A Barbie Girl in a Barbie World

One of my patients came in for her appointment this week, and she told me that she has been working on behalf of Mattel as Barbie, making appearances and going to events. Being Barbie is a fantastic opportunity, and we are all very proud of this patient.

When I think of Barbie, I see her as a cultural icon. Some people see the her as the perfect girl. Barbie has certainly taken a beating with feminists pounding out all of the reasons why Barbie reeks havoc on young women's perceptions of body image. While that may or may not be true, many people, men and women alike, strive for perfection in one way or another, whether it is in their job, their marriage, their sport or hobby, or even their image.

Back in May, I wrote a post about how smiles can sometimes be so perfect that they can look fake. We've all seen these smiles. Smiles that are too white or too even. I always strive to create beautiful, balanced smiles that complement each patient because it is my personal belief that a natural-looking smile is more beautiful than a smile that looks too, well, plastic...or porcelain, as it were. At the end of the day, regardless of whether you look like Barbie or Ken, it's your idiosyncrasies, imperfections, and the most natural aspects of who you are that actually make you perfect.

Is there something in my teeth?

Tooth decay is the one of the most common diseases in children and adults. Maintaining good oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment is of the utmost importance. It is more difficult to brush and floss around braces, but patients without good oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment put themselves at greater risk of plaque developing around the braces, potentially causing cavities and permanent staining of the teeth.

I recommend brushing after every meal, and if that can't always be accomplished, at least brushing twice a day - after breakfast and before bed. I always tell my patients to see a dentist every 4-6 months. It is especially important to keep up with dental cleanings and exams during orthodontic treatment to keep the hard-to-reach areas clean and maintain healthy teeth and gums. Some people use a small interproximal brush to clean areas that are too small for a regular toothbrush and too large for dental floss.

Flossing can definitely be tricky during orthodontic treatment, but making it a part of a daily routine is essential because flossing will remove plaque between the teeth. Using waxed floss is better than using unwaxed floss because unwaxed floss can fray on the edges of braces bands or brackets. Oral B makes a great product called Superfloss that has a stiff end making it easy to get the floss behind the archwire, a regular section for between the teeth, and a spongy section for wider spaces. My favorite product, however, is the Waterpik Flosser. This is a battery-powered device with a replaceable rubber tip that vibrates to cleanse away plaque, and massages gums to prevent gingivitis. Follow up brushing and flossing with the Waterpik Oral Irrigator, a device that bursts jets of water between teeth and gums to remove food particles and wash away plaque already dislodged by brushing and flossing. You can purchase the Waterpik Flosser and the Oral Irrigator at Aesthetic Orthodontics.

Remember that bacteria feed on sugar, so keeping a well-balanced, healthy diet will also decrease the risk of developing tooth decay. Patients with healthy teeth and gums will have an easier time with braces, making their treatment more enjoyable. At AO, we are always happy to give instruction on how to brush and floss effectively.

We Like You Too!

Thank you so much to all of the patients, friends, family, colleagues, and local businesses that have engaged and interacted with Aesthetic Orthodontics via social media!

For the past few months, my team and I have been focusing on creating a better online presence through social media. We have been working at creating a sense of community and getting our patients involved by having Facebook challenges and competitions and consistently interacting via Twitter. Additionally, we have been starting to update our online profiles, such as Google Places, to reflect our new logo and contain the most current information about our offices and promotions.

The response that we have received, especially over Facebook, has been extremely rewarding. This week, we hit a milestone with our 1000th like and are excited about reaching out to our patients and friends to get our next thousand.

If you are a patient, friend, business associate, or just interested in Aesthetic Orthodontics, take a moment to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. You'll get a better sense of who we are as a practice. Thanks for all your support. If you have any questions or suggestions, I am always open to hearing them.