Oral Hygiene during Orthodontic treatment

Maintaining good oral hygiene is vitally important during orthodontic treatment, and is essential in preventing cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. Regular visits to your general dentist every 3-6 months during orthodontic treatment is fundamental in sustaining healthy teeth and gums. Dental hygienists can remove hardened deposits which are not removed during regular cleaning.

Why floss?

Flossing is a vital part of any oral hygiene routine, and is essential in maintaining a health mouth -However, many people don’t realize the importance of flossing. Flossing in designed to clean in between your teeth and beneath the gums—areas that cannot always be adequately cleaned just by brushing. By flossing, you are removing plaque—a sticky substance that forms on and in between the teeth. Brushing removes plaque from the surfaces of the teeth, however only flossing can remove plaque that accumulates in between the teeth. If plaque is not removed, it combines with the sugars and starches of the foods we eat to produce an acid that attacks tooth.

Manual or electric?

Independent research has found that most electric toothbrushes are no more effective than manual toothbrushes. Of course—the comparison   assumes that people using a manual toothbrush will brush properly.

Dr Duncan recommends electric toothbrushes for some younger patients with braces because:

• Most electric toothbrushes have a timer to ensure you brush for the correct amount of time
• It's just a matter of pressing the toothbrush to each tooth and gum area and letting the electric toothbrush do the rest

Some people prefer manual toothbrushes because they feel they have better control of what they’re doing. So, there is no right or wrong answer—it all comes down to preference! Just remember these important steps while brushing and your teeth will continue to sparkle:

• Gently brush the gum line - this is very important to maintain a healthy mouth
• Focus on one tooth at a time, using small, gentle circles
• Brush for no less than 2 minutes at a time
• Soft bristles are the way to go because hard bristles can wear away the gums causing them to recede 

Tax rebates with Invisalign!

I am writing to let you know that now is the time to have Invisalign treatment at Duncan Orthodontics.

Receive a tax rebate of up to $1100!

 If you pay in full, you can claim up to $1100 as a tax rebate. We will also offer you a 5% discount on your overall fee which can be up to another $380. Take advantage of this before the end of the financial year.

Contact us now on 8364 4311 or go to our website to book your free consultation.

This free consultation entitles you to:

Free digital X-rays and photos. These are required for your Invisalign assessment, and are yours to keep. The normal cost of these is about $120
If you qualify for Invisalign, you get free teeth whitening during your treatment. Value $350 plus.

At Duncan Orthodontics we love what we do so much; we really want to help as many people as possible achieve a beautiful, white, straight smile.

Duncan Orthodontics...

Is the most experienced Invisalign practice in Australia
We are specialist orthodontists. This is critical, as moving teeth is our business. With more general dentists getting into Invisalign, many with almost no orthodontic experience or knowledge, it is more important than ever to seek out an experienced Invisalign Orthodontist
Dr Duncan is the only Platinum Elite Invisalign Provider in Adelaide, ranking him in the top 1% of Invisalign submitters worldwide
Dr Duncan teaches Invisalign around Australia and overseas, being part of the international Invisalign Accreditation Panel, and is on staff in the University of Adelaide School of Dentistry Graduate Orthodontic program.

Invisalign is the brace free way to a beautiful smile;

Invisible
Comfortable
Clear
Removable
Paper thin

Hide your treatment, not your smile.

Say CHEESE!

Here at Duncan Orthodontics we want to know; Is dairy a big part of your diet? If not, it should be! A 2008 study from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) found that regular consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yoghurt, can actually lower your chances of contacting gum disease. Results of the study also showed that adults who consumed at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day were less at risk of gum disease.

Cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for a child’s set of chompers. In addition to providing large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also helps to fight cavities. Cheddar, Mozzarella and Swiss all stimulate the body’s salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris and protect them from acids that weaken them. This means that cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque’s ph level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of a child’s teeth.

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth that affects the gums and jaw. Gum disease results in a loss of teeth and bone, and has been connected to certain cases of heart  disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and osteoporosis.

Eating dairy is not just a healthy snack for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth.

Next time you reach for a quick snack, - choose some cheese, or a glass of milk, and remember with each bite, and every sip, you are preserving your pearly whites for a lifetime of smiles and good oral health!

A great braces-friendly winter recipe!

If you have braces from Duncan Orthodontics, you are probably wondering what else to eat other than yoghurt, custard and soup! No popcorn, sticky lollies or other delicious braces-unfriendly foods. But fear not! Here is a tantalizing recipe that will satisfy both your sugar craving and sore teeth on a wintery evening.

Chocolate baked bananas with ice-cream

Ingredients:

4 bananas 
4 tablespoons Nutella

120g milk chocolate chips 
1 tub of ice cream (your choice of flavour!)

Directions:

1. Pre heat your oven to 230°C
2. Place the banana on a work surface with the ends pointing up. Use a   small sharp knife to cut a horizontal slit down the inside so you can open the peel like an envelope
3. Spread 1 tablespoon of Nutella and add 30g of chocolate chips to all four bananas
4. Close the banana peels, and wrap individually in foil
5.  Place bananas on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes (or until bananas are soft and the chocolate is melted)

Be careful when removing the foil as the bananas and melted chocolate will be hot!

To serve, add your ice cream to a bowl and carefully peel your baked banana on top.

Enjoy!