Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces

Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces: Pros and Cons

By Mina Levi, DDS 11/26/2013

 

Alignment of the teeth is one of the most important aspects of having the optimal, beautiful smile. The treatment to align the teeth known as Orthodontics can be a bit of a hassle, especially when thinking about having a mouth full of metal for a long time. However, there are options available for patients who are longing for straight teeth that don't involve all of the wire work. The most popular of alternatives is called Invisalign, which is clear alignment. Visiting the Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS can be helpful in making the decision between traditional metal braces and Invisalign clear aligners. Below we discuss some of the differences between the two, and the pros and cons of both.  
 

 

1. Visibility. Invisalign aligners are exactly as they sound, invisible. They are manufactured with a plastic material and are clear. Traditional braces are made of metal and are absolutely visible.

 

2. Removability. Invisalign aligners are completely removable and can be taken out of the mouth when needed. There are disadvantages to this, however, if the patient is not compliant with the amount of time prescribed to wear the aligners the straightening process will not move along on track. Traditional braces are not removable, which is inconvenient and they get in the way of many activities. The patient compliance is a non-issue with the traditional braces since it is not an option to remove them.

 

3. Oral Hygiene. Since Invisalign aligners are removable and do not block any part of he teeth, oral hygiene is much better than with traditional braces in which it is difficult to remove the plaque from in between and around the brackets. Also, with traditional braces, if the plaque remains on and around the brackets it can cause de-calcification of the teeth and gum inflammation. This changes the color of the teeth permanently in those areas because calcium has been leeched out of the tooth structure by the plaque build-up.

 

4. Irritation. Traditional braces are very bulky and can have sharp edges and ends. Because of this, they commonly cause irritation of the lips and cheeks. Also, it allows for spaces for plaque to accumulate, which causes gum irritation and gum disease. Invisalign clear aligners are customized to fit tightly to the teeth and so they do not irritate the gums or surrounding tissues.

 

5. Diet. Traditional braces come with dietary restrictions due to their physical nature; certain foods are difficult to eat and can cause the brackets to come loose. Also, when braces are tightened it makes the teeth very sore and hard foods are almost impossible to consume. Invisalign allows the freedom to choose one's personal diet due to the fact that they are removable.

 

6. Whitening. Teeth whitening is not an option with traditional braces since parts of the tooth surfaces are covered in metal, and whitening the other surfaces would leave discolored squares on the teeth when the braces are removed. Invisalign aligners can double as whitening trays during the alignment process. You receive whitening gel through the Dentist San Francisco and place it into your trays, then rinse out after 15-20 minutes.

 

7. Straightening Issues. There are certain teeth conditions that are better treated with Invisalign aligners, such as a deep bite condition. However, there are certain teeth conditions that are better treated with traditional braces, such as an open bite condition or rotation of cylindrical teeth.

 

8. Price. The price of Invisalign is very comparable to traditional braces, about $4000-$6500.

 

After reviewing the positive and negative aspects of both Invisalign clear aligners and traditional braces, you can make the next step in finding an Invisalign Preferred Provider dentist for treatment. Dr. Mina Levi, DDS has been a Preferred Provider for Invisalign since 2009. If you have any other questions or would like to schedule a complementary Invisalign consultation, visit the Dentist San Francisco on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

 

Topics: Invisalign, Teeth Whitening, Traditional Braces, Orthodontics, Dentist San Francisco, Gum Disease, Dental Plaque

How to Take Care of Your Tongue

How to Take Care of Your Tongue 

          We all have been told over and over again how important it is to brush and floss your teeth, and even how using mouthwash is great for destroying germs. One thing that isn’t emphasized enough is how to take care of our tongue, leaving questions such as, “is my tongue getting clean with just mouthwash?” and “does my tongue need to be cleaned separately?” The tongue is one of the strongest muscles in the body relative to size, and helps us speak, eat and drink throughout our entire lives. We think that deserves some recognition and that our tongue deserves to be cleaned and taken care of properly. Visiting the Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi DDS can be helpful with getting familiar with the proper tongue cleaning techniques and routines. Below we discuss the nature of the tongue and how to properly clean it.

Understanding the Tongue

 

The tongue is a mysterious, wriggly muscle that lives in our mouths and although we use our tongues every day almost constantly, many people don’t know much about the tongue. The tongue is covered with papillae and taste buds (receptors for taste), which allow it to be the primary organ of taste and helps us manipulate food for eating. The tongue is very sensitive since it is supplied immensely with nerves and blood vessels, which is why it is so painful when we accidentally bite down on it. Not only is the tongue used for eating, but it also functions in creating sounds and words. For example if you hold your tongue between your fingers and try to complete a sentence, you will notice that not only can you not produce the words and sounds that you want to, but also your tongue will contract and fight against your fingers slightly to try to make the correct sounds. Another very important function of the tongue is a natural toothbrush. The saliva that keeps the tongue moist has antibodies and proteins that clean up the bacteria in the mouth, and the tongue can manipulate itself into many positions and areas in the mouth which allows it to detect and remove bits of food that are left over from our last meal.

The tongue has what is called a “tongue map”, which shows that different areas of the tongue are more sensitive to different tastes. Contrary to popular belief, these areas of the tongue are not completely secluded to one particular taste, but different areas of the tongue have different thresholds for sensitivity to particular tastes. The tip of the tongue (4) is known for the sweet taste and the sides of the tongue toward the tip (3) are known for the salty taste. The sides of the tongue toward the back of the tongue (2) are known for the sour taste and the back area of the tongue (1) is known for the bitter taste.

The papillae and taste buds in the tongue are very sensitive and are what help us taste food at all. However, if the tongue is not cleaned properly, build up can cover up endings of the taste buds and dull the sensitivity, making it more difficult for the tongue to taste foods. Also, an unclean tongue can cause very bad breath and allow more bacteria to linger in the mouth, leading to other problems such as plaque build-up on the teeth and cavities. But, how are we supposed to clean the tongue? Here are a few good tips:

 

1.     Get a tongue-cleaning device. These tongue-cleaning devices usually have a handle similar to a toothbrush but the tip is a triangle or oval shape with a large hole in the center, similar to an enlarged, widened eye-hole of a needle. You can find these devices at grocery stores and online, or you can get one through the Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi DDS. Some toothbrushes have a textured back designed for scrubbing of the tongue, but this doesn’t work as well as getting a separate tongue scraper.  

2.     Scraping the tongue. In the morning before eating or drinking anything, take the tongue-cleaning device and place it on the surface of the tongue towards the back. Then firmly but gently press the tip of the device and then “drag” the tip from the back of the tongue to the front. The residue you’ve cleaned off of your tongue will build up on the device, so you will need to rinse it off after each scraping. Repeat this process multiple times until the entire tongue has been scraped with the device.   

3.     Rinse. After the tongue scraping is completed and you have cleaned off your tongue-cleaning tool, rinse your mouth thoroughly with mouthwash. This will wash away any of the build-up that still remains in the mouth, and will also clean away bacteria in the rest of the mouth.

4.     Repeat! The most important part of cleaning your tongue is to continue to clean it and make it part of your every day routine.

5.     Cleaning Your Tongue Scraper. Once every two weeks, soak your tongue-cleaning device in denture cleaner or a hydrogen peroxide-water solution to ensure that it remains sanitary.

 

For more information about the tongue cleaning process or how it affects your overall oral health, visit the Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

 

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, Oral health, Tongue Cleaning, Teeth Cleaning, Tongue, Oral Bacteria, Dental Plaque, Tongue Scrapers

15 Different Uses for Toothpaste Other Than Brushing Your Teeth

15 Different Uses for Toothpaste Other Than Brushing Your Teeth

          Normally, toothpaste is purchased and used for one thing: brushing your teeth. However, there are many other ways that you can use toothpaste without it even touching the toothbrush! Below we discuss fifteen different uses for toothpaste. 

1.     Spider Bites. As many of us know through unfortunate experience, spider bites normally swell and itch badly with little you can do to relieve the symptoms. The fluoride found in toothpaste tends to calm the itching and can help reduce the swelling if applied to the bite.  

2.     Polishing Silver Jewelry and Diamonds. Toothpaste will help clean gunk off of silver jewelry and diamonds and leave them with a brilliant shine, much like it does with your teeth. You can wipe away any toothpaste residue with a damp cloth and your jewelry will be bright and shiny.

 

3.     Burns. When you burn yourself, there is a lasting “hot” feeling in your skin that seems to be relieved temporarily with cold water. Applying toothpaste to the burn will help remove some of the heat and make the pain easier to bear.

 

4.     Remove the Smell from Baby Bottles. Many parents can agree that there is a foul smell from milk and formula that left over in baby bottles that sometimes doesn’t go away by washing it with soap and water. Wash the bottles with a toothpaste-water mixture, and the odor will be gone quickly.

 

5.     Acne. Toothpaste goes near our faces every day when we brush our teeth, but many of us wouldn’t think to put toothpaste on our faces. When applied to pimples, toothpaste can help dry out the area and decrease redness and swelling. Be careful, however, because using too much toothpaste or leaving it on the pimple for too long can cause skin irritation.

 

6.     Keep Diving Goggles from Fogging. While diving or swimming and using goggles, the insides of the goggles tend to fog up and collect moisture which inhibits good visibility. If you rub toothpaste on the inside surface of the goggles and then rinse it off, it will keep the goggles from fogging up to much while you’re trying to have fun in the water.

 

7.     For Your Nails. When using nail polish often, it starts to leave a yellow tint or staining on the fingernails that is unpleasant and is often covered up with more nail polish. By using toothpaste, you can buff away those stains much like toothpaste helps remove yellow staining on teeth.

 

8.     Cleaning of Piano Keys. The keys of a piano can get dirty easily when they are played often, which takes away from the class and elegance of a piano. By rubbing the keys with a toothpaste and water mixture and then buffing with a cloth, the keys will shine.

 

9.     Remove Children’s Drawings on Walls. When it gets too quiet in the house, most parents suspect that their child is up to something and that something can sometimes be large murals of crayon on the walls. These drawings can be easily removed by the abrasive character of toothpaste. However, it is important to test a small patch of the wall before trying to clean the entire work of art, just in case the paint on the walls is sensitive to abrasive substances.

 

10.      For DVD/CD Scratches. It is incredibly frustrating when you go to put a DVD in a player and the audio or picture skips and distorts because there is a small scratch on the playing surface. Toothpaste can help us with this situation as well. Very gently rub toothpaste onto the playing surface, then rinse and buff with a soft cloth. The abrasive characteristic of toothpaste helps even out the playing surface of the disc. Be careful, however, because too much of this abrasiveness can make it worse.

 

11.  Hair Strengthening. You can rub gel toothpaste in your hair to enhance  its strength. Also, toothpaste has similar properties to hair gel, and when you need a strong hold you can apply the toothpaste into your hair and style it the way you want.

 

12.      Remove Strong Food Smells from Hands. When cooking with garlic or fish, you will notice that a distinct strong smell lingers on the fingers, and often for a lot longer than we want it to. Gel toothpaste, when applied to the fingers, penetrates deep into the skin and removes those unpleasant smells from your fingers.

 

13.      Polishing shoes. Scuffing of shoes is something that is nearly impossible to avoid, unless you never wear them that is. Working especially well on leather shoes, rubbing toothpaste on the shoes and buffing off with a soft cloth can remove scuffs and polish shoes so that they look brand new.

14.      Remove Burn Spots on a Clothing Iron. When we use our clothing irons, after some time small dark circle spots become noticeable on the heated surface, which are burns from the excessive heat the iron gives off. Scrub the heated surface (not while the iron is hot, of course) with toothpaste and water. This will wipe those burn spots away and increase the lifespan of your iron.

 

15.      Caulking Over Nail Holes in the Wall. If you’ve got holes in the wall from a picture nail (or any other type of nail for that matter) you can use toothpaste to fill it up. The easiest is by using white toothpaste on white walls. If you have colored walls though, you can mix the toothpaste with food coloring or eye shadow to match the color. Apply the toothpaste to the hole and allow to dry, and then use a flat object like a credit card to go over it and smooth it down. 

Although there are many different uses for toothpaste, the most important use for toothpaste is for brushing your teeth. Dental check-ups with the Mina Levi DDS Dentist San Francisco are very important to maintain healthy teeth and gums. For more information, visit Mina Levi on the web at www.minalevidds.com or call us at (415) 513-5066.