Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Soft Drinks -- Trouble For Your Teeth -- Dr. Orchin


At Orchin Orthodontics, we know that when you sit down to dinner or grab a sandwich for lunch, you wouldn’t have a side of nine teaspoons of sugar. But that’s exactly what you’re taking in when you pair a meal with a 12-ounce can of soda pop.

Soft drinks are a poor choice for your overall health, since they have no nutritional value, and they contain sugar and caffeine. And when it comes to your teeth, soft drinks can cause big trouble. The steep servings of sugar create the perfect condition for cavities to form, while the phosphoric and citric acids in soda pop can erode and weaken your enamel – the outer coating on your teeth – making it tougher for your teeth to withstand the onslaught of sugar.

Both the Canadian and American Dental Associations recommend limiting your intake of soft drinks. And if you do occasionally indulge in a fizzy beverage, it’s a good idea to drink it with a straw, to reduce exposure to your teeth. Brushing your teeth afterward, or at least swishing with water, can help remove the sugar from your teeth.

Having trouble cutting back? Try these tricks to help wean yourself from a steady diet of soft drinks:

--Don’t quit cold turkey: Start by swapping one soda each day with an alternate drink, preferably water. Gradually increase your swaps until you’re down to one soft drink a day, then one every two days, then one a week, and so on.

--Switch to tea: If you’re looking for a source of caffeine, tea is much healthier than soda pop. Just remember not to add nine teaspoons of sugar to it.

--Switch to seltzer: If it’s the fizz or the flavor you’re after, try a sugar-free flavored water or seltzer.

--Remember your goals: If you’re wavering in your commitment to cut back on soda pop, remember the health problems it can cause.

--Be patient: Adjusting a habit doesn’t happen overnight. Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to change your diet.

--From Orchin Orthodontics

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Top Ten Tips for Improving Bad Breath From Dr. Orchin


Call it by its fancy name, “halitosis,” and it won’t smell any sweeter. Bad breath is frequently a sign that you’re not keeping up with your oral health. The source of this unpleasant odor is, in most cases, bacteria living on your teeth, gums or tongue. Follow these ten tips from Dr. Orchin for a breath of fresh air:

1. Brush your choppers twice each day. Better yet, brush after every meal. If you eat lunch at work or school, keep an extra toothbrush there. Also, be sure to replace your toothbrush regularly. Every few months, swap your brush for a fresh one.

2. Reach between your teeth. Flossing daily helps you remove food particles from between your teeth, where your toothbrush just can’t reach. Flossing also helps keep your gums healthy, preventing periodontal disease, which can also lead to bad breath. If using regular floss is difficult for you, try one of the many interdental cleaners available at drugstores.

3. Pick up a water pick. Along with floss, a water pick reaches spots your toothbrush can’t, like under your tongue and into the back of your mouth.

4. Treat your tongue right. Bacteria can gather on the surface of your tongue, so use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a tongue scraper to clean it every time you brush.

5. Tap your inner teenager and chew gum. The act of chewing (sugarless!) gum stimulates the production of saliva, which naturally washes away bacteria and food particles. If you suffer from a lack of saliva due to “dry mouth,” a condition sometimes caused by medication, let your dentist know; he or she can help address the problem.

6. Don’t fall for the myth of mouthwash. Most mouthwashes merely mask the smell of bad breath and don’t do anything to solve the underlying problem.

7. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink water regularly to keep your mouth moist, and go easy on alcohol and caffeine, both of which are dehydrating.

8. Turn off the tobacco. Smoking and chewing tobacco lead to bad breath. They also increase your risk of a host of serious health problems, from periodontal disease to cancer.

9. Take note of what you take in. Certain diets, foods and medications can affect your breath. If your problem doesn’t appear to be oral, make a list of the foods you eat and medications you take. Review it with your dentist or your family doctor to assess the source of the problem.

10. Call in the experts. It’s important to have your teeth professionally checked and cleaned twice a year. Your dentist can give your teeth a thorough cleaning that isn’t possible at home, as well as check for and treat early signs of problems such as cavities or periodontal disease.

In rare cases, persistent bad breath can be a sign of a larger health problem. The American Dental Association lists possible medical sources of bad breath, including respiratory infection, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, and liver or kidney ailments. If your dentist suspects that your breath problem stems from a medical issue, he or she will recommend speaking with your family doctor immediately.

Hope this helps! From Orchin Orthodontics

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Dr. Andrew Orchin Stays Ahead of the Curve in the Field of Orthodontics


Dr. Andrew Orchin is very active in staying current with the ever-changing dental industry. He is on the Board of the District of Columbia Dental Society. He is the Chairman of the Membership Committee of the DC Dental Society. He also belongs to numerous local multi-disciplinary study clubs, including the DC Millennium Study Club and the Renaissance Study Club. He is also an active member in the prestigious national study club The Sculman Study Group.

Dr. Orchin
is currently the chairman of the Local Arrangements Committee for the 2010 American Association of Orthodontists Annual Session, which will be held in Washington, DC and is expected to draw 25,000 visitors.
He is also on the faculty of the Washington Hospital Center orthodontic residency program, where he teaches twice a month.

Dr. Andrew Orchin recently became certified to use soft-tissue lasers and purchased a laser for his practice. This will enable Orchin Orthodontics to provide the latest and most modern care in the field of orthodontics.

He has also taken numerous continuing education courses in the placement of Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs), otherwise known as mini-implants, which dramatically changes the mechanics of traditional braces.

Dr. Orchin is annually awarded a certificate by the DC Dental Society recognizing that he has accomplished at least 50 hours of continuing education per year, and in fact completes at least 100 hours per year.

All of Dr. Orchin's patients and potential patients can feel comfortable knowing that he continues to stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing world of dentistry and orthodontics. He also strives to work with other dentists and specialists who share his commitment to staying continually active and aware in order to benefit his patients.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Everybody's Brushing! -- Orchin Orthodontics

Everybody IS brushing! At Orchin Orthodontics, we want to make orthodontics and oral health fun. So we found this great video. Share it with the little ones to teach them the importance of oral hygiene!