Caring For Your Retainer

Many orthodontic patients require a retainer at the end of orthodontic treatment.  Removable retainers are an easy step to take to preserve a straight smile.  Bridge Smiles Dental Group provides retainers for patients, and caring for your retainer properly is important so that it functions and lasts as long as possible.  A silly but common mistake people make with their retainers is trying to cut corners -- don’t try to clean or brush your retainer while it’s still in your mouth!  The retainer cannot be completely cleaned of debris this way, and toothpaste can also be abrasive to the plastic of the retainer.  Always remove your retainer before cleaning thoroughly with water and your toothbrush. Use a mild dish or hand soap to help clean off debris- never abrasive toothpaste.

You should clean your retainer daily, and also treat it weekly by soaking.  Soaking helps maintain the cleanliness of the retainer and keep it from drying out.  To soak the retainer, dissolve denture cleaning tablets in water or add a little baking soda to water to make a solution.  Storing your retainer properly is also important for its longevity.  Get in the habit of always using and carrying a case.  Too many retainers have disappeared after being folded up in napkins!

To learn more about caring for your retainer, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

What is an Underbite?

The main cause of an underbite is a misalignment of the lower jaw, which is usually present at birth. An underbite, clinically called prognathism, is the malocclusion or “bad bite” that happens when the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth. Just because your mouth may have this problem doesn’t mean that it’s untreatable. If you have been diagnosed with an underbite, our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. can correct the problem with dental braces.

Although far less common than overbites, underbites still affect 5-10 percent of the population. An extreme underbite can cause facial abnormality, resulting in an extended chin. Additionally, underbites including difficulty with chewing, swallowing and speaking. Underbites may also wear down tooth enamel and increase your chances of developing tooth decay or other dental problems such as TMJ disorder.

If you wish to correct your bite with orthodontic treatment, please give us a call to discuss your options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visitwww.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.

Overbite Overview

If you have been diagnosed with an overbite, this simply means that your top teeth extend beyond your bottom teeth. It is a common dental problem that our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. can correct with braces. Overbite teeth are considered a type of “bad bite.” It can either be noticeable or unnoticeable, but it some extreme cases it can make your jaw look significantly larger or your bottom jaw look much smaller.

Most often, overbites are inherited as traits just as the color of your eyes or the freckles on your cheeks. Other causes of misaligned bites may result from an early loss of baby or adult teeth, gum disease, or common oral health problems in children, such as thumb sucking. Once one of our doctors confirms your overbite with X-rays, he or she may take regular photographs of your face to further examine the relationship between the teeth, jaws, and head. From there, an individualized treatment plan will be developed to correct the bite.

If you wish to correct your bite with orthodontic treatment, please give us a call to discuss your options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visitwww.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.