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We all know that some things are better for our bodies than others, but how about our teeth? Sure, sugar is bad, but why? And if cookies are bad for our buns and our chompers, then what isn’t? We would like to help take the guesswork out of healthy choices for your teeth and get you on the road to better snacking!

Hurts so Good!
Sugar is bad news bears for your pearly whites, but why? Well, the sweet stuff is the food of choice for all of the delightful little bacteria making up the biofilm (fancy pants jargon for bacterial pow-wow) in our mouths. Most of these little guys are good, but because sugar isn’t exactly what we should be eating all of the time, eating too much of it ends up throwing our oral flora out of whack and increasing the amount of, ahem, excrement that bacteria produce (come on, a germ’s gotta poo, too!).

The problem is that bacterial waste is acidic, and therefore damages the  teeth the bacteria occupy. More sugar leads to more acid, which leads to less enamel, ending in cavities. So the idea is to keep your mouth neutral and decrease the amount of sugar available to your bio-film!

Well, What Else is There?!
Now that sugar is out, what else is there for you to nibble on that won’t make you feel deprived? Be picky when you have the munchies and select tasty treats that will be chewed, swallowed, and conquered to get the sugars out of your mouth sooner rather than later. Avoid sticky, chewy items that will glue themselves to your teeth for long periods of time. This stuff (while sinfully delicious) essentially gives bacteria a temporary trough for them to snack from!

Sweet isn’t all bad, so indulge in things like pears, pineapples, and tangerines when you’re feeling the urge. For savory snacking, choose nuts and seeds (pumpkin season is here!), and a pretzel or two won’t do a body bad either. On bread items, take a look at the packaging to see how much sugar is added (it sneaks in everywhere!) and choose options that have little to no sugar to minimize the germy smorgasbord. Milk products are OK as well, but again, be wary of hidden sugars.

No matter what you snack on, remember to keep your mouth moving, and brush after you munch to limit the bacterial buffet!

Adult patients who seek orthodontic treatment usually fall into one of two camps: those who did not undergo orthodontic treatment as a child or those who had braces at one point but stopped wearing retainers for one reason or another.

At Benson Orthodontics, we are happy to offer a variety of treatment options to straighten our patients’ teeth. Dr. Bart Benson and our team believe you’re never too old to straighten your teeth. And we have many adult patients who are currently undergoing treatment. In fact, did you know that roughly 30 percent of all orthodontic patients these days are adults?

Invisalign® is a great treatment option for adults. The Invisalign aligners are easy to wear and are not visible to most people. Plus, Invisalign's clear aligners are removable, so there are no restrictions on what you can eat during treatment. When considering Invisalign, we tell adults to determine if they can be diligent about wearing the aligners at all times and make them part of their lifestyle for the duration of treatment.

If you have been thinking about obtaining a beautiful smile, please give us a call at our convenient Mt. Juliet or Lebanon, TN office for an initial consultation. Dr. Bart Benson and our team welcome children, teens, and adults alike. Call us today for an appointment!

There is nothing more rewarding than feeling like the work you’ve done has helped change a person's life. This month, that person is Abby, and we are so grateful to have given her a new reason to smile.

A little over a year and a half ago, Abby and her parents came in looking for a solution—not just for her overbite, which was creating all sorts of physical problems, but for her confidence as well. For those who do not completely understand what is meant by an overbite, such a problem is caused when the upper teeth do not sit correctly in front of the bottom teeth. Normally, the top teeth overlap the bottom teeth ever so slightly; when they overlap by a great deal, the front teeth create the overbite, while the space between the where the teeth overlap is called the overjet. Sometimes an overbite is caused by the bottom jaw being set too far back. Other times the upper teeth may simply lean forward too much. Either way, overbites are often the cause of unfortunate teasing and low confidence. They can even prevent a person from eating properly and getting the nutrients he or she needs. By catching a problem like this early, an orthodontist can prevent future damage and fix an overbite. Fortunately for Abby and many kids like her, surgery is not usually necessary to correct an overbite. Braces with rubber bands that help move the jaw into its correct position have the ability to make a smile more in line. For adults, on the other hand, it’s a different story. Oftentimes, for them, surgery is required because the teeth are no longer so readily able to move. This is why I recommend that children have their first orthodontic screening by age 7. The sooner an issue such as this is detected, the sooner a plan can be made and a solution reached.

At Benson Orthodontics, we service many issues, including crowding, openbite, deep overbite, missing lateral incisors,
underbite, and spacing. Any of these can cause patients to lack confidence, which can in turn affect their interactions with
the world. For children, it can be a particularly awful time since many are teased, but it isn’t much better in adulthood, when confidence is a necessary quality for dating, socializing, and interviewing for jobs. Being able to rectify these situations at Benson Orthodontics gives us a great deal of pride—the same pride our patients feel when they have new, beautiful smiles to share.

One example of this, of course, is Abby. As her mother, Andrea Moore, can attest, before Abby got her braces, she didn’t smile very much. She kept her head down, no matter what her parents told her. She couldn’t bite down on things properly, and she endured jaw pain. When they were finally able to afford braces, Andrea says, it was the best change they could have made. Even while she was wearing them, something different was happening to Abby. She started smiling simply because she knew that her teeth were making progress. Today, Abby’s overbite is nowhere in sight, she can eat foods she hasn’t had in years, and her jaw pain is gone. Best of all, she smiles constantly, proving that despite her initial nervousness about braces, all her pain and suffering over the past year and a half was worth it.

For Andrea, part of the story’s success came from our abilities to answer any of her or Abby’s questions and put their minds at ease. Being able to answer both the small and large questions is an ability my staff prides itself on, and we too are grateful to have been a part of this process. If you or your child has an overbite, don’t take our word that we can help you; take Andrea’s. She’ll advise anyone to do it “in a heartbeat.” As she knows, it can be a hard, rough road for the kids, but in the end, it’s worth every bit.

One exciting part about wearing braces from Benson Orthodontics is getting to choose the colors of your rubber bands. Orthodontists place elastic bands, or ligatures, over each bracket to secure the archwire in place. These rubber bands may be individual or connected, depending on your mouth’s needs. From Dr. Bart Benson, you have the option of choosing the color of your elastics, which are changed about once every month at every visit. Our offices keep a color wheel handy to help you choose which ones suit you best!

Children and teens often enjoy picking different colors each month to express their creativity and coordinate their braces with outfits. Decorating your mouth with your favorite colors is fun for kids and takes some of the stress out of wearing braces. Adults who wish for subtlety have color options that blend in with the metal brackets and archwire. Common choices for adults include silver, clear, and gray tones.

Common Color Combinations for Rubber Bands

With individual ligatures for each bracket, you may choose different color combinations for special events. You can have alternating colors or place an entire rainbow over your teeth. Here are a few options to consider:

• School spirit colors
• Favorite sports team colors
• Patriotic colors
• Holiday themes

Some patients choose only one color to match their mood, personality, or favorite outfits. The palette of choices allows you to make bold statements with your braces or go for subtler tones that blend in with the metal structures. Keep in mind that bright colors make your teeth look whiter, while lighter shades, such as yellow and white, may cause your teeth to appear less bright.

What Your Rubber Band Color Says About You

• Red tones indicate that you are ready for action and take charge of your life with aggressive, forward-thinking steps.
• Blue tones are calm and relaxing. You are conservative and exhibit integrity when dealing with situations.
• Green tones represent growth and balance. You are level-headed and look for opportunities to grow emotionally and spiritually.
• Purple tones attract creative energies. You like to have fun and use your imagination in every aspect of your life.
• Orange tones indicate that you are optimistic and thrive in social situations where communication is open.
• Pink is a romantic color that represents a caring personality. You also enjoy having fun with silly games and endless laughter.