avoid tooth stains with braces

How to Avoid Tooth Stains From Braces

By Christi Porter

If you wear braces, you are probably looking forward to the day you can see your newly straightened teeth. Admiring your beautiful smile is an amazing reward for diligently taking care of your teeth and oral health. You likely envision a mouthful of straight pearly whites staring back at you. However, there are times when…

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air flossing and water flossing

Air Flossing and Water Flossing

By Christi Porter

Almost all of us are familiar with flossing our teeth using standard dental floss. But the new year might be a good time to think about using a different flossing technique, like air flossing or water flossing. Better oral hygiene is an excellent New Year’s resolution, and one that should be easy to maintain with…

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Avoid bad breath and dry mouth with braces with these tips from the best orthodontist in Ripley WV

Dry Mouth with Braces or Invisalign

By Christi Porter

If you wear braces or Invisalign and are experiencing dry mouth, or xerostomia, you are not alone. A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry found 16 percent of the participants experienced xerostomia. Having braces can increase your likelihood of having dry mouth. It’s important to address xerostomia because it can affect…

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tongue thrust

What Is Tongue Thrust?

By Christi Porter

Tongue thrust occurs in babies who are bottle-fed or breast-fed. In infants, tongue thrust is totally normal. As the baby grows, their swallowing and speaking patterns change, and ideally they will stop tongue thrusting. However, sometimes this habit lingers, often due to prolonged use of a bottle or pacifier, allergies accompanied by swollen tonsils, or…

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What is a braces emergency? Orthodontist in Ripley and Parkersburg

Limiting How Much Sugar You Eat with Braces

By Dr. Amy Smith

By now, you have probably heard that sugar isn’t really good for us. After all, it has been proven to cause health issues, such as tooth decay and an increased risk for diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Limiting our sugar intake should be taken seriously, and it’s especially important when you have braces. Limiting how…

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kids teeth

Taking Care of Kids’ Teeth

By Dr. Amy Smith

Taking care of kids’ teeth seems straightforward enough, but it can easily get lost in the shuffle of day-to-day life. There are also facets of tooth care for your child that you may not be aware of. For example, the importance of early orthodontic treatment.  Early treatment catches tooth problems that might be difficult and…

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