Dr. Katie Graber, What Foods Are Actually Healthy For My Teeth?

With so many foods and drinks to choose from, it's hard to decipher which ones are truly good for you. So we asked Dr. Katie Graber some of the more important questions.

Which foods and drinks are actually healthy for my teeth?

Natural food and drink are the healthiest! The best drink to have is water. Water re-hydrates the body and does not cause cavities. Coffee (plain) also does not cause cavities – but it can lead to dehydration. All other drinks either cause an increase in mouth bacteria (a.k.a. cavity bugs.) If you are drinking juice or milk, brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste! Even though these are natural drinks, they can increase the sugar in the mouth which can lead to cavities. The fluoride helps the enamel of the tooth become harder and better defended against attacks from bacteria.

Can hard candies or hard mints cause damage to my teeth?

Dense mints and candies can, in some cases, chip teeth. If you have a lot of large fillings then the tooth is more apt to crack with a hard, dense food. Also, hard candies tend to be sticky in the mouth. Sticky pieces of candy can lodge in the grooves of the teeth and cause cavities. Natural candy (like chocolate) is better because the saliva is better able to dissolve & wash away the sugars.

Is sugar-free gum good for my teeth, or can it still cause cavities?

The American Dental Association has approved some sugar-free gum brands. Chewing gum increases the amount of saliva that is released into the mouth. This increased saliva carries proteins that help break down the sugars that can cause cavities. So, in some cases, sugar-free gum can be good for you! If you are wearing braces or retainers, ask your orthodontist if gum is right for you!

Are spicy or acidic foods bad for my teeth?

Acidic foods, such as citric juices or sodas, can change the balance of the saliva in the mouth. The combination of acid and sugar is the real enemy. The acid can attack the enamel structure of the tooth and the sugar feeds the cavity-causing bacteria. If you drink water or brush with fluoride toothpaste, the teeth are better protected and the acid is neutralized. Spicy foods actually increase the saliva production in the mouth. Be careful, though, if you develop canker sores as spicy foods can exacerbate the discomfort.

Hope this information is helpful!
--Graber Orthodontics

Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed? Dr. Katie Graber explains

X-ray with no wisdom teeth.

When it comes to your wisdom teeth, everyone is different. Most commonly, four wisdom teeth develop with one behind each of the 12-year molars. Some people have more than four and some have less. The wisdom tooth is the tooth that most commonly has a problem with development, so the majority of these teeth are recommended for removal. As each person is different, there is no “one” answer on wisdom teeth. There are people who keep them and those who have them removed. Ask your doctor about your wisdom teeth to see what is best for you!

And visit us at Graber Orthodontics to discuss your orthodontic treatment and how we can help you achieve the smile you have always wanted.

X-ray with extra wisdom teeth.

From Professional Care to Fun Contests, Graber Orthodontics Makes You Smile

At Graber Orthodontics, we know your orthodontic treatment will be a memorable time in your life. That's why we not only provide the latest in technology, but we have entertainment for you and your parents in our office.

Each month, we reward patients for oral hygiene excellence. We give away ice cream, blockbuster gift cards, DVD's, MP3 players, and more! And you receive an additional prize when you wear your Graber Orthodontics t-shirt to school or work and then to our office!

To keep Mom and Dad occupied while you meet with us, we have Wi-Fi and fresh coffee.

As if that wasn't enough, we have an interactive learning and gaming center complete with a Nintendo Wii and Xbox! During your appointment, we have individual movie screens hooked up to each chair and we show three different movies a day!

Give us a call to come by and check it out for yourself!.

We know that it’s important to brush our teeth at least three times a day, floss at least once, and maintain good oral hygiene for a healthy smile, but there are many things about our teeth that we still don’t know! Dr. Katie Graber answers our questions.

1. How many teeth does an average adult have?

28 (32 if they keep their wisdom teeth)

2. Why do we lose our first set of teeth?

The first set of teeth is smaller to fit in our mouths when we are younger. They have shorter roots and are replaced by larger teeth as we grow (in height as well.)

3. What are teeth made of?

Teeth have three main layers. The most inner portion of the tooth is called the dental pulp. This pulp contains the nerves and blood vessels that keep the tooth alive. The second layer of the tooth is the dentin. The dentin has free nerve endings. The outermost layer of a tooth is called enamel. It is hard and dense and does not have nerve endings.

4. How can we tell if we have a cavity?

A dental cavity is a divot (hole) in the tooth. Depending on their size, a cavity can penetrate into the second and third layer of the tooth. A patient most often finds that there is a cavity when they are alerted by their dentist. Most often, when the cavity is diagnosed at the dental office, it is small and can be managed with a filling material. If the cavity is large enough to be noticed by the patient (either by noticing a black/gray hole in the tooth or the tooth becomes sore) – the cavity may be too large for traditional filling material. The best preventative measures can be recommended by the dentist. Most commonly, a dentist will recommend fluoride treatment as the fluoride will make the enamel layer (hard outer surface of the tooth) better protected against the toxins from mouth bacteria.

5. Why do our teeth get cavities?

Teeth get cavities when the bacteria that live in the mouth release toxins. The toxins are strong enough to etch holes into the enamel of our teeth. There are bacteria that occur normally in the mouth and are not a danger. If there are excess sugars in the oral cavity, the more harmful bacteria multiply and release toxins. These toxins (from certain types of bacteria) are the cause of cavities.

6. What makes teeth sensitive to hot or cold?

Exposure of the tooth second layer (dentin) can cause sensitivity. Sometimes this is due to a dental cavity but it can also be due to gum recession, tooth wear from a bad bite and/or abnormally large nerve endings in the teeth.

7. What’s enamel?

The hard outer layer of the tooth.

8. What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the third molar teeth.

9. Why do we have wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the most posterior molar. It is thought that they were needed in the past when the human diet was harder.

10. Why do some people need their wisdom teeth removed?

Most people do not have enough space for their wisdom teeth. If there is not enough space for the teeth to grow properly, it is advised that they be removed.

11. What causes our teeth to become discolored?

Tooth discoloration falls into two main categories; extrinsic stains (on the outside of the tooth) and intrinsic stains (on the inside of the tooth.) Intrinsic staining can be caused by: trauma to the tooth (where the blood vessels “bruise”), developmental insults (medications or high fever when the teeth were developing) or cavities (where the decay from the cavity or restorative material shows through the tooth.) These types of stains can be addressed by the general dentist. Extrinsic staining can be caused by different foods (coffee, tea, red wine, etc.), smoking cigarettes, or can be caused bya side effect of certain medications.

12. Are crooked teeth genetic?

Bite problems can be genetic and/or environmental. Family trends are noted in more severe problems (such as large underbite or large overbite.) Spacing of the teeth (gaps) is also tied to lineage. Actual individual tooth crookedness is not thought to be genetic.

All patients are recommended for care with their family dentist no less than twice a year. That way they can be monitored for dental cavities or gingivitis! If you have questions about the alignment of your teeth, contact us at Graber Orthodontics to schedule a consultation.