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Braces and aligners help straighten teeth and create a confident, attractive smile. And those visible benefits are amazing! But orthodontic treatment has an even more important purpose than transforming the appearance of your smile—and that’s protecting and improving your oral health.

If you’re ready for orthodontic treatment, you know you can look forward to a future of beaming smiles. You can also look forward to healthier teeth and gums and a more comfortable and functional bite. For some people, orthodontic treatment can make speaking and eating easier, and could even contribute to a better night’s sleep.

How can orthodontic treatment accomplish these goals? Let’s set the record straight!

Protecting Tooth and Gum Health

• Lowering Your Risk of Cavities

Perfectly aligned teeth are considered aesthetically pleasing, but there’s a more practical reason to appreciate straight teeth. Crooked and overlapping teeth make it easier for food particles and plaque to stick in between the teeth and harder for your brush to remove them. Straight teeth allow you to remove cavity-causing plaque more effectively and with less effort.

• Promoting Healthy Gums

When plaque and tartar build up around the gums, the gum tissue becomes irritated, which is the first stage of gum disease. When teeth are straight and evenly spaced, brushing and flossing are easier and more effective, and your gums reap the benefits.

Creating a More Functional and Comfortable Bite

A malocclusion occurs when the teeth and jaws aren’t properly aligned—they don’t fit together the way they should when you close your mouth. There are different types of bite problems, and these can impact both your oral health and your overall health depending on the type and the severity of the malocclusion. Once a malocclusion is corrected, patients can experience:

• Stronger Teeth and Healthier Gums

Teeth and jaws which don’t fit together properly put extra pressure on your teeth and gums, leading to problems such as worn enamel, cracked teeth, and gum recession. Protect your oral health by creating a well-aligned bite.

• A Pain-Free Bite

Left untreated, malocclusions can cause problems like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), headaches, face and neck pain, earaches, limited jaw movement, and painful chewing. Correcting your bite will protect your temporomandibular joint from harm and will relieve the discomfort and pain caused by a malocclusion.

Other Possible Benefits of Treatment

For those with more serious malocclusions, orthodontic treatment might improve daily life in unexpected ways:

• Improved Speech

It takes a lot of coordination to produce different sounds. The lips, the tongue, the alveolar ridge which holds our teeth, the hard and soft palates, parts of the throat, and, yes, the teeth all play a part in creating speech. Some kinds of malocclusions contribute to speech disorders such as lisps, which orthodontic treatment can help correct.

• Improved Digestion

Digestion starts in the mouth, not the stomach! As we chew, we break down our food into particles which are easier for the stomach to digest. If you can’t chew properly because your teeth are misaligned or a bad bite makes it too painful to chew food as thoroughly as you should, you won’t be getting the full nutritional benefits of your healthy diet. Orthodontic treatment helps you bite down painlessly and break down foods easily for better digestion.

• Improved Sleep

Bite problems can sometimes lead to sleepless nights. More serious malocclusions may cause mouth breathing, which, in turn, can affect the quality of your sleep. If you’re having trouble sleeping, a sleep specialist can help you discover the source of your problems. If your troubled sleep is caused by tooth or jaw misalignment, orthodontic treatment might be the solution.

Talk to your dentist to learn about the many options available to align your teeth and jaws for a healthy, attractive smile. Braces or aligners might be all you need to correct a mild malocclusion. Appliances and headgear can influence the growth and position of the jaw if needed. In more severe cases, surgery, together with braces, can create a proportional, healthy bite.

Whether it’s a confident smile, healthier teeth and gums, a functional, comfortable bite, or any of the other benefits orthodontic treatment can bring, talk to the dental team at Gary Yanowitz, DDS in Cooper City, FL to discover how orthodontic treatment can help you achieve all of your smile goals!

Sugars are the simplest carbohydrates, and are found naturally in fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products. Our bodies require these simple carbs for energy. (Even better, we don’t just get energy from fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy—we also get healthy amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and even some protein!)

Problems arise when we get too much of this good thing. Once our bodies have all the sugar they need for immediate energy, they store extra sugars in liver, muscle, and fat cells. Over time, excess dietary sugars can affect weight and blood sugar levels, with potentially damaging results.

And, of course, sugar has an immediate effect on our oral health. The oral bacteria in plaque also need sugars for energy, which they use to make acids. An acidic environment in the mouth dissolves the minerals, which keep our tooth enamel strong. And these weak spots are vulnerable to decay. A steady diet of sugar-filled foods means that your enamel is constantly under acid attack.

So it’s really no wonder we hear a lot about avoiding “added sugars” in our diets, for both our general health and for our dental health in particular. But the concept of “added sugar” can be a bit misleading. If you’re not putting five spoons of sugar on your breakfast cereal, or pouring half a jar of honey in your tea, or using a recipe that calls for a cup of corn syrup, you might think you’re avoiding added sugars altogether. And that’s just not the case.

When dieticians talk about added sugars in our foods, they mean additional refined sugars (like white and brown sugars and corn syrup) that are used in preparing or processing foods.

Unlike unprocessed foods, which have been minimally treated to keep them as natural as possible, processed foods have been baked, or frozen, or mixed with other foods, or somehow changed from their natural state. This is where “added sugars” come in. Both home cooks and commercial processors use sugar to improve flavor, provide sweetness, and extend shelf life when preparing food.

What are some of the worst offenders? Store bought or homemade desserts like cakes and ice cream are prime candidates. Sodas? Most definitely. But it’s not just the obvious culprits. Added sugars are found in many foods we usually think of as healthy, including:

• Smoothies
• Fruit Drinks
• Energy Drinks
• Granola Bar
• Power Bars
• Breakfast Cereal
• Flavored Yogurt

While eating unprocessed foods is one way to make sure you get no added sugars, you can also eliminate many grams of sugar from your daily diet by trying out low-sugar recipes and choosing processed foods with little or no added sugar.

How to avoid unexpected added sugars? Fortunately, new labelling on food packages lets us know not only how much sugar is in any product, but how much added sugar has found its way into our grocery cart. Take a moment to check out labels, and avoid sugary surprises.

Your body can get all the natural sugar and carbs it needs for energy from a healthy, well-balanced diet. Lowering your added sugar intake won’t deprive your body of necessary nutrients, but it will deprive oral bacteria of their most convenient food source and reduce the amount of acids, which threaten your enamel. In fact, subtracting extra sugars is one of the easiest and most effective ways to add to your dental health!

If you have any questions about reducing your sugar intake, be sure to ask Dr. Gary Yanowitz the next time you visit our Cooper City, FL office.

It seems like the ads are everywhere these days—repair your enamel and reverse tooth decay with a tube of toothpaste! Are these claims too good to be true? Let’s dive into the science of tooth decay—how decay develops and how (and if!) it can be reversed.

Teeth can stand up to the powerful pressures of biting and chewing because over 95% of our enamel is made up of minerals. Calcium and phosphate ions in our teeth bond to form a crystal structure called hydroxyapatite. Because of the strength of this crystalline design, tooth enamel is the hardest substance in our bodies, even stronger than our bones. 

But bones, like most other parts of our bodies, are living tissue, which means that they can create new cells to replace old or damaged cells. Tooth enamel can’t regenerate new cells to repair itself. This means that when a cavity has made a hole in the tooth, the enamel can’t grow back. And, while enamel structure is very strong, it’s also vulnerable to damage—specifically, damage from acids. 

Our teeth are exposed to acids throughout the day, whether they are acids created by plaque bacteria or the acidic foods and drinks we consume. Acids dissolve mineral bonds, stripping calcium and phosphate minerals from the enamel and leaving weak spots in the tooth surface. This process is called demineralization. Demineralization is the first stage of tooth decay.

The good news? Our bodies are designed with a built-in defense mechanism to prevent demineralization from causing lasting damage. All through the day, saliva helps wash away acids in the mouth and bathes our teeth with new calcium and phosphate ions. These ions bond with the calcium and phosphate in our enamel, restoring enamel strength. This protective repair process is called remineralization.

Now for the bad news. In the tug of war between demineralization and remineralization, saliva can only do so much. If your diet is heavy with acids, if you don’t brush away acid-producing plaque bacteria regularly, if you eat a lot of the sugars and starches which feed plaque bacteria, the remineralizing effects of saliva can’t keep up with the demineralizing effects of acids.

The first visible sign of demineralization is often a white spot on the tooth where minerals have been stripped from enamel. Studies have shown that enamel-strengthening toothpaste can be effective in this very first stage of tooth decay. Toothpastes which advertise enamel repair generally contain one or more of these ingredients:

• Calcium Phosphate
• Hydroxyapatite
• Fluoride 

Toothpastes with calcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite contain calcium and phosphate minerals, the building blocks of tooth enamel. Studies have suggested that these minerals can replace the calcium and phosphate ions stripped from enamel. These toothpastes may or may not contain fluoride, which is something you should discuss with your dentist before deciding on a specific toothpaste.

Fluoride toothpastes remineralize enamel—and more! Fluoride ions are attracted to the tooth’s surface, and, when fluoride ions join with the calcium and phosphate ions there, they form fluorapatite. Fluorapatite crystals are larger, stronger, and more resistant to acids than hydroxyapatite crystals. And, once bonded with tooth enamel, fluoride attracts the calcium and phosphate ions in saliva to remineralize the teeth more quickly. 

Why consider enamel-repair toothpaste? 

Once enamel is gone, it’s gone for good. If excess demineralization isn’t treated, a weak spot on the tooth surface will continue to erode, growing bigger and deeper until it becomes a hole in the enamel. This is a cavity, and your dentist will need to treat and repair your tooth to prevent the cavity from growing and potentially exposing the tooth’s pulp to bacteria and infection. 

Talk to Dr. Gary Yanowitz at our Cooper City, FL office about which toothpastes can help restore a healthy balance between the ongoing cycles of demineralization and remineralization. While tooth-repair toothpaste can’t fix cavities, these products can often strengthen demineralized enamel and reverse this earliest stage of tooth decay.

Need some gift ideas for family members and friends who seem to have absolutely everything? Who are impossible to shop for? Who tell you not to worry, it’s the thought that counts? Well, we have a few suggestions which will show the people on your gift list that you’ve put a lot of thought into their gifts this holiday season. 

You love to see your friends and family smile, so we’ve come up with some smile-worthy ideas designed for their specific interests. 

Environmental Ally

The world is becoming a more eco-conscious place, and happily this transformation includes products designed for personal care. Put together a spa basket which is good for your friend’s comfort, dental health, and the planet!

A recycled gift box filled with environmentally friendly bath products and organic cotton face cloths becomes even more mindful with the addition of bamboo or recycled plastic toothbrushes, zero-waste fluoride toothpaste tablets, and biodegradable picks and floss. 

Don’t forget to include a colorful, insulated water bottle for sustainable hydration—and washing away food particles when there’s no handy place to brush after eating. Healthy planet/healthy smile.

Talented Techie

If your friend or relative is cutting edge high-tech, maybe it’s time for a dental upgrade. 

Modern electric toothbrushes offer plenty of options for the tech-savvy. They come with different settings for brushing and massaging. They can let brushers know if they’ve brushed long enough, if they’re brushing too hard, or when the brush head needs to be retired. Smart models even link to apps, which can, among other things, map out any missed spots in brushing coverage or suggest more effective brushing angles. 

And for an extra thoughtful touch, include a packet of plaque disclosing tablets. Chew one of these helpful little tablets and they will reveal any plaque that’s still on the teeth.

Adventure Seeker

How about a new backpack or carry-all for outdoor or travel adventures? A travel first aid kit is always a welcome addition for the person on the go.

Go the extra step and help a friend be prepared for anything with an emergency dental kit. You can find these lightweight kits in stores or online, or you can assemble one yourself with a travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, a travel mirror, cotton rolls, pain relievers, and even temporary fillings. Include a pack of sugar-free gum—it helps with altitude changes and hydration. Ask Dr. Gary Yanowitz or the team at Gary Yanowitz, DDS for suggestions!

Timeless Trendsetter

Older relatives might love a selection of modern gifts designed with old-fashioned comfort in mind, such as an automatic jar opener and a selection of jams, trekking poles for easier hiking, or wireless earbuds for enjoying music or an audio book.

For a lifetime of healthy smiles, consider adding a water flosser to your gift basket. Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss for older Americans. Water flossers are a great way to eliminate stubborn plaque, especially when mobility issues make manual flossing difficult. Adjustable water pressure applies just the right amount of cleaning power, and the flow can be directed to the gumline, between teeth, or anywhere necessary. 

Film Buff

If your bestie likes nothing better than an evening spent in front of the home screen, consider a subscription or gift card for a streaming service tailored to his or her favorites, whether it’s classic films, sci-fi, action, rom-coms, or epic adventures. 

And don’t forget the binge-watch treats! Fill a basket with dental-friendly goodies like fresh fruits, nuts, and dark chocolate. Include a collection of simple sparkling waters or a gift card for vitamin-rich smoothies. Who needs sugary candies and sodas with options like these?

No matter who’s on your shopping list, tailoring your gifts to their interests and their well-being is a great way to share happy, healthy holiday smiles with family and friends in Cooper City, FL.