Orthodontics Archives - Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Bad Breath is No Good

September 21, 2012 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. You may not even be aware of your own bad breath, so if you’re concerned you may be suffering from it, give us a call. We can help identify the cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to treat it.

There are many reasons for bad breath:
• What you eat can also affect the way your breath smells. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, can have a very strong and lasting odor.
• If you don’t brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath, not to mention tooth decay and gingivitis.
• Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor.
• Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask us for tips on kicking the habit.
• Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If this is the case, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause.

The good news is there are many ways to help eliminate bad breath from your life. Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath, so schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque, and don’t forget to brush your tongue, too!

If I have braces, do I still need a dental checkup every 6 months?

July 13, 2012 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

Thanks for the question! Yes! In fact, it’s even more important that patients receiving orthodontic treatment visit our office regularly. When you’re wearing braces, food may be caught in places that your toothbrush normally can’t reach. This causes bacteria to build up and can lead to cavities, gingivitis and even gum disease. Believe it or not, an estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of gum disease. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care. Our team will work closely with your orthodontist to make sure that your teeth stay clean and healthy while you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.

If it has been more than six months since your last visit to our office, please give us a call! We look forward to your next visit!

I Want Straight Teeth!

June 27, 2012 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

Quick, think of your favorite movie star. Now picture their smile or just grab the latest edition of a celebrity gossip magazine. Chances are their teeth look straight. Most of the people gracing the magazines have porcelain veneers to get that straight, super bright smile, while some have had either braces or Invisalign. Veneers don’t actually straighten your teeth; they just appear that way. While I love treating patients with veneers, there is no substitute to actually straightening your teeth. If you’re looking in the mirror right now and you see crooked teeth, read on, it may just save your smile!

Contrary to popular belief, dentists want healthy teeth and good check-ups for all our patients. Crowded, rotated or misaligned teeth are the bane of a healthy mouth’s existence. These conditions lead to the following:

– Increased plaque and tartar build-up. Crowded areas are hard to clean leading to an increase in bacteria causing bad breath.

– More dangerous strains of bacteria. Our mouth always contains bacteria but it becomes more virulent in crowded areas. Studies have shown once crowded, rotated or misaligned teeth are straightened, a more healthy strain of bacteria returns as the dangerous strain disappears.

– Increase in tooth decay. With all that plaque forming in crowded areas and the challenge present in cleaning crowded teeth, decay rates increase and cavities form.

– Increase in gingivitis. Our gums are susceptible to the bacteria in crowded areas as well. Gingivitis is an inflammation in the gum tissue and a precursor to periodontal disease. If you look at your crowded or rotated teeth and see red, puffy gums that bleed easily, guess what? You have gingivitis.

– Teeth chipping or wearing down. When teeth are misaligned they wear down abnormally. Cracks and fractures are more likely to happen with an abnormal wear pattern. Aligning the teeth properly will help ensure your next visit to the dentist won’t be for a crown on a fractured tooth.

Whew, that’s a lot of stuff to consider! Don’t worry; help is available! There are two options to correct your teeth and get a healthy, beautiful smile.

Braces: The traditional bracket and wire method works well in any situation. With colorful elastics to hold the wires in place, kids will have tons of choices to get creative during treatment. For the discerning adult, ceramic brackets are available to blend in with the teeth, making treatment less visible to the casual observer. Average treatment time is 24 months.

Invisalign: For twelve years this aligner system has been straightening teeth. The best part about Invisalign: No Brackets or Wires! Clear aligners (similar to whitening trays) move your teeth into their desired position. They are designed by a computer to precisely fit just your teeth. Aligners are worn 24/7 except for meals and every two weeks you get a new aligner. Patients are seen in the office every six weeks and given three trays until their next appointment. Another great thing about Invisalign: You can eat what you want! Just remove the trays and indulge yourself with some delicious caramels or popcorn, while your friend in braces sits frustrated next to you. Invisalign works well but does have some limitations. It is very popular among adults since the trays are almost invisible. Average treatment time is 12 months.

Time to put that mirror down and give us a call to set up a Free Consultation. With interest free financing available, having straight, healthy teeth is attainable. You too can have that movie star smile!

Thank you,

Dr. Todd Weber

Are dental implants right for you?

June 20, 2012 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

If you have missing teeth, it is crucial to replace them. Without all your teeth, chewing and eating can destabilize your bite and cause you discomfort. Dental implants are a great option for replacing missing or badly diseased teeth. A dental implant offers comfort, support, stability, and is as close to a natural tooth that a restoration can be.

There are many benefits to dental implants:

• Dental implants restore your ability to chew food properly.
• They fill out a face that may otherwise look sunken in because of missing teeth.
• They don’t need to be removed for overnight cleaning and soaking.
• No adhesives are needed.
• You’ll feel more confident to show off your smile to the world.
• Each implant is created to fit in perfectly with the look of the rest of your teeth.
Dental implants would be an appropriate treatment for you if you’re in good health, have healthy gums, and have enough bone structure to support an implant. A simple visit with our office will reveal if a dental implant is the best option to restore your smile to its absolute best.

What causes crooked teeth?

March 14, 2012 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

There are several reasons why some people’s teeth grow in crooked, overlapping, or twisted. Some people’s mouths are too small for their teeth, which crowds the teeth and causes them to shift. In other cases, a person’s upper and lower jaws aren’t the same size or are malformed. Most often, crooked teeth are inherited traits just as the color of your eyes or hair. Other causes of crooked teeth are early loss of baby or adult teeth, undue pressure on the teeth and gums, misalignment of jaw after facial injury, or common oral health problems in children such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or prolonged use of a bottle or pacifier.

Having crooked teeth isn’t just a cosmetic issue; it can lead to serious health problems as well. Crooked teeth can:

• interfere with proper chewing
• make keeping teeth clean more of a challenge, increasing the risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis
• strain the teeth, jaws, and muscles, increasing the risk of breaking a tooth

There are several orthodontic procedures that can help correct crooked teeth, and at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry we have many services that we can customize to meet your needs, including traditional braces and Invisalign®. Dr. Todd Weber has had extensive training in both traditional braces and Invisalign (clear braces). In fact, Dr. Weber is a Preferred Provider for the Invisalign treatment.

If you or someone you know has always wanted a straighter smile give us a call. Dr. Weber would love to talk to you about your options. We want you to be proud to show off your smile!