Wilson Orthodontics Shares What To Do In Case of a Dental Emergency!

Yes it's true "April Showers Bring May Flowers;" however, did you know that it also brings "National Facial Protection Month"? The American Association of Orthodontics recommends the "Top 10 ways to Save Face". Notice that the first one is to wear a mouth guard!

Dental injuries are the most common type of injury sustained during sports activities. It is estimated by the American Dental Association that mouth guards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in High School and College football alone!

Should you experience a facial injury and a permanent tooth is knocked out you can pick the tooth up by the crown of the tooth--not the root--and rinse it clean with water or milk; but do not store it in water store it only in milk!

Recent studies have shown that the best chances of saving the tooth is to have it safely and properly placed back into the socket within a window of time between 5 minutes to 1 hour. So you should see your Dentist as soon as you can!

However, if you should knock out a baby tooth, you can leave it out; oh, but don’t forget to put it under your pillow for the Tooth Fairy!

You get one set of permanent teeth, so take care of them!

Have fun, stay active, but be safe and guard your teeth and protect your Smile; especially the one we at Wilson Orthodontics help you create! And if you need a mouth guard, remember we give them to our Wilson Orthodontics patients for free!

--Pam, Orthodontic Assistant

Bad Breath Begone! -- From Wilson Orthodontics

At Wilson Orthodontics, we know that bad breath can be a real downer, especially when you are out on a date with that girl or boy you’ve had a crush on all semester! However, bad breath can be prevented!

Bad breath, or as your doctor may call it “halitosis,” is caused by odor-producing bacteria that grows in your mouth. This bacteria gathers on bits of food in your mouth and between your teeth and release sulfur compounds making your breath smell. Some foods, like garlic and onions, may contribute more to bad breath because of oils the food the food releases, and smoking is also a major cause of bad breath.

There are several myths around bad breath. Here are some common myths and the truth behind it all revealed from Wilson Orthodontics:

Myth #1: Mouthwash will make my breath smell better

Mouthwash will make your breath smell better, but it is only a temporary fix. If you use mouthwash, just know that you will still need to brush and floss when you get the chance as mouthwash alone will not kill all of the bacteria producing germs in your mouth. When choosing a mouthwash, pick an antiseptic with plaque-reducing compounds. Also make sure any dental products you choose comes with the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of approval!

Myth #2: I brush my teeth; I will never have bad breath

Brushing your teeth will save you from having breath, but the truth is most people only brush their teeth for about 30-45 seconds! You need to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day to give your teeth a thorough cleansing. It’s also important to brush your tongue, which is where a majority of odor causing bacteria like to hang out. Lastly, flossing to remove food and plaque between the teeth will also help reduce your chances of having bad breath!

Myth #3: If I don’t smell it, then my breath is fresh

This is a false assumption in every sense of the word! The truth is that the breath you breathe out is not the same breath coming out when you talk to someone. When you breathe you are not using your throat as you do when you are talking; and when you talk more breath moves over the back of your mouth where bacteria is causing bad breath.

#1 TRUTH: Brush your teeth twice a day (for at least 2 minutes), floss at least once and visit your dentist every six months…this way your breath will always be fresh! Not letting your nerves get the best of you on your date? That’s up to you!!!

More questions about your teeth? Let us know from Wilson Orthodontics!

How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy -- Wilson Orthodontics

We've got so many questions about our teeth, we asked Kandi, at Dr. Wilson's office, to take some time and explain it all. Here's what she had to say:

The main cause of tooth decay is the sugar that is in the foods and drinks you eat. Water is the best beverage you can drink that is healthiest for your teeth. Anything that has sugar in it, you would want to eat at meal times, that way you can brush your teeth after. If you need a good healthy snack you can have things like whole bread, cheese, crackers, seeds, fruits and vegetables. Avoid mints and hard candies. They tend to be sticky and could get lodged in the grooves of your teeth which can cause cavities. They also could chip your teeth if your not careful biting into them. Any foods with acid such as citric juices or sodas can change the balance of the saliva in the mouth. The acid can attack the enamel structure of the tooth and sugar feeds the cavity-causing bacteria.

Spicy foods and chewing gum can increase the amount of saliva in the mouth.
The increased saliva carries protein that helps break down the sugars that can cause cavities so these can actually be good for your teeth.

After each meal you should brush your teeth and gums with a soft bristle toothbrush. A medium would be OK, but with a soft bristle toothbrush you are less likely to harm your teeth and you can clean them better.

So eat the right foods and always brush and floss to keep your teeth healthy!

Kandi Pope, Treatment Coordinator
Wilson Orthodontics

What's Great About X-Rays at Wilson Orthodontics

Here at Dr. Wilson's office, we take x-rays on all of our patients. But instead of the traditional x-rays you are probably familiar with, we use digital imaging. This greatly reduces the amount of radiation that you are exposed to, and allows Dr. Wilson to see the image on the computer within seconds!

Even though digital imaging produces considerably less radiation than traditional machines, and even less than being out in the sun (especially in the summer), we still place a lead shield over our patients to further protect them. The reason that we use a lead shield is because radiation cannot penetrate it. It is, therefore, very important to remove any metal that you may have on your head. Such as earrings, glasses or retainers. Generally, necklaces are okay.

We usually don't take x-rays on women that are or think they may be pregnant. Especially in the first trimester because we don't want to harm the fetus.

Rest assured, when you have you orthodontic treatment done by Dr. Wilson, your "Hometown Orthodontist" you are getting the best quality and highest technology around.

We look forward to giving you a super new smile!

--Sarah S.
Clinical Tech

Fun Facts About Fluoride from Wilson Orthodontics

We always get questions about fluoride at Wilson Orthodontics, so we asked Megan to answer!

Everyone benefits from using fluoride. Fluoride works by preventing the tooth decay process. It keeps the tooth enamel strong and helps prevent the loss of important minerals from the tooth enamel. The frequent use of Fluoride in small amounts will help adults and children live cavity-free. Fluoride works best from toothpaste containing fluoride, fluoride rinses, and/or fluoridated water twice a day. Colgate Fluorigard is one type of over the counter fluoride rinse. Although Fluoride can be very beneficial; it can be harmful with excessive intake. Dental fluorosis can occur if a child over uses fluoride between the ages of 1-4. (Intake of an overload of fluoride supplements, fluoridated drinking water, or possibly fluoride in a child's diet). Dental fluorosis can also leave stains on the teeth that can range in color from white,black,and brown.

--Fluoride is the only chemical added to drinking water for the purpose of medication to prevent tooth decay.
--Fluoride is used to help resist acid, strengthen teeth, and block bacteria from causing decay.
--Dentists can offer fluoride applied to the teeth using a foam,varnish or gel. These treatments contain a much higher level of fluoride than the amount found in toothpastes and mouth rinses.

-Megan E.

Dr. Wilson has two conveniently located offices, one in Gainesville--located at 1220 Sherwood Park Dr. and another located in Hoschton—located at 5415 Thompson Mill Rd., both of our offices offer early morning and late afternoon appointments Monday thru Thursday. This is to accommodate students as well as working adults. We also provide an emergency number to reach Dr. Wilson after hours and weekends.

At both offices we offer Invisalign and the Damon System. Our practice is the only one in our area to offer both forms of treatment. Also, in each office we have new state of the art televisions and video games, which appeal to children as well as adults. Each chair in our clinic area is equipped with new PSP hand held games to give patients something to do while they wait for Dr. Wilson. We at Wilson Orthodontics would like our patients’ visit to be fun and pleasant so they don't dread coming for adjustments. So we offer fun as well as excellent and informative care.

Katie Kelly, Sterilization

Wilson Orthodontics offers a fresh and energetic approach to your orthodontic experience. In our newly renovated office, we use the latest technology with our Damon System. Damon braces use a self-ligating bracket, which has less friction and treatment times are generally shorter than with traditional braces.

We have a new University of Georgia game room complete with x-box, video games, and of course, the bulldog ”Uga”. We also have chair side games for our patients.

It’s fun to see how excited our patients get when they find out about our token program. This program gives our patients incentives for good hygiene, no broken appliances, and wearing their “Got Tin” t-shirts. They earn a token for each great behavior and with 10 tokens they can spin the wheel in the operatory to win prizes. If they land on the prize for a Wii, we add their name to our drawing for a free Wii! This drawing is held every 6 months.

With our new renovations we have several big screen TV’s located in the waiting room, the on deck area, and in the operatory for your viewing pleasure.
At Wilson Orthodontics, we love and enjoy our patients! We look forward to seeing them and learning about any new and exciting events in their lives.

--Linda Boss, Financial Coordinator