Tips from National Children's Dental Health Month

It’s still February so and you know what that means… IT’S STILL NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH and dental professional all over the world are promoting health oral hygiene habits for children.

When good habits are developed early on it is more likely that the child will able to look forward to a lifetime of health teeth gums. Here are 5 healthy tips to keep in mind for children’s dental health.

Brush and floss: Brushing and flossing is essential all that all ages, but good habits start early. Your child should be brushing twice a day to remove plaque, bacteria and food particles in their mouth. Also flossing two a day to remove anything left behind after brushing.

Visit the dentist regularly: Visiting the dentist every 6 months, twice a year is important. Even if your child is under orthodontic treatment and make all scheduled appointments with our Doctors here at Rhode Island Orthodontic Group and be sure that you are visiting the dentist they check for your cavities and make sure teeth are healthy.

Drink water: Make sure that your children's drinking water is fluoridated, fluoride is a natural mineral found in water and Earth's crust. Helps prevent cavities by hardening the enamel.

Eat well balanced meals: Eat a well-balanced diet that limits starchy or sugary foods, which produce plaque acids that cause tooth decay.

Early intervention: The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age 7. At this early age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary, but vigilant examination can anticipate the most advantageous time to begin treatment.

At Rhode Island Orthodontic Group we are constantly promoting healthy teeth and habits for all of our patients, especially our younger patients. We strive to provide the best care for your child and help create good habits. Please visit ADA.org National Children’s Dental Health Month For more information.

3 Benefits of Braces Besides Straightening Teeth

When seeking orthodontic care the goal is to achieve a beautifully aligned smile and here at Rhode Island Orthodontic Group we work hard to help you get the smile you deserve. On the other hand, what many people don’t realize is that there are benefits with braces beyond having straight teeth. By having braces you’ll receive oral health benefits along with cosmetic change.

3 Benefits of Braces Besides Straightening Teeth

TMJ Prevention: TMJ (Temporomanibular Joint) can be prevented by receiving braces as orthodontic treatment. TMJ can occur from stress on the jaw joint in people that have an incorrect bit pattern or misalignment of the bite. Teeth that have been aligned by braces also have a better bite pattern and this helps with chewing.

Tooth Decay and Gum Disease: Having braces can correct the position of teeth helping prevent tooth decay and gum disease. When teeth are overlapping or crooked it can be hard to reach certain areas, which can lead food and bacteria build up. With braces, as your teeth become more aligned it is then easier to brush and floss effectively.

Speech Impediments: Did you know that your teeth can affect the way you speak? There are certain malocclusions that cause speech problems. When teeth are in the incorrect position speaking patterns are affected. When braces correct your alignment you speech can be corrected as well.

If you have any questions regarding braces as orthodontic treatment feel free to contact us today. We believe that good orthodontic care begins with open communication. We promise to speak candidly with you about our diagnosis and recommendations, any alternative treatments, and any symptoms present that may require further treatment. Working together, we can achieve a true partnership, with one common goal – helping you achieve a beautiful, confident smile!

Feburary is National Children's Dental Health Month

It's National Children's Dental Health Month!

National Children’s Dental Health Month is sponsored by the ADA (American Dental Association) which promotes creating lifelong healthy habits starting at an early age. When good habits are developed early it is more likely that the child will able to look forward to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. It is very important that parents know that a balanced diet, limiting snacks, brushing and flossing are key to healthy teeth and avoiding cavities. Along with healthy habits, regular dental appointments will help you keep your child on track.

This year's NCDHM campaign slogan "Defeat Monster Mouth" is displayed on the eye-catching children's posters that feature the McGrinn Twins, Flossy and Buck, along with their best friends and
next-door neighbors, Den and Gen Smiley and K-9 the dog.  They are fighting to defeat Plaqster the Monster for good oral health.

For more information about National Children’s Dental Health Month please visit Ada.org. Also remember early intervention helps keep your child's oral health in good condition, read more about how Rhode Island Orthodontic Group can help here riortho.com/early-treatment.

Which Toothpaste is Best for You

Toothpaste serves a vital component to oral hygiene. It is recommended that you brush your teeth four times a day and what do you need to brush your teeth? (other than a toothbrush) TOOTHPASTE!

While shopping we're sure you have noticed that there are different types of toothpaste available from different brands all promising different results. So how do you pick a toothpaste? …well it all depends on what your teeth need.

Types of toothpaste:

Anti-decay toothpaste
This toothpaste contains Fluoride Compounds such as Sodium Fluoride , Stannous Fluoride, or Monofluorophosphate.  If the fluoride content is 1,000 ppm (parts per million) or above. they are all effective in preventing tooth decay.  Children toothpaste contains 500ppm fluoride and is usually flavoured, e.g. fruit flavour, candy flavour, which is more appealing to children.

Desensitizing toothpaste
The active ingredients provide relief from dentine hypersensitivity symptoms in 2 ways.  First, they interrupt the neurone response to pain stimuli; second, they occlude the dentinal tubules of dentine. There are many different types of desensitizing toothpastes marketed by different brand names. Their various functions on different active ingredients they contain. Therefore, you are advised to consult the dentist and undergo a thorough check-up to explore the cause of tooth sensitivity before using desensitizing toothpaste


Anti-plaque toothpaste
This kind of toothpaste inhibits plaque accumulation, reduces the toxic effects of the bacterial toxin on the tooth surrounding tissues, and thereby reduces the chances of getting gum disease. In the market, different anti-plaque toothpastes contain different active ingredients. For example, Triclosan or Zinc Citrate.

Whitening toothpaste
This kind of toothpaste contains relatively coarse abrasives which function by abrading the stains on the tooth surface, giving a whitening effect.

Natural toothpaste
Natural toothpaste is that it does not contain artificial flavors, sweeteners or colors. Instead, it uses natural ingredients such as xylitol and stevia for sweetness, herbs, fruits and spices for flavor and naturally occurring titanium dioxide for a white color. They may or may not contain fluorides and some of the surfactants found in conventional toothpastes.

If you need help choosing which toothpaste is best for you please consult with us or your dentist during your next visit to find out which areas your teeth can improve in.

Can You Name all the Parts of Your Braces?

Do you know what all the parts of your braces are called? Check out the list below

Photo provided by Solutions by Design ScreenPlay Pro

Bands
Bands are a ring of metal that fit around the molars and sometimes premolars. The bands are selected from a range of sizes in order to find the tightest-fitting band. The bands are sealed in position using dental cement that contains fluoride to prevent any decalcification during treatment.

Brackets
The brackets hold the archwire against each tooth. The archwire fits into a slot in the bracket. Brackets may be attached directly to each tooth or to a band.

Archwire
The main wires, or archwires, are shaped specifically to fit around the arch into the bracket slots. Teeth move from the pressure that is applied by the braces. That pressure comes from the archwire, which guides the direction of the movement.

Elastics
An elastic is the tiny rubber ring that ties the archwire into the bracket.

Hooks
Hooks are small attachments on the brackets used to attach elastics (rubber bands).

Coil Spring
The coil spring fits between brackets and over the archwire

Here's a diagram to show show you where everything is located:

The more you know about your braces the easier your experiences will be, If you have any questions feel free to contact us today!

A Great Smile Doesn't Have to Break Your Budget

We believe that finances should never be an obstacle when it comes to a beautiful, healthy smile. Therefore, we offer convenient payment options to help you keep from worrying about the cost of braces and allow you focus on what matters most – your smile!

Some people hesitate to get braces because paying for them can be surprisingly difficult. For families, paying for braces can be a major investment, which can become even greater when multiple family members need braces. Our at Rhode Island Orthodontic Group goal is to provide you and your family with affordable, quality orthodontic treatment that fits your budget. That's why for your convenience, we accept cash, personal check, money orders and all major credit cards.

The cost of orthodontic treatment varies depending on the length and complexity of your treatment.  But with some smart planning and budgeting the cost for orthodontic treatment will be easier to manage.

Get Covered: If you don’t have dental insurance, look into plans that include orthodontics. A good resource to help you get started is www.deltadental.com.

Review Your Insurance Policy: If you have health insurance, it may include dental treatment, and possibly, orthodontic treatment. Insurance policies vary, so we will review your insurance to determine the appropriate course of action. Once treatment has started, we will file your claims. We accept payment from your dental insurance and will work personally with you on payment for any remaining balance. Contact your insurance carrier to determine what information they need to allow us to accept payment from them, and let us know if you need a treatment verification form from our office.

Choose a Payment Plan: We offer monthly payment plans extended over the time of treatment.

Consider Credit: In many cases, the fee for orthodontic treatment can be paid via Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.

The cost of orthodontic treatment varies depending on the length and complexity of your treatment. Our Financial Coordinator will provide you with a written estimate of your cost before beginning treatment and will help determine the best payment option that is most suited to your budgeting needs.

New Year, New Toothbrush

As we go into 2015 many people are saying out with the old and in with new, and this motto also needs to be applied to your toothbrush.

It is important to keep the mouth very clean and stay on top of your oral hygiene. Oral hygiene includes thorough brushing and flossing. However, unlike floss which you throw away after using, you use the same toothbrush repeatedly. Which brings up the question, how long should you a keep a toothbrush?

It is recommended that every 3 to 4 months you switch out that old toothbrush for a new fresh one (and if you've been sick, change it even sooner). Replacing your toothbrush is essential since they are constantly being exposed to germs and bacteria. If you notice the bristles of your tooth brush have become worn out that is a sign that you need a new toothbrush. For example, people who wear braces should change their toothbrushes frequently because braces break down and fracture bristles and the toothbrushes lose their effectiveness.

If you choose to go with dumping your old toothbrush every 3 months that can add up 4 new toothbrushes a year, but did you know you can put those toothbrushes to use. Here's 4 household uses for your old toothbrush:

• Cleaning shoes
• Cleaning small appliances
• Removing marks on walls and floors
• Cleaning jewelery

Making sure your toothbrush is in good shape very important to your oral hygiene. It is helpful to keep a pack of toothbrushes available in your household at all times for easy replacement. So mark those calendars for every 3 to 4 months and think "out with the old and in with the new".

Visit our Oral Hygiene page for more information about keeping up with your oral health.