Week In Review: 2-26-16
One thing you might have heard me talk about (a lot) is how much I enjoy playing tennis! It’s a great sport that you can play throughout your lifetime. I play at the Guilford Racquet and Swim Club, the Madison Racquet and Swim Club, the Oak Lane Tennis Club, and the Guilford Yacht Club. Did I mention that I love playing tennis???
I also enjoy watching tennis being played, both live and on television. If you have ever watched the Tennis Channel, you may be familiar with one of my favorite segments called “Bag Check”. This is when they ask one of the pros to show the audience everything that is in their tennis bag.
What does this have to do with orthodontics you might wonder… I’m so glad you asked! On the day that you have your braces put on, you will go home with two bags. Today we will explore the contents of those bags in our own version of “Orthodontic Bag Check”.
Crest + Oral B Bag:
Oral B Pro 5000 Smart Series Toothbrush:
The first thing you’ll find is a state of the art electric toothbrush, with Bluetooth! The Bluetooth allows you monitor and track the amount of time spent brushing. If you ever told me that toothbrushes would be made with Bluetooth one day, I wouldn’t have believed it! Brushing three times a day (after each meal) is critical to maintaining good oral hygiene and oral health during treatment.
Crest Toothpaste:
A great toothpaste to go with your brand new brush!
Oral B Superfloss:
And where would we be without flossing??? Brushing simply cannot reach the places in between your teeth where they touch each other. But guess what can get in there… food and bacteria that cause cavities. Yuck! It is definitely worth the extra effort to clean ALL the surfaces of your teeth.
Crest Pro-Health Advanced Mouthwash:
And last, but not least, an alcohol free fluoride rinse, which again protects the surfaces of the teeth from the effects of food and bacteria.
Why do we bother to supply you with all these things to clean your teeth you may wonder… after all, I am not your dentist, I am your orthodontist… and you are absolutely right. I am a specialist with two years of advanced training in orthodontics. My primary focus is on the teeth and jaws, specifically their realignment to provide ideal function and appearance. This does not mean, however, that I do not see the big picture… that while I am providing that realignment, I must also safeguard your oral health.
Remington Orthodontics Bag:
We might call this your goody bag. It is a reusable shopping tote bag and it contains goodies. Enough said!
Supplies:
Post-it notes and a pen.
Information and Additional Supplies:
Keeping Your Teeth Clean: a how to guide
Problem Foods: that dreaded list of foods that you have to avoid for the duration of your treatment, nooooo…
Proxybrush: to help reach food that gets caught under your wires
Package of soft wax: your lifesaver when something loosens or feels pokey
Goodies!:
Granted, we have just taken away all of your favorite foods, but we are not completely heartless, we have included an assortment of soft foods to help get you through those first few days, and best of all (because I love ice cream almost as much as I love tennis) an Ashley’s gift card for a milkshake of your choice.
