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!

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder treatment is offered by Smiles by Martin in Grapevine, TX which is performed to relieve an unbalanced jaw joint. This may be a corrective option if you have moderate to severe jaw problems that can’t be resolved with cosmetic dentistry alone.

Did you know that our jaws have a lot to do with the way we look? Facial harmony is also achieved with TMJ treatment. When the jaws are moved forward or backwards, up or down, or rotated, the facial soft tissue in the chin, cheeks, lips and tip of the nose move accordingly. Therefore, once the jaws are correctly positioned a harmony between the facial features is acquired which results in a beautiful profile. TMJ treatment has an end result of both inner and outer influence for the social status of the patient.

Other benefits of TMJ treatment include:

– Making biting and chewing easier and improving chewing overall

– Minimizing excessive wear and breakdown of the teeth over years of use

– Correcting underbites, overbites and crossbites

– Improving “gummy” smiles where the lips don’t fully close or pull upward and show large areas of the gums

– Improving “toothless” smiles where the lips cover all the teeth

If you think you or someone you know may need TMJ treatment please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Greg Martin of Smiles by Martin at 817.481.1041 for an expert opinion. And as always, we at Smiles by Martin are happy to answer any questions you may have about your dental health.

Dr. Greg Martin of Smiles by Martin in Grapevine, TX recommends that his patients replace their toothbrush every 3 months, when there is noticeable wear or when they have an illness, and what’s cooler than recycling your old toothbrush by making a toothbrush bracelet?

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. An old toothbrush

2. A pair of pliers

3. Vise grips

4. Tongs

5. A pot big enough to accommodate your toothbrush

6. A parent!

Step 1: Take your old toothbrush and have your parent gently remove all of the bristles from the toothbrush with a pair of pliers. Support should be applied to the neck of the toothbrush to avoid breaking it.

Step 2: Once all of the bristles are removed from the toothbrush, have your parent boil it for an hour. It has to boil for a whole hour so that when your parent starts the bending process the toothbrush doesn’t snap.

Step 3: Because the toothbrush is very hot, your parent needs to bend it using the tongs to hold the toothbrush in the middle, and with vise grips to shape the toothbrush.

Step 4: To set the shape and cool the bracelet down, let it sit in a bowl of cold water.

Be sure to keep your lumineers up to par with your new toothbrush, and if you have any questions or concerns about your oral health contact Smiles by Martin at 817.481.1041. Keep Smiling!

Dr. Greg Martin wants to know if dairy is a part of your Invisalign®-friendly diet. If not, it should be! According to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), regular consumption of dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt can actually lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease (gum disease).

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth that affects the gums and jaw. Gum disease results in a loss of teeth and bone, and has been connected to certain cases of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and osteoporosis.

Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but it’s essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Did you know that cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your teeth? In addition to providing large amounts of much needed calcium and phosphorous that reduce and/or prevent decreases in the plaque’s pH level and work to remineralize the enamel of your teeth, cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, and Monterey Jack cheese, for example, stimulate the body’s salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris and protect them from acids that weaken them.

The next time you reach for a quick snack get creative with some dairy products, and remember with each bite and every sip you are preserving your teeth for a lifetime of smiles and good oral health! Please don’t hesitate to contact Smiles by Martin at 817.481.1041, or visit our Grapevine, TX location for more information about good food/drink choices and foods/drinks to avoid.

With sports in full swing, Dr. Greg Martin recommends that his patients in Grapevine, TX wear mouth guards especially if they have porcelain veneers. As an essential part of many athletes’ sport equipment, mouth guards work to protect players’ teeth and prevent dental injury—But which mouth guard is right for you?

Stock mouth guards are preformed and come ready to wear. They are inexpensive and can be bought at most sporting goods stores in Grapevine, TX. Unfortunately, little can be done to adjust their fit: they are bulky, make breathing and talking difficult and they provide little or no protection. Dr. Martin does not recommend this type of mouth guard to his patients.

Boil and bite mouth guards can also be bought at many sporting goods stores in Grapevine, TX, and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. Boil and bite mouth guards are made from a thermoplastic material so that consumers can do just as the name says; “boil and bite” to ensure a perfect fit. Hot water softens this product and allows consumers to shape the mouth guard around their teeth using finger and tongue pressure. Dr. Martin however, also does not recommend this to his patients.

Custom-fit mouth guards, although more expensive than the other types, will provide the most comfort and protection. For more information on custom-fitted mouth guards contact Smiles by Martin at 817.481.1041.

To many, image is everything and metal brackets and wires do not sound like the next hottest thing. The good news is that there is an alternative to traditional braces, and Dr. Greg Martin of Smiles by Martin wants to remind you that Invisalign® is a whole new way of wearing braces for a “clearly” amazing smile!

How does Invisalign® work? With a series of clear aligners that move your teeth very slightly over time you can eliminate crooked teeth, misaligned teeth and gaps in your smile. Also noteworthy, you can remove the aligners to eat or to brush your teeth – unlike traditional metal braces. Invisalign® is comfortable and effective!

For Invisalign® to be the most effective, follow these guidelines:

1. Wear each set of aligners for about two weeks
2. Remove the aligners only to eat, drink, brush and floss
3. Wear the clear aligners for at a minimum of 20-22 hours per day
4. Visit us every 8-10 weeks for an orthodontic check-up
5. See your dentist every 6 months for regular cleanings

Sounds cool right? Call Smiles by Martin at 817.481.1041 or visit our Grapevine dentist office to get fit for your aligners. Go through cosmetic dentistry in secret with Invisalign®.