Five habits that lead to teeth plaque

Nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Let’s start with not brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is not flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, evading your dentist is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting your dentist at least twice a year, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your teeth.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you have braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick that candy up, think about giving in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be. If you have any questions, visit our web page on oral hygiene, or contact our office at 801-452-7155.

Hope this helps, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Pobanz Orthodontics

What are you thankful for?

Thanksgiving is almost here, and we at Pobanz Orthodontics are thankful for all our wonderful patients and friends that make our each day extraordinary!

Since the holiday season is about to begin, what are you thankful for?

Share a response in the comments here, or head over to our Facebook Fan Page to join the conversation!

Have a wonderful weekend,

--Dr. Pobanz

Holiday Food and Toy Drive at Pobanz Orthodontics now through Dec. 22!

This holiday season—from now through December 22—Pobanz Orthodontics is collecting food and toys for Weber County Family Services. Donors who bring in a toy and a non-perishable food item will be eligible for a $250 Visa gift card.

In addition, kids will also get a chance to write a letter to Santa and win a $25 Target gift card. To find out more about the toy drive or how you can make a donation please stop by our South Ogden or Pleasant View office or give us a call.

--Dr. Pobanz and team

Preparing for Cold and Flu Season, from Dr. Pobanz

Traditionally cold and flu season starts in Fall, but this year it seems to have started much earlier and with the number of patients canceling appointments because of flu and H1N1 symptoms our practice is taking additional precautions to help prevent the spread of germs.

To promote a healthy clean environment, we give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our office at all times as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces.

For the protection of other patients and staff, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

Maintaining and protecting oral hygiene equipment is also important this flu season. To protect your toothbrush from bacteria follow these steps:

•Wash your hands before and after brushing
•Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
•Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster

Hope this helps! Stay healthy!

--Dr. Pobanz and team.

The Faces of Pobanz Orthodontics

We just had a great photo taken of our entire staff, and we wanted to share it with you! Have a happy and safe Halloween from all of us at Pobanz Orthodontics!

Halloween and Sour Candies

It's almost Halloween, and we understand sour candy is a part of any Halloween celebration. But while sour candy can be delicious, they are arguably as unhealthy for your teeth as sweet candy. The reason is, sour candies tend to be very acidic, and are capable of burning your cheeks and gums while wearing down the enamel on your teeth.

In 2008, the Minnesota Dental Association released a study which suggested the amount of acid in sour candies may eat away at tooth enamel and cause cavities. We at Pobanz Orthodontics would like to remind you that if you should experience a craving for sour candies on Halloween or in the future, please:
1. Remember to rinse your mouth with water immediately after consuming candy, drink milk, or eat a couple pieces of cheese.
2. Do not brush immediately after consuming sour candy. The candy's acidic nature tends to soften tooth enamel. Brushing your teeth can mean abrading the enamel.
3. Limit the amount of sour candies that you consume on a daily basis. If you do indulge, remember not to suck or chew on sour candies for long periods of time.
If tooth erosion has already begun, ask us about ways to reduce sensitivity and continue to protect your teeth.
Hope this helps! Dr. Pobanz wishes you a happy and safe Halloween!

Invisalign Tips

Many people know that Invisalign is a great solution to braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, ask yourself the following questions:

1.) Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.
2.) Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.
3.) Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also easy: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits.
--Dr. Pobanz