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This may come as a surprise, but brushing your teeth right after a meal can be one of the worst things you can do for your healthy teeth. A toothbrush can be considered an assault weapon against your smile if used immediately after eating certain foods.

Enamel is like the tooth’s shield. It is a hard mineral exterior on each of your teeth. In reality, enamel is the hardest part of the human body—even stronger than bone! I like to regard it as a “super-structure.” But every superhero has a weakness, and enamel’s kryptonite is acid.

A healthy tooth lives in a mouth that has a proper pH balance. When that balance tips from alkaline to acidic, a harmful process called demineralization begins. Demineralization occurs when acids attack and soften the tooth surface. Pores and fissures form and harmful bacteria move in.

With each bite of food or drink, our mouth pH fluctuates. Highly acidic foods tip the balance of your mouth from a healthy alkaline to a dangerous acid. Here are some examples of those sources of acid: citrus fruits, soda, and sugary foods. There are certainly many others, but these are the most common.

So how does brushing your teeth immediately after a meal make this process even worse?

After eating highly acidic foods, your teeth are susceptible to damage. When you brush your teeth in this weakened state you are actually damaging your enamel. The abrasive bristles of the brush wear away the protective surface of the teeth. You should avoid brushing for at least an hour, or take other, simple preventive measures immediately following a meal.

First, rinse with or drink clear water. Then chew some sugarless gum. Both of these practices will produce saliva, restore a healthy pH level in your mouth, and coat your teeth with nourishing minerals. Out of all the sugarless gums available, the best of the best are those that list xylitol as the first ingredient. Another option is to consume cheese, milk, or another non-acidic food or drink to conclude your meal.

After you have given your mouth time to return to a healthy pH, feel free to brush your teeth. Just keep in mind that any time you eat acidic foods, you weaken your teeth. Make sure not to worsen the problem by brushing immediately after dining and damaging your teeth even more. Questions? Call us at Meade Orthodontics.

When you smile, you share your happiness with the world. But if your smile isn’t bringing you all the happiness it should, it might be time to consider orthodontic treatment with Dr. Betsy Meade.

Orthodontic treatment provides both physical and psychological benefits:

• Straight Teeth

Perhaps you’re motivated to seek orthodontic treatment because you want straighter, more evenly spaced teeth. And straight teeth are more than simply an aesthetic preference--there’s a health bonus for your teeth and gums as well!

Crooked, overlapping teeth are more difficult to brush and floss effectively, creating hard-to-reach spaces which trap food particles and plaque. Proper tooth alignment and spacing help you keep your teeth and gums cleaner, reducing the risk of cavities and gum disease.

• Healthy Bite

“Occlusion” means the way your jaws and teeth fit together when you bite. A healthy occlusion lets you bite, chew, and speak easily and comfortably because your teeth, jaws, muscles, ligaments, and tendons are aligned in harmony. A malocclusion, or bad bite, occurs when the teeth and jaws don’t align properly, putting excess stress and pressure on the teeth, jaws, joints, and muscles.

The result? Malocclusions can cause difficulties eating and speaking, affect facial symmetry, and have long lasting consequences for your dental and overall health. An unbalanced bite can lead to worn and cracked teeth. Damaged teeth might require root canal treatment and crowns. You could experience jaw, neck, or facial pain, headaches, and sleep problems. Creating a well-aligned bite will help ensure a healthy dental future.

• Improved Self-Esteem

If you hesitate to share your smile because you’re concerned about the appearance of your teeth or the symmetry of your bite, orthodontic treatment can help you greet the world with confidence.

If your happy smile isn’t bringing you maximum happiness, it’s time to consider orthodontic treatment. Talk to the team at Meade Orthodontics in Ypsilanti, MI to learn about all the benefits treatment can offer you!

Many people who are careful about brushing and flossing their teeth wonder how they still end up with cavities or tooth decay. Several factors affect wear and tear on tooth enamel. Diet is a major factor, with certain foods increasing the likelihood that your enamel will become discolored or decayed. Pay close attention to the foods you eat to keep your pearly whites looking healthy and clean.

What causes enamel damage?

Tooth enamel refers to the hard, semi-translucent, whitish part of the tooth that shows above your gums. The enamel is primarily composed of minerals that are strong but susceptible to highly acidic foods. When acid reacts with the minerals in enamel, it results in tooth decay. Strongly pigmented foods can also damage enamel by discoloring the surface of the tooth.

Foods that harm enamel

Acidic foods are the greatest source of enamel damage. To determine whether a food is acidic, look up its pH. Scientists use pH, on a one-to-seven scale, to define the relative acidity or alkalinity of a substance. Foods with low pH levels, between a one and three, are high in acidity and may damage your enamel. Foods with high pH levels, such as a six or seven, are far less likely to cause enamel harm.

So which foods should you avoid? Many fruits are high in acidity, including lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, grapes, and apples. The high sugar and acid content in soda makes it another huge contributor to enamel decay. Moderately acidic foods include pineapple, oranges, tomatoes, cottage cheese, maple syrup, yogurt, raisins, pickles, and honey. The foods that are least likely to cause enamel damage include milk, most cheeses, eggs, and water.

Beverages such as red wine and coffee also damage the enamel by discoloring it. Although stains do not necessarily undermine the integrity of your teeth, they can be unsightly.

What can I do to prevent enamel damage?

Fortunately, there are several measures you can take to prevent your enamel from discoloring or decaying. The easiest way to avoid decay is to steer clear of high-acidity foods. This may not always be possible, but eliminating sugary fruit juices and soda from your diet is a good start. Brushing your teeth after each meal and flossing frequently also preserves your enamel. Another good idea is to rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash after eating to wash away high-acidity particles.

Although enamel damage is common, it does not have to be an inevitable occurrence. Knowing the foods that harm your teeth gives you the tools to prevent discoloration and decay. With some easy preventive measures, your teeth will stay strong and white for years to come! Give us a call at Meade Orthodontics to learn more!

We’re not talking about caring for major appliances here—the refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines which make our lives easier. We’re talking about some much smaller appliances which produce major personal results—the dental appliances which help create healthy, attractive smiles.

A dental appliance is simply any device which helps promote dental health. And while that definition is awfully broad, you still might be surprised at the many types of dental work which qualify! Today, we look at “fixed” appliances. These devices and restorations stay in the mouth, unlike removeable appliances like aligners and retainers. How do they work for us, and how do we give them the care they need to work most effectively?

Space Maintainers

If you’ve lost a baby tooth prematurely, your orthodontist or dentist might recommend a space maintainer. A space maintainer holds the space open for your adult tooth to arrive in its proper spot by preventing the surrounding teeth from shifting out of position. Space maintainers can protect tooth alignment and reduce the need for later orthodontic treatment.

Traditional Braces

Traditional braces make use of brackets, arch wires, bands, and ligatures in a wide variety of materials and styles to align teeth properly and help correct malocclusions. Braces normally stay in place for 18-24 months, with more time as needed for more complex malocclusions.

Functional Appliances

Functional appliances like the palatal expander and the Herbst® appliance are used to guide jaw development during the treatment of malocclusions, helping patients achieve their best smiles while the jaw and facial bones are still growing. Because these appliances stay in the mouth until this stage of treatment is complete, caring for them can present some day-to-day challenges.

Fillings and Crowns

It might seem odd, but fillings and crowns are also considered dental appliances because they protect tooth structure. It’s especially important to take care of your teeth while you’re in orthodontic treatment, because interrupting your treatment to repair a damaged filling or crown might delay your regular orthodontic schedule.

So many appliances, helping us protect and improve our dental health in so many ways! Here are some steps you can take to make sure these appliances perform at their best:

• Clean carefully—and more often

You might need to brush and floss after every meal and snack to prevent plaque buildup and to keep food particles from sticking to braces and functional appliances. Dr. Betsy Meade can recommend your optimal cleaning schedule.

• Explore new tools

Interproximal brushes, flosses designed for braces, and water flossers can make cleaning teeth and appliances easier and more effective. Talk to your orthodontic and dental teams to learn the best tools and techniques for your specific needs.

• Eat with your appliances in mind

Sticky, chewy, hard, and crunchy foods are not on the menu when you have a fixed appliance! Sticky and chewy foods like caramels can damage appliances and are difficult to clean from appliances and enamel. Hard foods require biting pressure which can damage appliances—and your fillings and teeth! Crunchy foods can leave irritating little particles stuck in and under appliances. Dr. Betsy Meade has all the details on choosing foods which are good for your teeth and your orthodontics.

• Stick to your orthodontic routine

Wearing appliances as recommended is the only way to make sure you finish your treatment on schedule. Keeping up with your appointments and adjustments keeps you on track and allows the team at Meade Orthodontics to discover any problems with your appliances.

• Watch out for destructive habits

Habits which aren’t good for your teeth and gums are also not good for your appliances. Nail biting, chewing on pencils or other objects, using teeth as tools to open bags or bottle caps, crunching on ice, and other behaviors which can damage tooth enamel can also damage fillings, crowns, braces, and other appliances.

• Don’t ignore potential problems

Call your orthodontic team in Ypsilanti, MI at once if your appliance is causing you pain or shows any signs of damage. See your dentist if a filling or crown is uncomfortable, loose, or damaged.

It doesn’t take a lot of daily care and effort to make sure your appliances are working their best—and the reward is a future of beautiful, healthy smiles!