Tips Archives - Viva Smiles | Family & Kids Orthodontist

Mastering Dental Hygiene During Orthodontic Treatment

Mastering Dental Hygiene During Orthodontic Treatment

admin2025-01-16T18:42:00-08:00January 16th, 2025|Categories: Orthodontics, Tips|Tags: braces care, dental hygiene, oral health, orthodontic treatment|

Maintaining excellent dental hygiene is crucial, especially when you are undergoing orthodontic treatment. Braces, aligners, and other appliances can trap food particles and create challenging areas to clean, which can lead to plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease. This article provides comprehensive guidance on how to keep your teeth healthy and clean while sporting orthodontic appliances, ensuring that once your braces come off, you reveal not just straight teeth but a radiant, healthy smile as well. Understanding the Challenges Orthodontic appliances complicate oral hygiene routines because they add nooks and crannies that can trap food and plaque. This is particularly true with traditional metal and ceramic braces, where brackets [...]

Orthodontics and Speech: What You Need to Know

Orthodontics and Speech: What You Need to Know

admin2024-03-08T10:18:23-08:00March 8th, 2024|Categories: Orthodontics, Tips|Tags: orthodontic treatment, speech, speech changes|

Orthodontic treatments, such as braces and aligners, are primarily sought for their significant benefits in improving dental health and aesthetics. However, many patients and their families are curious or sometimes concerned about how these treatments might impact speech. Understanding the relationship between orthodontics and speech is essential for anyone considering or undergoing orthodontic treatment. This article will delve into what you need to know about orthodontics, how they can affect speech, and strategies to mitigate any negative impacts. Orthodontic appliances can temporarily affect your speech patterns. When braces or aligners are first applied, you may notice a slight lisp or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds. This is a normal adjustment period [...]

The Role of Fluoride in Dental Health

The Role of Fluoride in Dental Health

admin2023-07-10T18:47:20-07:00July 10th, 2023|Categories: Orthodontics, Tips|Tags: fluoride, healthy teeth, oral health|

As an integral part of any effective oral health care routine, the significance of fluoride cannot be overstated. However, many people may need to understand fluoride and how it contributes to dental health fully. Here at Viva Smiles, we strive to educate our patients about all facets of dental health, and today, we aim to shed some light on the important role of fluoride in maintaining your beautiful smile. What is Fluoride? Fluoride is a natural mineral found in the Earth's crust and is distributed throughout nature. It is present in some foods and water supplies and used in many dental products, including toothpaste and mouth rinses. Due to its [...]

What Are the Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment for Kids?

What Are the Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment for Kids?

admin2023-03-08T19:09:27-08:00March 2nd, 2023|Categories: Orthodontics, Tips|Tags: braces, braces benefits, oral health, orthodontic treatment|

Orthodontic treatment is a type of dental treatment that is designed to correct misaligned teeth and jaws. The most common form of orthodontic treatment is braces, which are brackets, wires, and bands that work together to shift teeth into their correct positions gently. Other types of orthodontic treatment include aligners, headgear, and retainers, which can be used to correct various dental problems. Improved Oral Health One of the main benefits of orthodontic treatment for kids is improved oral health. Misaligned teeth can make brushing and flossing difficult, leading to an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease. By straightening teeth, orthodontic treatment can make maintaining good oral hygiene and [...]

What Do You Need To Do In A Dental Emergency?

What Do You Need To Do In A Dental Emergency?

admin2022-11-11T01:59:01-08:00November 11th, 2022|Categories: Dental, Tips|Tags: dental emergencies, dental tips, tooth damage, tooth pain|

Picture this. You’re out in the park with your kids, and they’re having a good time playing with other kids as you chat with other parents. Suddenly, you hear your 4-year-old son let out a shrill cry, and you realize something has gone wrong. As you rush to check what has happened, you notice that one of your son’s front teeth has been knocked out, and he’s bleeding profusely from the mouth. This scenario is not far-fetched, and accidents like this are pretty commonplace. So, as you try to console your son, you may wonder what to do next. The truth is that depending on how you respond; your son [...]

How to Know If You Grind Your Teeth and How to Stop Doing It

How to Know If You Grind Your Teeth and How to Stop Doing It

admin2022-08-15T21:07:32-07:00August 15th, 2022|Categories: Dental, Tips|Tags: bruxism, oral health, teeth grinding|

A significant population of Americans experiences stresses from time to time. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, most Americans worry about the future, crime rates, politics, and violence. Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is an oral health complication often related to stress and anxiety. Although occasional teeth grinding isn’t harmful, the condition can yield severe oral complications in the long run. Understanding Teeth Grinding Teeth grinding (Bruxism) is an oral health condition in which patients grind, clench, or gnash their teeth when awake or during sleep. Although stress is a leading cause, you may experience teeth grinding if you have a misaligned bite, broken, or missing teeth. Bruxism [...]

What Causes Bad Breath?

What Causes Bad Breath?

admin2022-05-09T17:39:54-07:00May 9th, 2022|Categories: Dental, Tips|Tags: bad breath, dental health, halitosis|

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is a dental health issue that can affect anyone. The good news is that it is easy to manage it, especially if you know the root cause of the problem. Possible causes of halitosis include: Tobacco use Tobacco products such as cigars and cigarettes cause bad breath and put your body at risk of oral cancer and periodontal disease. Consider living a healthier lifestyle by quitting smoking or chewing tobacco-based products. Food Foods such as onion, coffee, spicy foods, and garlic can also cause bad breath. After eating, ensure you brush your teeth, use mouth wash, or chew some sugar-free gum. Dry mouth Dry [...]

Things to Know About Different Types of Teeth Whitening

Things to Know About Different Types of Teeth Whitening

admin2022-08-15T21:11:13-07:00March 1st, 2022|Categories: Tips|Tags: oral care, oral health, teeth whitening|

Let’s face it. Everyone desires a bright white smile. But unfortunately, most people’s teeth will lose their shine over the years, leaving their smiles looking dull and lackluster. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, it’s no surprise then that teeth-whitening is one of the most sought-after cosmetic dental procedures. With a wide variety of products available in the market today, teeth whitening has never been more accessible and more achievable for the average person. In this post, we look at some of the teeth-whitening options offered today so you can make an informed choice on the right solution for your smile. Home-based Teeth-Whitening Solutions Teeth-Whitening Toothpaste Regular toothpaste [...]

Is It Possible For Gum Disease To Cause Cancer?

Is It Possible For Gum Disease To Cause Cancer?

admin2022-08-15T21:10:31-07:00February 10th, 2022|Categories: Dental, Tips|Tags: dental tips, family dentist, gum disease, gum health, healthy gums, oral health|

It is no secret that good oral hygiene is essential for our overall health and wellbeing. However, proper dental hygiene is not just limited to our teeth - it also entails taking care of our gums. As a matter of fact, gum disease has been linked to numerous health conditions, including diabetes, Alzheimer's, heart disease, and cancer. So, what exactly is the correlation between gum disease and cancer? Keep reading to find out. Relationship Between Gum Disease and Cancer Numerous research studies have found a strong link between gum disease and cancer. One study conducted in 2017 with a sample size of 60,000 women found that individuals with a history [...]

How Do You Floss With Braces?

How Do You Floss With Braces?

admin2022-04-11T20:41:14-07:00January 19th, 2022|Categories: Orthodontics, Tips|Tags: dental braces, kids orthodontist, orthodontics|

Despite being remarkably effective at treating all forms of structural issues in the mouth like overbites, misalignments, overcrowding, and jaw disorders, braces can make it hard to brush and clean your teeth. As you probably know, lack of proper hygiene can increase your chances of developing long-term problems like cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. Fortunately, it is still possible to keep your teeth clean, and thus healthy, even while on dental braces although it takes some time and effort to get it right. Why And How Often You Should Floss When Wearing Braces Braces are held together by rigid frames called brackets that not only trap food particles but [...]