Toothbrush Trivia with Dr. Stein!

People have been brushing their teeth for thousands of years! In fact, the first “toothbrush” was created around 3000BC! Ancient civilizations used a thin twig with a frayed edge to rub against their teeth for cleaning.

The first toothbrush with bristles – similar to today’s toothbrushes – was invented in 1498 in China. Brushes were made out of bone or bamboo with bristles made from the hairs on the back of a hog’s neck.

It wasn’t until 1938 that the first nylon bristle toothbrush was introduced and people quickly became aware of practicing good oral hygiene.

Here are some other interesting facts about your toothbrush (and toothpaste):

• Most people are said to use blue toothbrushes over any other color
• The first toothpaste was used in 500 BC in China and India
• On average, children smile about 400 times per day
• Your toothbrush should be replaced every two months
• The first known toothpaste was used in 1780, Crest was introduced in the US in 1955 and Colgate in 1873

New YouTube patient testimonial from Danielle!

Have you visited our YouTube page recently? Last week, we uploaded a few interesting videos, including a patient testimonial from Danielle, who happens to be one of our patients!

Head over to our page and let us know what you think! Dr. Stein and team always enjoy hearing from our patients!

Invisalign® Tips, from Dr. Jeffrey Stein

We've blogged about the advantage of Invisalign treatment at Braces by Stein in the past. Today, we thought we'd share a few Invisalign tips with you. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Stein wants you to ask yourself three questions.

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.
2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.
3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also easy: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits, Dr. Stein says. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Braces by Stein, please don't hesitate to give us a call!

What puts you at ease at Braces by Stein?

Dr. Stein understands not everyone is thrilled to see their orthodontist. But he wants you, our wonderful patients, to know that our team strives to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about our office that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our friendly staff? Dr. Stein himself?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call! Have a great weekend!

A few helpful webisodes about orthodontics, from Dr. Jeffrey M. Stein

Dr. Stein and his team would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO.

There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at Braces by Stein, please give us a call.

Happy New Year!

Season’s Greetings from Dr. Stein and team

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as Dr. Stein and his team reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? A clean slate for 2010? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food? Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year?

We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

When should you call Dr. Stein?

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together this helpful list for your advantage. Dr. Stein and his team thought they'd pass on some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give us a call!

Have a great weekend.