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Important Tips for Protecting Your Braces During Sports

Fortunately, getting braces doesn’t hold you back from doing things you enjoy, like playing sports! Braces will not keep you from any sport or physical activity. Nonetheless, the price you pay for a beautiful smile is taking a little extra care of your mouth while in treatment. To be sure you’re doing everything you can to protect your mouth during athletic activities, be sure to read on for some advice from Dr. Denis Britto at Britto Orthodontics.

Play Safe, Play All Season

In general, it is not uncommon for an athlete to experience injuries to the mouth and jaw area. Anyone ever taken a soccer ball to the face? A fixed orthodontic appliance, such as braces, does increase your risk of oral injuries. Common oral injuries include: lacerations to the cheeks, lips, and tongue, chipped or broken teeth, TMJ, and root fractures. Have no fear, you can easily protect your teeth, mouth, and braces while playing sports by investing in a mouthguard. While it is suggested that braces patients invest in an orthodontic model, a basic mouthguard will provide more protection than nothing at all.

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Stinky Breath? It May Be Because of One of These Foods

It’s no fun having bad breath. It’s even less fun when you don’t know what is causing it. While bad breath is genetic for some people, the culprit is often the foods we eat. There are certain foods that are notorious for causing bad breath, but there are also some lesser known ones you may be eating on a daily basis. Read on to find out about some bad breath causing foods from Dr. Denis Britto at Britto Orthodontics!

1. Pasta Sauce

The acidity from tomatoes in pasta sauce can cause a buildup of acids in the mouth and foster the growth of bacteria. These pesky bacteria can result in bad breath.

2. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is a protein packed favorite among many of us, however, its paste-like consistency makes it difficult for saliva to break down the proteins once they’re in your mouth. The stickiness makes it so peanut butter can stay around your mouth for hours. Bad breath bacteria thrive on protein, making peanut butter a potential culprit for your stinky breath.

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Treat Your Teeth to a Spa Day

Our teeth do a lot to help us on a daily basis (think of how much gum, food, etc. you chew on a daily basis!). All of that hard work means even our teeth deserve a little pampering every once in awhile. Fortunately, the dental aisle at your local store has plenty of affordable products for you to treat yourself with. Read on to see which products from Dr. Denis Britto at Britto Orthodontics can have your teeth living the life of luxury!

You can have a trip to the oral day spa with these products…

  • At-Home Whitening – Our teeth come into contact with a lot of substances that will dull their pearly sparkle – just think of the morning cup of coffee or tea, any alcohol or smoking habit, etc. Whitening strips are an easy and affordable option that you can do at home to bring back those pearly whites!

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Important Things to Know About Your Oral Health During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is such a unique and exciting time in a woman’s life. It is vitally important during this time that a woman takes good care of her body for the sake of her health and the baby’s. This includes your oral health. Your increased hormones during pregnancy can affect your body’s response to plaque (the layer of germs on your teeth). This can lead to dental problems in some women, potentially resulting in gum disease and increased risk of tooth decay. Fortunately, with proper hygiene at home and professional care from your dentist, your teeth should remain healthy throughout pregnancy. Keep reading from some advice about pregnancy and oral health from Dr. Denis Britto at Britto Orthodontics.

Dental Disease & Baby Health

Dental disease can affect a developing baby. Research has found a link between gum disease in pregnant women and premature birth with low birth weight. However, appropriate dental treatment for the expectant mother may reduce the risk of premature birth.

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