Are those rumors about swallowing bubble gum true?

At Moles 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 Moles Orthodontics!

The importance of visiting your dentist during treatment, from Moles Orthodontics

Are you brushing teeth twice a day and flossing during your orthodontic treatment? If the answer is yes, we think that’s great! But, Dr. Moles and our team at Moles Orthodontics would like to remind you to visit your general dentist every six months (or as recommended) in addition to taking good care of your oral health during orthodontic treatment. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

•Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
•Detect cavities and early signs of decay
•Treat oral health problems early
•Show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth

During an oral exam the doctor will check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

Hope this helps. Give us a call if you have any questions. Happy New Year!

At Moles Orthodontics, October marks National Orthodontic Health Month!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have created a helpful website that provides important information on protecting your braces, including tips for trick-or-treaters, braces-friendly Halloween recipes, facts about braces and treats you should avoid while wearing braces.

Also, Dr. Moles and our team know there are many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through treatment at Moles Orthodontics, and these treats may cause damage that could prolong your treatment time. The AAO recommends our patients avoid the following Halloween treats:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Potato chips
• Ice

If you damage your braces, please give us a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved by calling and alerting us of the problem. Loose brackets or wires can usually be made more comfortable by applying some wax until the you can come into one of our three offices, located at Milwaukee, Racine or Brookfield.

5 reasons to visit Moles Orthodontics this summer for a consultation

With the country still in a recession, many folks are putting off visiting the orthodontist for a consultation. We hear all the reasons - vacations, chores, emergencies, et cetera. Today, Dr. Moles and our staff at Moles Orthodontics thought we'd give our prospective patients five reasons to visit our office this summer for an orthodontic consultation.

1) Tooth damage - Unfortunately due to eruption or the bite, teeth can become permanently damaged without the patient even knowing that it's happening. The sooner it is discovered the sooner it can be stopped.

2) Growth - For some patients that need changes to jaw shape or position there is often a window of opportunity during growth when it is the best time to do that. Once that time has passed the correction becomes harder or even impossible.

3) Scheduling - If teeth need to be removed it's often easier to schedule before school starts.

4) School - Patients don't need to miss school if the examination appointment is done in the summertime.

5) Getting done - The sooner that treatment is started the sooner it is finished.

And here's another reason: did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven? Give us a call at 414-529-4044 to schedule a consultation! Happy Monday!

Ask Dr. Moles: what’s the deal with flossing?

Flossing is so important! And these simple 6 reasons will change your mind and make you want to take the time to floss daily.

First things first, flossing prevents tooth decay, plaque left in between the teeth can cause decay even if you’re a avid brusher. Not to mention to prevent gum disease, halitosis, and tarter build up. Which some people are more prone to those three, that they need to floss more than once a day. In the morning and at night is recommended then. The last two are just as equally important, flossing aids in reducing the risk of heart disease and avoiding complications of diabetes. Scientific evidence has shown that a person with diabetes can see their case complicate due to gum disease.

We encourage all of our patients to floss regularly and even offer them floss and floss threaders to make flossing a cinch!

Taking ten minutes out of the day to really do a proper flossing of your teeth, can really save your gums, your health, and the people around you! Only brushing daily will not eliminate odor’s from bacteria lodged between your teeth. Which in turn even if you have brushed that day, that odor can still linger.

With braces and permanent retainers flossing is not an option. It becomes even more important. People with braces or other appliances in the mouth, need to be even more aware of the plague that will build up and collect on those appliances. Floss threaders work for both braces and a permanent retainer. We offer those in the office for all of our patients. They can even be found in local drug stores or super markets.

FLOSS ONCE A DAY TO KEEP THE PLAQUE AND BUILD-UP AWAY!

Nifty "Eggs"periment from Moles Orthodontics

Summer is drawing near. If the little ones aren’t at 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 Moles 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.

Gummy Tummy Moles 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 Moles Orthodontics!

Gum Disease Can Sneak Up on You! - Moles Orthodontics

It’s easy to tell when you have a cavity; but unfortunately, gum disease can exist in your mouth without you even knowing. In fact, you can have the beginning stages of gum disease without noticing any pain or discomfort. Since gum disease can be undetectable, it’s important to watch for warning signs in order to prevent the disease from worsening!

Signs to watch for:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position
• Any change in the way partial dentures fit

If you or someone in your family is showing these signs, make an appointment right away by calling 414-377-4106. We can diagnose the problem and begin treatment to save your teeth and give you back a healthy mouth!

Toothbrush Trivia

Before the toothbrush was invented, many people actually

brushed their teeth with sticks!

The first time in history that people actively cleaned their teeth was between 4000 and 3000 BC in ancient Babylon (the site where Iraq is now). The Babylonians used “chew sticks” – thin twigs or tree roots that were chewed at the end to loosen the fibers and then used like brushes.

Between 2000 and 1000 BC the ancient Chinese used similar twigs to clean their teeth. But the Chinese took it one step further and used twigs from trees with a nice smell. (Perhaps this was an early attempt at breath freshening?)

The next time you brush your teeth, take a moment to be thankful that you have a nice, clean toothbrush with soft bristles – instead of a stick!