the day.

Some toothpaste have a 12 hour "shield" to help protect the teeth from the sugars and acids we put on our teeth when eating and drinking. 

The ADA (American Dental Association) recommends  brushing twice a day, with a soft bristled toothbrush.  It should fit in your mouth easily so that you can make sure you can use all the proper angles to get all the debris  off of every tooth and gums.

They also recommend switching your brush 3-4 times a year so that the bristles don't fray or flatten.  

The ADA also states people should see a dentist or dental hygienist at least every 6 months for a regular dental cleaning and exam.