We work with our patients to make sure that they not only leave our offices with super straight teeth, but they also take with them a beautifully healthy smile to last a lifetime. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy in braces can sometimes be a bit tricky since there are so many more nooks and crannies for plaque and food to accumulate. From years of experience, we have learned a lot about what factors can be the difference between a healthy smile and an unhealthy one, and we want to share them with patients and non-patients alike.
Cavities are mainly the result of poor quality bacterial plaque built up on your teeth, which is why each of our new patients are specially screened for cavity causing bacteria. By doing so, we understand their individual risk for cavities before beginning treatment and can take steps to help patients prevent them from occurring. Believe it or not, bacteria are actually necessary to keep your teeth lubricated for chewing and more importantly to physically exclude pathogenic bacteria from inhabiting the mouth and causing worse disease than cavities. Unfortunately, some of these “helpful bacteria” happen to produce acids that demineralize your enamel and over time make cavities.
In order to avoid cavities, you obviously need to keep your teeth clean, and also create an environment in your mouth that is more hospitable to bacteria that do not produce acids. Here is how you can do it:
• Brush and floss your teeth in the morning before breakfast so that there are fewer bacteria in the mouth when you introduce food that the bacteria could use to multiply and make acids. Also brush and floss before going to bed each night since during sleep your mouth is driest and there is less saliva to buffer acids in the mouth.
• Use a low abrasive toothpaste with fluoride, like Pronamel, with a soft bristled tooth brush or better yet an electric tooth brush. High abrasives can remove the protein pellicle that coats the surface of your teeth to help them resist acids. The pellicle is like the skin of your teeth. If you are not sure if your toothpaste is highly abrasive, rub some between your fingers, you shouldn’t feel any grittiness. Try to avoid doing this in the store 😉
• Avoid, as much as possible, acidic foods and drinks like candies, sodas, kombucha, etc. Your tooth enamel begins to demineralize below a pH of 5.5
• Rinse before bedtime with an alcohol-free mouthwash that has a basic pH. Alcohol doesn’t actually do much to kill bacteria, and functions in mouthrinses mainly as a solvent. Notoriously “alcoholic” rinses like Listerine kill bacteria using essential oils. Alcohol will however dry out your mouth which is counterproductive. The majority of mouthwashes also unfortunately have an acidic pH; the low pH stabilizes the ingredients and increases shelf-life. We supply every new patient with specially formulated Carifree Prevention Rinses for exactly this reason. If you want to get a similar rinse without a Doctor’s prescription, try Tom’s of Maine Natural Baking Soda Mouthwash. Its the only readily available mouthwash with a basic pH that I have been able to find. If you’re a DIYer, you can always make your own baking soda rinse, but I think it’s easier just to buy it at the store.
• If your dentist thinks you are at a very high risk for cavities, they might recommend swishing with a baking soda rinse after meals to reverse any drop in pH that might result from bacterial metabolism of sugars. Swishing with water is a less effective, but a satisfactory solution for the rest of us (you also won’t have to carry a bottle of mouthwash around all day).
I hope you all found this post helpful. Happy brushing!
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"We recently moved to the Chesapeake area and needed an orthodontist that could continue treatment for our two kiddos. Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics made our transition seamless and even provided an Invisalign option. The staff is amazing and the facilities are top notch!"
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"This is an OUTSTANDING team of dental professionals. We are greeted with smiles every time and wait less than 5 minutes to be called back for our appointment. This is EXCEPTIONAL when compared to the usual, long waiting room wait in MANY practices. The changing seasonal themes is always surprising and enjoyable. THIS IS NOT THE USUAL MEDICAL FACILITY OFTEN VISITED. Doctors Frey and Hatcher are personable, very friendly and HAPPY to work with their patients. Theirs is the most pleasant office to visit and this team is competent and approachable all the time. I'd GIVE THEM A 10 if I could!"
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"We absolutely LOVE Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics. I have 3 daughters who went through braces for about ten years (2002-2012). Now, I am wearing Invisalign. They have been consistently professional and offer the very best care. I highly recommend them."
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"We love Dr. Hatcher and Dr. Frey! They are super thorough when you go in for an evaluation, and give you pricing up front. I visited a different local orthodontist, who wouldn’t give a price until after we started... they are detailed in the plan and the outcome is terrific! It is a wonderful practice with an amazing team! I highly recommend them!!"
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"I can't tell you how astonished I was with the customer service, everyone here is affectionate, and kind. I feel respected and important here. I am a current patient with crowding problems; Invisalign was what I went with because It doesn't seem too much of a chore to keep up with rather than braces. Thanks Dr. Hatcher for your stunning care; I know I'm in good hands and can't wait to see a different smile in the near future. I hope if you've read this far you choose to come here even if you live far away; it's definitely worth the drive. I would recommend this to anyone who is in need of an orthodontist."
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"Got my braces off today after 29 months of wearing them. When I came to Dr. Hatcher back in June 2017, my teeth looked like they were beat by Negan's bat, Lucille, from TWD. Today, I am a brand new person that has been cured of my zombie teeth apocalypse! Thank you Dr Hatcher, Shawna, and the rest of the staff! Your hard work has paid off and will not be forgotten. I will think of you every time I smile."
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"Five stars I scheduled a consult after seeing photos of Dr Frey’s cases with early development utilizing Invisalign. I also felt orthodontics should start early not late and I wanted the best for my 5yr old twins. I was blown away with Dr Frey’s clinical skills, understanding of sleep apnea in children, his updated technology and ability to do digital scans instead of impressions totally shows his education and expertise, but my biggest compliment was how well they treated my family. It’s care that is surpasses any practice I’ve seen. Thank you for educating us and giving us a sound treatment plan."
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"Dr. Hatcher is wonderful and the staff is exceptional! We have had a very positive experience here with both of our daughters. They go above and beyond and I recommend them to anyone who is looking for an orthodontist. They make you feel like family and the kids love going to their appointments. State of the art technology is used to transform smiles from good to great!"
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"Dr. Scott Frey is an amazing Orthodontist and very caring. The most important thing which many people don't understand is it's not just straightening your teeth but knowing your bite is right for the lifetime of functioning. It's well worth the investment and time to do it right, so it won't cost you even more down the road. I give him 5 stars!"
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"What a great experience! We were referred to Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics by our pediatric dentist’s office and they are very helpful and professional. Couldn't have had a better team to help my now 13-year-old achieve her perfect smile."
