Presidents’ Day Fun Facts with Salins Orthodontics!

Monday  marked Presidents’ Day, a day known for celebrating of both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s combined Birthdays. Presidents’ Day was created in 1971, when President Richard Nixon combined the birthdays of two of our most well-known presidents into one single federal holiday. Presidents’ Day also marks a hard-earned day off from work and school for a lot of our patients at Salins Orthodontics.

Here are a few fun facts about our nation’s presidents:

*Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, carried letters, bills and notes in his tall stovepipe hat.

*George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp.

*Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, broke the so-called “20-year curse,” in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.

*Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his Inauguration and speeches televised.

*Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents measuring 6’ 4” tall.

*Virginia is the birthplace of more United States presidents than any other state, followed by Ohio and Massachusetts.

Dreaming of a dazzling smile? Salins Orthodontics can help!

The fact is, most of us aren’t born with a red carpet smile. And that’s where our team at Salins Orthodontics can help. Of course, orthodontic treatment help make your teeth stay strong, healthy and become perfectly-aligned. But did you know you can get the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted — without braces?

We are proud to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign, which uses a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing. So, you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time at our office getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you in for a visit. Please give us a call to set one up! A consultation at Salins Orthodontics can determine if Invisalign is right for you. See you soon!

It’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, from Salins Orthodontics

Each February for the past 62 years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces. New options for braces such as Invisalign Teen, which is removable, make it easier for kids to maintain good oral health during orthodontic treatment.

If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Sheldon Salins is available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited us lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!

All about mouthwash, from Salins Orthodontics

While mouthwash is not an alternative to regular brushing and flossing, it can help keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. There are several different types of mouthwashes available, and all of them will help do different things for your smile. The most common types of mouthwashes are:

• Fluoride – fluoride is the most used type of mouthwash available, and is used to strengthen the enamel of the teeth while preventing cavities and tooth decay.
• Antiseptic – an antiseptic mouthwash is used to kill bacteria and germs in the mouth. Most commonly used before and after a dental surgery, antiseptic mouthwashes can also help to fight gum disease, and halitosis (chronic bad breath). Antiseptic mouthwashes can affect your sense of taste and may stain the teeth, so it is recommended that you consult your dentist before using this type of mouthwash.
• Combination – a combination mouthwash is designed to help prevent tooth decay, freshen the breath, and maintain the health of your smile.
• Prescription – for patients with gum disease, or any signs of gum disease, you may need a prescription mouthwash. Prescription mouthwashes, like Peridex of PerioGard, are used to treat gingivitis, and other forms of decay.

There are also many different brands of mouthwash. Some common brands include:
• Scope
• Listerine
• Act
• Crest
• Tom’s of Maine (all-natural)
• Plax (anti-plaque rinse)
• Breath Rx
• Orajel
• Targon (special mouthwash made for smokers)
• Rembrandt (whitening mouthwash)

If you are curious about which kind of mouthwash would work best for you, be sure to ask us at your next appointment. If you have a favorite mouthwash, let us know by posting a comment for others to read!

Interesting Dental Facts

• The first president, George Washington, had false teeth. His teeth kept deteriorating and dentists had to take them out. He had nine dentists who tried to make him dentures. Only one of the dentists was able to make a pair of dentures that George Washington found comfortable. His false teeth were made out of teeth from a cow, hippopotamus and walrus. His favorite dentist made him four sets of dentures and when he died, he was buried with one of the sets in his mouth.
• An elephant has two upper molars and two lower molars. Its molars are one foot across and weigh about 9 pounds. Elephants don't chew their food, they grind it. After about 10 years of grinding down at least a hundred pounds of vegetation daily, their teeth are worn down to the gum line and they fall out. New teeth then reappear. An elephant may go through six sets of teeth in its lifetime.
• Toothpaste used to be very different than what we use today. Ashes, chalk, charcoal, honey and lemon juice have all been used as a cleaner for the teeth. People have even tried things that are dried and rough, such as crushed egg shells and parts of animal hooves to clean their teeth. A form of minty cream used to clean the teeth was first invented at the beginning of the 20th century.
• Many remedies have been used to try to relieve toothaches. Ancient Chinese people would wrap the teeth that were causing them pain with parchment paper that they had written words on. Those from Germany would kiss a donkey when they had a toothache because they believed it would help make the pain go away. Some people thought a worm would get in their teeth and cause pain and there was nothing they could do to make the pain stop.
• The modern toothbrush that we use today was not invented until 1938. In order to get teeth clean, twigs were used in ancient civilizations. People would chew on the tip of a twig to make it spread out into several small strands. They would then use it in the same way that a toothbrush is used. These twigs were called chew sticks. These chew sticks were very effective in getting the teeth clean.

When should you call Salins Orthodontics?

Thanks for the question. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Salins Orthodontics. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with Dr. Salins and team:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you or your child? If so, give our office a call as soon as possible!

The benefits of a beautiful smile

Dr. Salins and our team know having an attractive smile puts a spring in your step—or two—as well as increases your self-confidence, no matter if you’re 14 or in your late forties. Smiling not only makes people happy and puts them in a good mood, doing it often can even help you live longer, according to previous studies!

If you’ve been hiding your smile because you have crooked teeth or gaps between your teeth, it’s time to consider orthodontic treatment at Salins Orthodontics. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn how quickly and efficiently today’s most advanced correction techniques can straighten your smile!

Don’t hide your smile any longer—give us a call today to schedule yours or your child’s orthodontic consultation.