A Sour Smile Is Not A Happy Smile -- Graber Orthodontics

It’s no secret that sweet, sugary candies and drinks have an adverse effect of the health of your smile, but what about sour or tart candies? We at Graber Orthodontics thought you might want to know what kind of an effect does eating or drinking something sour have on my smile?

Recent research from the Minnesota Dental Association suggests that the amount of acid in sour candies is enough to eat away at tooth enamel and cause cavities. Here are a few souring facts about sour candies, and some helpful tips on how to protect your teeth from Graber Orthodontics(even if you cannot give up sour candies all together).

Facts

-Sour candies can be very acidic, and may actually burn the gums and cheeks, while weakening and wearing down the enamel on your teeth. (Check the acid levels in some of your favorite candies)

-It can take almost 20 minutes for the acid in sour candies to become neutral. Holding the acid in your mouth by sucking on sour hard candies or chewing sour gummies can keep the acid active for more than 20 minutes.

-The acid in sour candies can cause cavities and severe tooth decay.

Protect your teeth

-Limit the amount of sour candies that you eat on a daily basis, and if you do indulge, remember not to suck or chew on sour candies for long periods of time.

-After eating sour candies, rinse your mouth out with water, drink milk, or eat a couple slices of cheese. This will help neutralize the acid in your mouth (wait at least one hour before brushing your teeth with toothpaste, as this can actually increase the effects of acid on your teeth)

-If tooth erosion has already begun, ask your dentist about ways you can help reduce sensitivity and continue to protect your teeth.

Hope this helps! From Graber Orthodontics.

Watch Dr. Lee Graber On ABC News!

Dr. Lee Graber of Graber Orthodontics in Vernon Hills, IL was on ABC. Channel 7 ABC did a special feature on Summer Sports. Dr. Graber spoke about how to best prevent injuries during summer.

Watch the video, and have a happy and safe summer from Graber Orthodontics.

In Invisalign Really Customized for Each Patient? It is at Graber Orthodontics

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do at Graber Orthodontics is take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Lee and Dr. Katie Graber are certified Invisalign providers. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, give us a call at Graber Orthodontics.

Top Ten Ways To Save Face From Graber Orthodontics

At Graber Orthodontics, we know how important it is to protect your face. The summer months bring an increase in outdoor activities and accordingly a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. Here are the top 10 things you can do to keep yourself smiling throughout the season from Graber Orthodontics.


1. Wear a mouth guard for any contact sport (soccer, yes; chess, probably not). Mouth guards can help prevent jaw, mouth and teeth injuries and are less costly than recovering from the injury.

2. Wear a helmet and it will protect your head by absorbing the energy of an impact. You don't have to lose your head because you take a spill when cycling, snowboarding, rollerblading or horseback riding. Helmets are just as important for girls as they are for boys.

3. Wear protective eyewear so your mom won't have to say, "You'll poke your eye out." More importantly, you'll be able to keep your eye on the tennis ball, racquetball, etc.

4. Wear a face shield to keep your skin free from scratches and bruises. Hockey pucks for example, can do severe damage.

5. Be aware of family pets. Each year roughly 44,000 people incur facial injuries from dog bites. Children should be supervised when playing with family pets (cats and rabbits too).

6. Buckle up and use appropriate child safety seats. Passengers who don't buckle up are more likely to have a brain injury in a crash than the buckled driver. Air bags also save lives!

7. Keep babies and toddlers safe. They crawl and climb, so pad sharp corners of tables, use safety locks on cabinets, install stairwell safety gates, and secure windows. They also teethe, so hide the sharp pencils.

8. Be alert. Alert spectators can avoid foul baseballs and flying hockey pucks. Watch your step when climbing up bleachers.

9. Use common sense. If an activity carries risk of dental or facial injury, wear the right protective gear. Without it, even a pickup basketball game could result in a trip to the emergency room.

10. Ask the experts! If you have questions, talk to us or your dentist about the right kind of protective gear.

We'll see you on the radio/TV----or in the office!