The everyday Invisalign® wearer in Grapevine, TX looks forward to the end of treatment where they can see their beautiful, unhindered smile! But for some, white spots appear on their teeth. These white spots are known as demineralization. Some patients question if the plastic covering their teeth is drying out their mouth and causing white spots because there’s no saliva to remineralize the teeth, but demineralization can happen to anyone, even people who don’t wear braces.

Demineralization occurs when food is left on the teeth to interact with bacteria (otherwise known as plaque). This causes acid to form and this acid is what eats away at the calcium and phosphate of the teeth causing white spots or demineralization. Noteworthy, these spots can be sensitive and can lead to cavities. Invisalign® is good for trapping foods and liquids which is one of the reasons why consuming anything other than water requires the removal of your aligners.

Here at Smiles by Martin we work hard to establish good oral hygiene with all our patients. Dr. Greg Martin offers these tips to Invisalign® wearers in Grapevine, TX to help minimize white spots:

— Brush your teeth thoroughly after eating (this is also a good time to clean your Invisalign® aligners)

— Floss once a day

— Use a fluoride rinse daily

— Limit sugary sodas and juices

Remember to brush thoroughly and often, and keep up with your visits to Smiles by Martin. Do that and you’ll have the best smile in Grapevine, TX! And if you have any questions about Invisalign® or your oral hygiene please feel free to contact us at 817.481.1041.

Oral Care Regimen for Invisalign® Wearers

A good oral care regimen for Invisalign® wearers requires fluoride. Fluoride strengthens our teeth and helps us maintain good oral health and Dr. Greg Martin of Smiles by Martin in Grapevine, TX encourages his patients to maintain some type of fluoride intake, especially if they have Invisalign®. Together, drinking water that contains fluoride, and using a toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride will really make a difference in your oral health.

Nonetheless, Dr. Martin notes that more people drink bottled water rather than tap — These people may be missing out on this important ingredient. Did you know that unlike a number of the ever-more-popular bottled water brands, many townships add fluoride to their local water source? If you are unsure if your preferred brand(s) of bottled water contains fluoride Dr. Martin provides a list of fluoridated bottled water below:

1. Alhambra

2. Arrowhead

3. Belmont Springs

4. Crystal Rock

5. Crystal Springs

6. Deer Park

7. Diamond Springs

8. Hinckley Springs

9. Ice Mountain

10. Kandiyohi

11. Kentwood Springs

12. Mayer Bros.

13. Mount Olympus

14. Nursery Water

15. Ozarka

16. Poland Spring

17. Pure Flo

18. Puritan Springs

19. Shenandoah

20. Sierra Springs

21. Sparkletts

22. Zephyrhills

If your preferred brand(s) of bottled water isn’t listed above here’s 22 others to choose from and to add to your oral care regimen. If you have any questions or concerns about your Invisalign® and/or your oral health please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Martin at 817.481.1041 or to visit Smiles by Martin if and when you are in the Grapevine, TX area.

Caring for your smile does not stop when your Invisalign® treatment ends. Retention is a KEY component of teeth straightening, and Dr. Greg Martin and his team at Smiles by Martin in Grapevine, TX, understands that many people do not realize the great importance of wearing retainers. He warns that not wearing a retainer will cause teeth to shift overtime.

If shifting occurs contact us at 817.481.1041 immediately! Maintaining your beautiful new smile requires wearing a retainer as directed. It is extremely disappointing to both the patient and the doctor when teeth move back to their original position as a result of no or poor retainer wear. If movements are minor, retainers may be able to regain correction, but if the relapse or shifting is too severe retreatment may be necessary. Dr. Martin is here to help with any problems.

Note that like Invisalign®, retainers are the tightest in the first few days after delivery. Dr. Martin encourages patients to wear their retainer fulltime for a fixed amount of time, followed by INDEFINITE nightwear for the rest of their life. He also warns that because of its removable nature it may be tempting to not wear your retainer as instructed and/or easy to misplace your appliance. Keep in mind that your retainer will help you maintain your gorgeous smile for a lifetime!

For some, looking for a dental practice in the Grapevine, TX area can be a tough decision for there are many practices in the area offering the same services that we do here at Smiles by Martin. We also understand that you may need to make sure that Smiles by Martin is the right practice for you before scheduling an appointment with Dr. Greg Martin, so here’s a few things that set us apart from other practices in the area:

1. When looking for a dentist one should reach out to friends, colleagues and people whose recommendation you trust. Patients compliment us all the time, and patients who are referred to us say our reputation in the community is what brings people in! Stop by Smiles by Martin when and if you are in the Grapevine, TX area to experience the great customer service provided here for yourself.

2. Financing treatment is a concern for many patients and most insurance companies have a strict list of providers that are in your coverage network. Smiles by Martin works with several insurance providers and offers affordable payment plans, even for popular treatments like Invisalign®!

3. It’s always encouraged to look up an oral doctor’s credentials, i.e., their degrees and training before you make your first appointment. Visit our website to learn about Dr. Martin’s educational and professional success!

Does that narrow your decision? Contact Dr. Martin TODAY at 817.481.1041. You won’t regret it!

3500 BC

Back in 3500 BC Egyptians and Babylonians would chew on the ends of sticks until the fibers of the wood formed a brush which was then used to clean their teeth. Subsequently Miswak, branches of the Salvadora persica tree, was discovered. The Salvadora persica branches have healing and antiseptic qualities, and studies show that Miswak is superior to present day toothbrushes. Many people still use Miswak.

1500

Around 1500 Chinese dentists started using the hairs off of cold climate pigs and pasted them on bamboo sticks or animal bones creating the first bristle toothbrush. Other versions of the toothbrush included bird feathers, porcupine quills and boar bristles.

1700

William Addis introduced the Chinese way of brushing to England in 1780 being the first person to mass produce modern toothbrushes. The Addis version of the toothbrush used cow tail hair drilled and tired on to cow bones, and later versions used horse hair instead of boar hair because it was softer. Dr. Greg Martin of Smiles by Martin in Grapevine, TX recommends using a soft toothbrush. Addis’ company still exists today but they have moved beyond oral hygiene.

1800

Patent number 18,653 marked the first toothbrush patent in the United States of America. It was registered by an entrepreneur, H.N. Wadsworth, on November 17, 1857.

In 1885, mass production of Wadsworth’s toothbrushes began.

1900

Brushing teeth became a regular thing in 1938 when a company called DuPont de Nemours introduced the first toothbrush with nylon bristles. It was called Dr. West’s Miracle-Tuft Toothbrush.

In 1939, the first electric toothbrush was invented in Switzerland.

In the 1960s, the electric toothbrush was introduced to the public market.

2000

Today over 3,000 toothbrushes patents exist. Examples of recent toothbrush innovations are the brushes with SmartGuide which wirelessly transmits a map of your mouth to an LCD display. The brush monitors how many times you brush your teeth, area that you missed brushing and which areas still need more work. Once your mouth is perfectly clean, it signals you to stop. Another example is the Tooth Tunes brush which uses sound waves to play a song for two minutes while you brush, two minutes being the amount of time Dr. Martin recommends that you spend brushing your teeth. For Invisalign® wearers, remember to remove your clear aligners before brushing as well as before flossing, eating and drinking.

For more information on maintaining good oral health, or if you have any questions or concerns about your Invisalign® treatment, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Martin at 817.481.1041 or visit Smiles by Martin when and if you are in the Grapevine, TX area. We look forward to hearing from you!