Gummy Tummy -- Wise & Stonebridge Orthodontics

We know the rumors going around – mostly among young people – that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing from Dr. Wise and Dr. Jensen!

When is Thumb-Sucking a Cause for Worry? -- Dr. Wise Explains

Lots of you have asked us at Wise Orthodontics and Stonebridge Orthodontics about whether it’s healthy for children to suck thumbs (or, less frequently, fingers). If you’ve got a thumb-sucker in the house, you are not alone. Research tells us that between 75% and 95% of infants suck their thumbs. Is this anything to worry about?

In most cases, no. Sucking is a natural reflex for an infant, and can provide security and contentment as well as relaxation for your little one. It’s a habit that most children grow out of between the ages of 2 and 4.

However, if your child keeps sucking after he’s gotten his permanent teeth, it’s time to take a closer look. If your child sucks his thumb aggressively, putting pressure on the inside of his mouth or his teeth, it could cause problems with tooth alignment and proper mouth growth. If you’re worried, give us a call at Wise Orthodontics or Stonebridge Orthodontics and we will help assess the situation, and provide tips for how to help your child break the habit.

SureSmile: The Difference is the Technology -- Wise & Stonebridge Orthodontics

You may know that we use the SureSmile system at Wise and Stonebridge Orthodontics, but you may not know the difference between SureSmile and conventional orthodontic treatment. We’re proud of offering you the latest in orthodontic technology, and we want to be sure you understand exactly what that means!

From start to finish, our SureSmile system is different. Here’s how:

Step One: Identification of Initial Tooth Position

With traditional orthodontics, x-rays are taken and plaster molds of your mouth are made.

With SureSmile, we scan your mouth and teeth with the patented OraScanner, a wand with a tiny camera attached which creates a precise 3-D digital model of your mouth. This model is uploaded into special software that lets us view your mouth and teeth from any angle.

Step Two: Treatment Plan Development

With traditional orthodontics, your treatment plan unfolds over time, as your doctor adjusts your braces and reviews your progress during regular office visits.

With SureSmile, we create your entire treatment plan prior to treatment, using special computer software to analyze the 3-D model of your mouth and develop a custom archwire prescription.

Step Three: Archwire Placement

With traditional orthodontics, your doctor places your archwires on your teeth and adjusts them as needed throughout the course of treatment.

With SureSmile, robotic technology bends Shape Memory Alloy archwires which can “remember” your prescription. All the adjustments are made to the archwire before we place it in your mouth.

Results

With SureSmile's specially programmed archwires, your teeth move more directly into their target positions. The result for our patients is shortened treatment time and a more comfortable experience in braces.

If you have questions about SureSmile, give us a call at Wise and Stonebridge Orthodontics.

Nifty "Eggs"periment from Wise and Stonebridge Orthodontics

Summer is near. If the little ones aren’t aren't going to camp, you may run out of ideas to keep them occupied. Why not use a fun and simple science experiment to focus their attention for a while? At Wise and Stonebridge Orthodontics, we found one that includes a lesson about why it’s important to brush teeth to make plaque go away.

Gather the items you will need for this experiment:

--1 hard-boiled egg with the shell on
--12 ounces of Coke, Pepsi or other dark-colored cola
--1 container large enough to hold the cola and egg
--1 plastic bowl
--1 toothbrush
--1 drop of fluoride toothpaste
--Clean-up supplies

Explain to your child that plaque is a sticky layer of germs that collects on her teeth. If she doesn’t brush, plaque can cause serious problems for her teeth, for example holes in the teeth (cavities) or swollen gums (gingivitis). Tell her that you are going to do an experiment to see how plaque coats her teeth, and why brushing twice a day is important for healthy teeth and gums.

Conduct the experiment:

1. Make the comparison between the white color of the egg and the white color of your child's teeth.

2. Place the egg into the container and pour the cola over it, so that it completely covers the egg.

3. Let the egg sit in the cola for 24 hours.

4. Remove the egg from the cola. The egg will be stained and yellowish.
5. Explain to your child that the colored layer that has appeared on top of the eggshell is just like the layer of plaque that occurs on her teeth.

6. Place the egg in the plastic bowl and give your child the toothbrush with the drop of toothpaste on it.

7. Let her brush the "plaque" off of the egg. The yellowish film will disappear, exposing the white eggshell. Explain that the same thing happens when she brushes her teeth.

Have fun from Wise and Stonebridge Orthodontics