Brace Face

CHOO-CHOO!

I’m 41. I just had braces put on. Not Invisalign, or any of the million other invisible brands out there.  I can’t keep track.  More on that later. No porcelain brackets that make them seem a little less, well, obvious. No, I now have metal brackets and wires likely to set off any metal detector! (That’s a joke, I tested it)

I have full on railroad tracks! In the words of George Takei, “Oh my!”

So why did I do it?

My smile, far from perfect pre-braces, didn’t need much in the way of improvement. Sure, I had a bit of crowding, a bit of wear and tear here and there. In truth, I did it because even thought they were somewhat straight, they were aligned incorrectly! Over time, two children and a practice sale and retirement later, my lower incisors (those ones in the middle) were worn down nearly 50%! You know the expression, “long in the tooth” (for those who haven’t, it means old), the wear I was experiencing is a similar concept.  I had the wear patterns of a 70 year old.

So, thanks to my trusty orthodontist and friend, Dr. Paul, I’m finally doing what I had put off doing.  I am taking care of myself.

Choo-choo!

Flossing - Part 2: To Wax or Unwax, That is The Question….

There are different kinds of floss. Some prefer to use Unwaxed (my hand is fully raised for this one), whereas some prefer waxed, or even teflon tape. You get the picture.

Bottom line?

Whatever is going to get you and your kids to floss on a daily basis is the one you should pick! Believe me, if you don’t like it, you won’t use it, no matter what I tell you. Most show a similar degree of effectiveness, and it’s all a matter of personal preference. So find what works best for you.

Now, first, let’s talk about Unwaxed.

Yeah, not much sets it apart from a piece of string, except that it’s woven to a dimension that allows one to easily place it between your teeth. Oh, and it’s cheap. This is my personal favorite. It makes the squeak squeak sound when you’ve actually cleaned your teeth. I’m a dentist, I like confirmation that I’ve done the work necessary. But it’s not for everyone. If you have teeth that are “tight” then you may also shred it like crazy.

Let me tell you a little story.

My husband, bless his heart, routinely becomes a flossing maniac the week before and after the time he has his teeth cleaned. Yeah, we dentists know you do it. He ran out of the Teflon stuff that he likes to use, and went to use mine, complaining the whole way. In doing this, a piece broke off as he was doing it, and lodged itself between his back two molars. After many cries in agony of feeling the wedging effect of his two molars, I finally had to intervene. Now, it was hard to get out, even for me, a licensed professional, with the various instruments I have kept at my house over the years.

Bottom line, if you tear it regularly when you floss, unwaxed is probably not the way to go.

Waxed Floss

As the name implies, this floss is coated with a waxy substance that allows it to “glide” evenly between the teeth (the quotations are used to separate it from the name brand Glide floss, which is teflon coated…I know, confusing). This used to be the most commonly used floss for those who couldn’t stand unwaxed. That is, until the advent of Teflon-like floss. And why has it come out of style?

The simple reason, because it’s huge!

I for one have pain in my teeth after using it, hence my preference for the unwaxed stuff. But that’s just it. Preference. The bonus? Most waxed flosses come with flavors. So if you have like having a cinamon flavor, or even peppermint, the waxed stuff is your jam!

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Flossing - Part One: Why Do I Have to Put String Around My Teeth?

I have a confession to make.  And this might get me excommunicated from the dental community writ large, so I’ll just come out and say it.

I hate flossing.  Like really hate flossing.

Gasp.

I know!  It’s really bad.  How can I spend my days telling people to floss when I hate doing it myself?

Now I didn’t say I never do it. I just hate doing it.

If you’re anything like me, I have to know the reason behind doing something rather than accepting something because “it’s how it’s always done”.  Trust me, I was not a fun child to have, (sorry mom), and I am presently on the receiving end of karmic retribution with my six year old. 

But I digress.

So okay, flossing.  Why do we have to do it?

Because, if you didn’t, it’d be like taking a shower for only the top half of your body, leaving the bottom part unwashed.  

Ew!

Without flossing, you are leaving food particles that literally rot in the pockets between your teeth.  

Our mouths are literally teeming with bacteria that congregate around the folds of tissue around our teeth and cause infections in our gums.

Are you grossed out yet?  Good. 

Now you understand why we tell you to do it.  This is what I saw on a daily basis with my patients.  Plus, it’s just healthier that way.

That’s why we floss.  Our toothbrushes are only doing part of the job of keeping our mouths clean.  The bristles just can’t physically get into the little nooks and crannies between our teeth, and last time I checked, there just hasn’t been a good substitute for it. 

In children’s teeth, there’s a reason I know AB, IJ, KL, ST.  (Baby teeth are lettered instead of numbered)  Those are the baby teeth that have contact points, and consequently, the teeth I mainly worked on!  Now that my children are losing their baby teeth, I struggle with remembering which mandibular central incisor is which.  Truly.

Next time: What kind of floss is best, or should I just get out the knitting yarn?

Please comment below and leave questions that I hope to answer in coming articles!