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Month: July 2017

How Braces Can Change Your Dental Hygiene Routine

by The Super Dentists

Standard braces are to be worn for a period of six months to two years. During this time it’s important to note that your dental routine is in need of changing. While most of what you’ve been doing will stay the same, you will have to be more diligent when caring for your teeth and braces.

Get Your Brush On

Your San Diego-Eastlake orthodontists would advise brushing after every other meal or snack with fluoride toothpaste. Ideally, brush after every meal but brushing after having eaten acidic foods can nip away at tooth enamel. It’s important to brush more than twice a day to rid your mouth of any food that may be stuck in between your teeth. A buildup of food means more plaque and bacteria in your mouth, which can lead to gum disease. Using mouthwash or an airflosser are both advisable to get rid of food from hard to reach places.

How to Floss & Brush

Going about your typical hygiene routine can be a bit awkward when you’re wearing braces. To floss you’ll need to pull the floss through the space between the main arch and the upper portion of the tooth closest to the gum. Once in position gently move the floss back and forth. When brushing, be sure to use a soft bristle brush. Start your brushing motion at the top of your tooth before moving down. Focus on an individual tooth before moving to the next. After this is done, use a zig zag motion to remove the remaining plaque, tartar, and food from your teeth.

Don’t Eat That

When donning braces you’ll have to be more selective when it comes to the type of food you eat. You’ll want to avoid any food that has a chance of moving your braces out of place. Also avoid any foods that have a high probability of getting stuck in your braces. Say goodbye to popcorn and Milk Duds.

Check Out Our Trophy Cabinet

by The Super Dentists

Claiming to have the best dental practice in town is one thing, but showing the silverware to back it up is something else. Throughout the twenty years that The Super Dentists have been in business they’ve amassed a sizeable collection of awards. So when they say they’re the best, that’s not them talking, that’s the long list of number one trophies doing the chatting.

Elite Clear Aligners Provider

Only two percent of orthodontists in the world have been recognized as an elite Clear Aligners provider. Clear Aligners are transparent and clandestine braces that provide more comfort and less flamboyancy than standard braces. For your Clear Aligners needs, come on down to one of their offices in the Carmel Valley, Chula Visa, Eastlake, Kearny Mesa, or Oceanside area.

Best of Readers Choice 2015, 2016

They don’t like to brag, but if they did they’d probably boast about their 2016 Readers Choice award. This award is especially meaningful because it was chosen by the good people of San Diego. The Super Dentists won the award for the Best Pediatric & Orthodontic office in San Diego. They hope to extend their streak to three years in a run for 2017.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

While perhaps it’s not an award, being in the AAPD is like being recognized as an elite player that operates within a premier team of pediatricians. The 10,000 members of the association are hailed for providing high-quality dental and primary care for infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special health care needs.

American Association of Orthodontists

Another club they’re honored to be a part of is the AAO. The AAO is the longest running and largest dental specialty organization. The association is comprised of over 18,000 orthodontists in the US, Canada, and elsewhere throughout the world.

For more information regarding the awards and accreditations of The Super Dentists, give them a call now.

 

A Brief History of the Tooth Brush

by The Super Dentists

Here’s a history of the toothbrush so brief that you’ll be able to finish reading by the time you’re done brushing your teeth. Let’s go!

3500 B.C.

The Babylonians were one of the first to integrate a toothbrush into their hygiene routines. While not exactly efficient, the chewing twigs they used were the most advanced brushes of their time.

Twigs were picked from fragrant friendly trees that were sturdy enough to clean the mouth and fresh enough to give the mouth a nice smell. One side of the twig was chewed while the other was used to pick out food that got stuck between teeth.

This was also around the time that the ancient Egyptians developed what they considered to be the first toothbrush. It was a thin end of a reed or palm that was used to brush teeth. It was called a miswak. If you asked “who invented the toothbrush,” we would have to say the Egyptians because they are the civilization responsible for any form of oral hygiene.

15-16th Century

Fast forward a few thousand years and we have the first toothbrush, kind of. Circa 15-16th century the Chinese created a brush out of animal bone, bamboo, and hog hair. As you can imagine, the bristles were extremely hard.

The bristled toothbrush was bound together using silk threads and wires to create something that mimics modern toothbrushes.

In Europe, toothbrushing gained popularity in countries like England, Italy, and France. Here, the bristles were made from horse hair which was much softer than boar bristle.

1780

It was in 1780 that the toothbrush became standardized and became available for sale and mass production. . The creator was an English inmate by the name of William Addis.

During his time in prison he created the first brush by drilling small holes in cattle bones which he then tied with swine fibers, before passing them through holes and gluing them to the brush. The brush was later fine-tuned after his prison release.

18th Century

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, toothbrush production underwent a significant transformation. Mass production techniques and advancements in manufacturing allowed for the creation of toothbrushes on a larger scale.

Handles were now made of more durable materials such as bone, ivory, or wood, while the bristles continued to be made from animal hair.

1939

Seemingly way ahead of its time, the first electric toothbrush was invented in Switzerland. Many of us consider the electric toothbrush to be a rather new invention but in fact, it’s almost a century old.

1940s

It was around this time that brushing teeth in the United States became popular among the masses. Word has it that the soldiers of WWII acquired the habit while fighting the war, took their hygienic habit home with them, and spread it to their families.

Different types of toothbrushes

Now that you understand the history of the toothbrush, you can understand how far we’ve come as a civilization. Don’t take it for granted. Take care of your teeth using high-quality toothbrushes and be sure to make an appointment at any of our locations: Eastlake, Chula Vista, Carmel Valley, Oceanside, or Kearny. We’d be happy to take a look at your teeth and help you get the smile you’ve always dreamed of!

What’s The Deal With a Teeth Cleaning?

by The Super Dentists

Many people who visit the orthodontist feel as though the only reason they’re going is so that can get their teeth cleaned. While the teeth cleaning will most likely take up most of any casual dental appointment, a cleaning should not be underappreciated. Brushing, flossing, and fluoride rinses can only do so much for your teeth –and let’s be serious, do we perform the dental trifecta on a daily basis? So, before you question the significance of a teeth cleaning you need to understand why it’s important.

The two most important reasons that we get our teeth cleaned are to prevent tooth loss and to prevent ailments such as heart disease, dementia, and diabetes. The mouth has a funny way of affecting our entire bodies and if we don’t pay close attention to our munchers we might just end up biting ourselves.

We may think of our mouths as indestructible, but like with any machinery, everyday use will wear on its invincibility. The purpose of a tooth cleaning is to remove the plaque and tartar that the bristles on our toothbrush can’t get out. If plaque builds up unchecked for too long a time, gums disease may develop. Our mouths are rife with bacteria that love latching on to tartar and plaque. It’s our job to both brush away bacteria and dislodge safe havens of plaque and tartar with a teeth cleaning.

Teeth cleanings are carried out by dental hygienists. They use a range of tools to remove tartar and plaque from in between your teeth. A teeth cleaning is typically the most unenjoyable part of a dental experience, it should not involve pain. Do not panic if you see a little blood during a teeth cleaning, it’s to be expected.

If you have any questions regarding a teeth cleaning or any other part of your dental appointment feel free to ask the best orthodontists in the San Diego area at The Super Dentists.

Worried About Your Dental Appointment? We’ve Got a Cure

by The Super Dentists

We understand that many children will equate dentists with the boogeyman. Having someone poke around at your teeth for thirty minutes is a rather odd experience but one that shouldn’t deter you from coming to the dentist. If you or your child is nervous about their upcoming dental visit, we’ve got some tips for you.

Get Acquainted With Our ‘Office’

The Super Dentists pride themselves on the experience that patients have when they come to the dentist. We want patients to beg parents for a trip to the dentist, not to abscond when they hear the words dental appointment. For the past 20 years The Super Dentists have specialized in creating a dental environment that is designed around a receptive and fun environment for patients. Games can be found in our waiting area that serves to excite patients rather than scare them off. Our staff takes the utmost care to ensure that all patients are calm and enjoy their dental experience.

Remember Past Experiences

Before your next appointment, remember the last time you went to the dentist. Does that experience justify the fear that you now have of the dentist, or is it a bit irrational? Studies have shown that procedures such as root canals and wisdom tooth extractions have bad reputations and are in truth, not painful at all.

Find a Distraction

When you’re being examined, take your mind off of what’s happening by thinking about what you’ll do when you leave the dentist. Keep your eyes off of the dentist and on the colorful scenery that surrounds you. If the dentist permits it, use earphones to keep your mind distracted while you have your teeth cleaned.

The Super Dentists are the best orthodontists in the San Diego-Kearny Mesa area and as such know how to provide top of the line dental experience to patients.