As kids we all remember hearing our parents or grandparents remind us that dairy products help build strong bones and teeth. But did you also know that milk and dairy products in general help can assist in improving your oral health and lowering your risk for gum disease?

A Winning Combination: Nutrition and Dental Health

Brushing and flossing in combination with regular visits to your dentist are all effective ways to prevent cavities. But a healthy mouth also requires a balanced diet, especially during orthodontic treatment!. The recommended daily serving of 2 – 4 servings of milk or dairy products per day provides a continuous supply of calcium and other bone building nutrients that aid in protecting tooth enamel and also the prevention of bone and tooth loss.

Amazing Benefits of Dairy Products

Milk is only the tip of the iceberg. Dairy products contain many essential vitamins that affect the overall health of your mouth and body:

• Protein: Dairy products are rich in protein and contain essential amino acids needed by your body to build and repair muscle tissue.
• B vitamins: It’s essential to consume foods rich in B vitamins daily, including riboflavin, niacin and B12; riboflavin helps your body metabolize carbohydrates and make red blood cells, niacin converts food into energy and B12 supports nerve cells and maintains red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout your body.
• Calcium, Vitamin D: Like we’ve been saying all along, these vitamins develop strong bones, reduce the chances for osteoporosis and support muscle and blood vessels.
• Vitamin A: Important to healthy vision; supports skin and cell growth; assists your body in developing and maintaining good oral health.
• Potassium: Vital to maintaining healthy blood pressure; works with sodium to support the body’s fluid balance; lowers risk of developing kidney stones and age-related bone loss; enables muscles to function correctly

Cheese is Your Friend

And let’s not forget cheese. Many studies have shown that eating cheese helps prevent cavities! The calcium and phosphorus found in cheese has been shown to infiltrate the layer of plaque surrounding your teeth which works to protect the tooth enamel and prevent erosion. Additionally, cheese stimulates saliva production and helps clear away food particles. Finally, the protein and fat in cheese products protects teeth from cavity-causing acids that are created as carbohydrates ferment.

Two Glasses a Day is the Only Way

So before turning down a glass of milk in favor of something far less beneficial (like a soft drink) remember that a healthy intake of milk and other dairy products can be beneficial to your gums and teeth also. Studies show that people who consume healthy quantities of milk and cheese have less disease in their gums along with stronger bones. Not only that, individuals who drink milk demonstrate less periodontal disease in comparison with those who consume less. Lactic acid, also in dairy products, may be helping to control the bacteria in our gums and around our teeth. Lactic acid in dairy products can actually kill off the bacteria that causes tooth decay and other periodontal problems.

Go to the Source

If you have questions regarding you dairy product intake or any other questions about dental hygiene or diet, take it to the source…German Orthodontics is more than happy to answer your questions and get you on the right track to maintain a healthy smile during orthodontic treatment!

 To find out which of our patients is the lucky recipient of a fun day at SCENE 75, including a $100 gift card for games and attractions, $25 gift card for food and $50 in arcade cash, watch the video below:

***Attention Contest Winner***

Call the office to arrange a time to come by so Dr. German can congratulate you and take a photo!

Thanks to all of our patients that participated and stay tuned for more fun at German Orthodontics!

If you think about it, the use of mouth-guards and the reasons for using them isn't that far removed from orthodontic technology and the principals at German Orthodontics we employ to create a beautiful and healthy smile for our patients!

Mouth-guards: Not Just a Good Idea but a GREAT One!

Working together as a team is needed to create a beautiful smile. We can’t do it ourselves without patient cooperation and we all work together to ensure a healthy final dental result to last a lifetime! So why should it be any different with the use of a mouth-guard?

The facts speak for themselves: Studies have shown that mouth-guards prevent well over 200,000 mouth or tooth injuries a year! Individuals are 60 times more likely to damage their teeth when not wearing a mouth-guard while engaged in contact sports or rigorous physical exercise. Why risk making yourself another statistic? After all the time and effort you go through straightening your teeth why risk damaging your teeth, resulting in unnecessary costly dental work and discomfort.

Easy to Avoid Injury

The crazy thing is… it's easy to avoid serious damage or injury to your teeth just by using a mouth-guard! Still not convinced? Check out some of this mouth-guard trivia:

- Losing one or more teeth due to lack of a mouth-guard is trauma enough for most individuals. But would you believe that over a lifetime you may spend as much as $10,000 or more per tooth to repair the damage. Do the math… it pays to wear a mouth-guard.

- Mouth-guards used to be used primarily for the sport of boxing but the benefits of wearing a mouth-guard has spread over to dozens of different contact sports including basketball, bicycling, ice hockey, and even volleyball. When in doubt, wear a mouth guard, even when playing unorganized contact sports with friends and family.

A Good Investment in Your Smile

The logic is seen in black and white. Protect your teeth and protect your smile by using a mouth-guard. Better yet contact us today to learn more about mouth-guards and discuss any other questions you may have regarding the protection of your mouth and teeth.

At German Orthodontics, we recommend you replace your toothbrush approximately every three months or sooner if the bristles look worn during orthodontic treatment. When it’s time to switch, here are some way-cool alternatives to tossing out your old toothbrush and recycling them for other uses:

Brush Away Stains (On Your Walls and Clothes!)
Whoever invented the toothbrush was really on to something, because not only does a toothbrush clean your teeth, but it can also brush away stains!
• Crayon Marks: For some reason, kids always enjoy drawing on walls instead of on a piece of paper. Maybe they work better on a larger canvas. Whatever the reason, a dab of shaving cream and your old toothbrush is all you need to remove your child's latest masterpiece! Remember: go easy on the pressure. You want to remove the crayon and not the paint underneath it!
• Fingernails and toenails: A little soap and water and your toothbrush will be attacking the dirt and grime that's hiding under your nails, especially after playing outdoors.
• Sole Man: We hate it when we get mud stuck between the treads of our shoes or sandals. But now shoes don't stand a chance when we go at the muddy soles with an old toothbrush and a little water. Don’t forget to use a little toothpaste to remove mud and scuff marks, especially on white sneakers.
You Look Marvelous…
Consider these other uses as well:
• Hair Brush: Keep your hairbrush free of hair accumulation by going at it with your toothbrush.
• Pet care: Come on, so you actually think we’d forget your pet? Anything we can use the toothbrush for is equally good for your dog, cat, mouse, or monkey. So go ahead and brush to your heart's content! Your pet will love you for it!

Arts, Crafts and Maintenance
Time to get creative! Indoors or outdoors, playing or working. You can do it better with your old toothbrush.
• Clean Appliances: Sometimes I find enough breadcrumbs in the toaster to make a sandwich. Next time I'll use a toothbrush to reach in and clean out the crumbs. And by the way: UNPLUG the toaster (or any other appliance) first.
• Jewelry: Think outside the box…boil old toothbrush handles and bend them into different shapes. Make bracelets for your wrists and ankles, rings, and chains. Whatever you like! Use dental floss to add beads and create unique jewelry. A toothbrush is also great to scrub your jewelry. Use toothpaste to help polish your stones and jewels.

It goes without saying that the best use for your toothbrush is keeping your teeth and gums clean. But it’s also fun to recycle that old brush and put it to use inside our outside your home!

Have any ideas on how to make use of your old toothbrush? Leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you…

They are known by many names: baby teeth, milk teeth, temporary teeth, deciduous teeth, or primary teeth. Whatever name you prefer, the first set of teeth that erupt is just as important as the permanent teeth and maintaining good oral health from the beginning is critical to a child’s long term dental health throughout life.

Even though they are small and eventually fall out, children’s primary teeth play critical roles. Did you know primary teeth begin to form in the womb prior to birth? Although they are hidden within the gums for the first few months of life, baby teeth are well on their way to eruption before the baby even comes into the world. Around 6 months of age, the front teeth (known as incisors) begin to appear. The other teeth begin to follow suit, and by two years of age, twenty primary teeth should be present and accounted for. Although this is a natural process, it is often not quite as easy as it sounds. Anyone who has been around a teething baby has a sense of just how traumatic the emergence of baby teeth can be for all those involved. All of the crying (whether it be the parents or the baby!) is worth it. Primary teeth are vitally important in child development.

For example, baby teeth are needed for kids to learn how to eat and speak properly. Also, they encourage the jaws to develop a normal and natural appearance and shape. It is important to maintain baby teeth so that they are not lost before their time. If teeth are lost prematurely, the other baby teeth may move into the empty space. This can block or prevent the permanent teeth from erupting correctly and require the expense of a space maintainer. With proper care, baby teeth have a much higher likelihood of lasting a longer time.

Primary tooth care begins before the teeth have erupted. Wiping a baby’s mouth and gums with a clean damp cloth or specially designed mouth wipe after each feeding helps rid the mouth of bacteria, which prevents premature tooth decay. Also, it is a good idea to give a baby plain water in his or her bottle at night instead of milk or sugary liquids such as juice so the bacteria doesn’t build in the mouth during the night, especially once the baby teeth are fully erupted.

As soon as primary teeth erupt, brushing should start. There are special brushes for each age group. Infant brushes are available which are gentle on tender gums. Toddler brushes come in bright designs and with handles that are easy to grip. As a parent, it is your goal to establish a routine of brushing as early as possible to develop the habit.

A couple of other ways to protect primary teeth are the use of fluoride and sealants. Fluoride is available in toothpastes, mouthwashes, foams, and gels. It strengthens teeth and can even reverse damage caused by acidic food and drinks. Sealants are applied by your general dentist to cover nooks and crannies where food is most likely to accumulate. This helps to reduce tartar, plaque, and tooth decay.

Some combination of these techniques is recommended to ensure that a baby’s primary teeth remain healthy and strong. When it comes to your family’s teeth, parents must be prepared to be the tooth guardian as well as the Tooth Fairy! It is never too early to start. Make sure your children learn proper dental care at an early age to prevent dental problems throughout life.

German Orthodontics is pleased to provide you with this helpful information and to offer you the finest orthodontic care for you and your family. For more information, please visit our website or contact our office for a complimentary orthodontic consultation.

In orthodontics, a “splint” is designed to fit on top of the upper or lower teeth. Treatment varies based on each patient’s individualize needs and is most often used to stabilize the teeth and/or jaws to alleviate discomfort. A TMJ splint may be used prior to placement of braces to help alleviate discomfort if the problem is a result of a bad bite or be used during orthodontics to open the bite. It is also used upon completion of orthodontic treatment if a patient is neurologically prone to grinding. In this scenario, the splint may also act as a retainer.

Bruxism is a medical condition and can afflict both children and adults as well. With bruxism, the patient either clenches or grinds their teeth, consciously or subconsciously, and many times even while sleeping. Obviously this can create many different dental problems such as wearing enamel, fracturing of teeth, and clicking of the TMJ joint. This can result in expensive dental care such as veneers, crowns, root canals, or extraction of teeth in worse case scenarios performed by your general dentist. If the underlying problem is not diagnosed and corrected prior to dental restoration, your investment may be in jeopardy and fail to address pain and discomfort moving forward.

Chronic grinding or clenching of the jaw due to a deep bite, crossbite, edge to edge bite, or other jaw discrepancies can create pain in not only the jaw but also in the facial area, ears, and neck due to the constant stress on the TMJ joint and surrounding muscles. Other symptoms are clicking or locking of the jaw joint, headaches, and ringing in the ears.

Did you know chronic gum chewing has also been known to cause TMJ symptoms because of constant wear and tear to the joint due to over activity?

Resolving the problem may be a simple as eliminating gum chewing or as complicated as requiring orthodontic treatment in conjunction with your general dentist to restore teeth after treatment is completed. Consulting an orthodontist who is a specialist trained in the development of both teeth and jaws is your first step when diagnosing and developing a treatment plan that suites your individualized needs.

If you think that you suffer from any of these symptoms, contact German Orthodontics for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Daniel German. We are here to walk you through your first steps towards addressing the problem at hand.

Why is Faith Hill Wearing Braces?

As a kid, Faith forgot to wear her retainers when orthodontic treatment was completed. Let this be a lesson for all our patients at German Orthodontics. Once braces are removed, it takes time for the gum and bone to fill in around the teeth and stabilize in their new position. During this time period, patients are instructed to wear their retainers full time 6 months to a year, based on your treatment plan. After this stabilizing time, patients are instructed to continue to wear retainers at night.

Did You Know Teeth Move as Part of the Natural Aging Process?

Whether you undergo orthodontic treatment or not, teeth move throughout life as part of the natural aging process. The amount of movement is different with every person. Some experience more movement than others. We recommend that all our patients wear their retainers a few nights a week indefinitely to maintain your beautiful smile throughout life.

Yes – retainers are easy to forget to wear like Faith Hill… but definitely less of a hassle than going through orthodontic treatment a second time as an adult. So don't forget to wear your retainers as prescribed and contact our office or an orthodontist in your area if you break or lose them to prevent you teeth moving in the future….

If you went through treatment as a kid, didn't wear your retainers, and you teeth have moved, feel free to contact German Orthodontics for a complimentary new patient exam at our convenient location in Beavercreek OH.

Dr. German and the staff at German Orthodontics are well known for creating attractive and healthy smiles.  Key to this effort is communicating and educating patients about how to prevent staining while undergoing orthodontic treatment. Here are some tips to prevent staining, for a lifelong beautiful smile:

• Maintain good oral hygiene habits

Brush and floss according to your dentist and orthodontists’ recommendation, and be sure to take extra care if you’re wearing braces. Also, consider using a waterpik-waterflosser. It’s a helpful tool to ensure that your teeth are as clean as they can be.  Invisalign patients, it is important to remove your aligners when eating or drinking anything other than water.  Brushing aligners also helps to keep teeth healthy during treatment.

• Avoid acidic beverages

Many common drinks contain acid that can irreversibly damage healthy enamel, and also discolor teeth.  If you must have a drink that contains any acid, drink it fast.  Don’t sip it for a long period of time.  Some examples of these drinks include:
Gatorade
Soda
Propel
Fruit juices
Flavored water/Vitamin Water

• Talk to your orthodontist

Ask a staff member at German Orthodontics about “GO Hygiene Kits.”  Dr. German’s favorite teeth cleaning products such as the waterflosser and medicated toothpaste are now available in the practice.
There’s a lot that you can do to ensure that your teeth look great when the braces and Invisalign come off and in the future. Call us if you have any questions, we are grateful to be able to care for you!

Dr. Daniel German

• Almost all whitening products contain the same basic ingredient, carbamide peroxide or its breakdown product, hydrogen peroxide. However, the products offered by a dental professional to professionally whiten your teeth are stronger without compromising the health and safety of your teeth, gums, and mouth.
• Over the count whitening systems typically contain no more that 10% carbamide peroxide while prescription only products can contain between 15% and 35%.
• Whitening your teeth is NOT permanent and consequently teeth will slowly yellow again over time as you continue drinking and eating foods that stain teeth. The color begins to fade 6 to 12 months after treatment.
• You can extend your whitening results by not smoking and staying away from foods with colored dyes, red wine, red (tomato-based) sauces, coffee, tea, colored sodas/colas, and blueberries to name a few.
• If you have crowns and/or veneers that are visible when you smile, it is very difficult for whitening programs to perfectly match your veneers or crowns. Keep in mind that bleaching does not change the color of crowns, veneers, bridgework, or any type of artificial tooth.
• One of the most common side effects of whitening teeth is tooth sensitivity and irritation of the gum tissues. This is temporary and often occurs when you embark on a whitening program. The discomfort usually subsides within a few days.

Whitening teeth is an effective way to brighten your smile. Feel free to speak with Dr. Daniel German if you are interested in pursuing a teeth whitening program, even if you plan to use over the counter products. A well informed patient is a happy patient and we aim to please.

Since February is National Pet Dental Health Month, we want to offer some tips offered by The American Veterinary Medical Association.