Author: thrive

Every parent knows the basics to ensuring their kids have healthy teeth. what can you do to ensure their smile is also aesthetically pleasing? Firstly, breaking bad habits early. Habits like thumb sucking, dummies and tongue thrust can have a huge impact on the look and shape of not just their teeth but their jaws and the whole face. Secondly, nasal breathing has a huge impact on how the teeth and the jaws develop. Lips that are constantly apart, audible breathing, snoring and nighttime tooth grinding  are all indicators of poor nasal breathing patterns. For kids jaws and teeth to grow broad and spacious for the upcoming adult teeth, the tongue needs to be up against the roof of the mouth at rest. Finally, picking up on malocclusions or crookedness of the teeth and malalignments early is super important. These early interventions can reduce the complexity of future orthodontic treatment. And more importantly, in certain cases, can reduce the risk or the need for surgery in adulthood.

The majority of over the counter whitening products are either ineffective for most people or potentially harmful to the teeth. Firstly, all over the counter products need to remain below a 6 percent hydrogen peroxide threshold making them relatively weak whitening agents. In addition to that saliva will wash these agents away which need liberal time and contact with the tooth to make a change. Whitening strips and generic trays do provide the teeth with more exposure to these gels however, they too are not custom fitted enough In terms of over the counter products being potentially damaging, anything with abrasive particles like charcoal, calcium carbonate, calcium pyrophosphate, alumina, perlite, nanohydroxyapatite, and sodium bicarbonate can scratch and wear the surfaces of the teeth long term. Alternatively, erosive agents like citric acid or PAP may work initially to improve the color of the teeth.  But long term has been shown by research to erode your precious enamel.

How do I keep my Invisalign aligners or trays clean?   The first tip is to commit to cleaning them at least twice a day. When you’re brushing your teeth in the morning and at night spend a few minutes cleaning your trays using a clear antibacterial soap with a soft brush. Don’t use toothpaste or scented colored hand soap. Secondly, every time you take out your aligners give them a rinse underwater. Each time you finish eating brush your teeth prior to putting the rinsed aligners back in. Soak your aligners in retainer cleaning tablets for three minutes every day. Or the alternative is to soak them in one part of vinegar to three parts of water or very dilute hydrogen peroxide for 10 to 15 minutes. This should be enough to spruce up your aligners ultrasonic cleaners or affordable jewelry cleaners with these solutions is an even more potent way to clean the aligners. The vibrations from these ultrasonic devices help remove residue and bacteria in the nooks and crannies of the aligners. Make sure to rinse the aligners before putting them back into your mouth.

Manual versus electric toothbrushes which is better? In 2019, a record breaking study that took 11 years to complete showed that people who use electric toothbrushes have healthier gums less tooth decay and also keep their teeth for longer With so many brands on the market which electric toothbrush should you buy?  there are basically two types of electric toothbrushes on the market. Oscillating toothbrushes which have a round head that oscillates back and forth and sonic brushes where the toothbrush emits high frequency vibrations that helps break up and sweep away plaque. When you finally hit the shops to buy your sonic toothbrush make sure you tick a few boxes. It needs to have a pressure sensor to ensure that you don’t brush too hard. A timer to get your two minutes in each time. It needs to fit in within your budget or preferably be on sale. Just remember the best toothbrush is the one that you will use.