Top ten tips for keeping your BRACES Sparklin’ Clean

Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these top ten tips:

1. One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.

2. It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.

3. The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.

4. Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

5. Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

6. Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.

7. Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.

8. Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.

9. Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.

10. Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need help finding the right Dentist for you, feel free to contact our office - we’d love to help!

Hope this helps!

Dr. Pobanz and Team

Celebrities get braces, too!

Did you know that back in 2002, Tom Cruise had braces? During this time, he was 40 years old and filmed Minority Report, Austin Powers in Goldmember and the Last Samurai. Check out his smile in Jerry Maguire, Rain Man or The Firm and compare to the post-braces Tom Cruise in Valkyrie or Tropic Thunder. The fact is, movie stars need to look their best for the silver screen, and it wouldn't be possible without orthodontists like Dr. Pobanz.

In fact, lots of Hollywood stars have had orthodontic treatment. Check out this slideshow of famous faces with braces. If you’ve thought about getting the perfect smile you’ve always wanted, please give Pobanz Orthodontics a call.

Cold and Flu Season is Here - Replace Your Toothbrush!

Fall is upon us, and with it comes the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Pobanz will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs are known to linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• 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
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us at Pobanz Orthodontics if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. Pobanz and team would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. It's a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat with those braces! If you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we'd encourage you to send them along or call our office and ask how.

Gobble Gobble!

Dr. Pobanz Answers: Top 10 Questions to Ask a Utah Orthodontist

In the last post we went over questions you should ask before choosing a Utah
Orthondontist. We asked Dr. John to answer the questions, here's what he said:

1) Costs of getting braces varies, depending on the time and type of
treatment the doctor recommends. Pobanz offers many payment options with no interest and sometimes with no down payments.

2) The fee will include records, photos and x-rays before during and
after treatment, all braces and attachments that will be needed, retainers and follow up.

3) Our hours are Monday Thursday 7:30-5:00, Fridays 7:30-12:00
clinical and clerical staff are available to take care of any problems. Cell phone is available 24 hours a day for any emergency.

4) Treatment time depends on type of correction and type of
appliances the Dr. recommends.

5) Retainers will be upper and lower clear trays worn at night time
only, can also be used for whitening teeth. Bonded upper and lower wires will be placed on inside of teeth. Follow up appointments are included.

6) We accept most insurance plans, we can call for you to determine
what they will pay, most plans will make monthly or quarterly payments over the length of treatment time.

7) Dr. Pobanz has been in practice for 12 years. Dr. Pobanz is a
Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, the only board recognized by the American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists. Being a Diplomate is a credential that only 20% of all orthodontists attain.

8) Braces are placed on the front surface of the teeth after a sealant
material is used to protect them from decay and stains while they are on your teeth. The Doctor also uses a fluoride releasing cement that is safe for the teeth and designed to stay there until the Doctor removes the braces.

9) Dr. Pobanz uses the latest technology to straighten teeth resulting
in fewer visits to the office. Dr Pobanz and his team strives to make your experience pleasant and fun (have you seen our Utah braces off
celebrations?) His staff is highly trained and dedicated to continuing their education on a regular basis.

10) Dr Pobanz uses self-ligating braces (Damon) which helps to create less friction when moving teeth and is more comfortable and healthier for the gums and bone that surround the teeth. There is also clear version of Damon braces. He uses a Herbst appliance that replaces headgear to correct overbites. You may also be a candidate for Invisalign or Sure Smile.


See what others are saying about Pobanz Orthodontics in Utah.

Do you have any questions to ask Dr. John about getting braces? Please leave them in the comments!

10 Questions to Ask before Choosing a Utah Orthodontist

Are you looking for an orthodontist for your kids or yourself? We recommend that you do your research before choosing an orthodontist.

One of the most common questions is how much your braces will cost and how long it will take before you get them off. It's also important to ask about follow-up care because once you have straight teeth you want to keep them that way!

Here are 10 questions you should ask your Utah Orthodontist.


1) How much will it cost to get braces? / What are the payment options?



2) What does the fee include?



3) Hours? Emergency times?



4) How long will I have braces?



5) What type of retainers will be used? Are follow up appointments
included?



6) Do you accept my insurance? How do they pay you?



7) How long has Dr. been in practice? Does he have his Board
Certification?



8) How do you put braces on my teeth? Will it hurt?



9) What sets your office apart from the other Doctors I may see?


10) What Type of braces and appliances does the Doctor use?

Pobanz Orthodontics is located in Ogden Utah. In our next post, we will answer these questions for you.

What do you enjoy most about fall?

It’s fall here at Pobanz Orthodontics, a time when all across the country, the leaves begin to change colors, the air becomes crisp, and families begin to make plans for Thanksgiving.

Today we wanted to ask you, our wonderful patients, "How are you spending your time this fall?" Our team would love to hear about your favorite places for eating, shopping, and entertainment within the Pleasant View and South Ogden areas. We are interested in learning about what makes your community “yours.”

Feel free to post your responses on our Facebook page, or give us a call!