Braces, Late Night Snacks, And Your Oral Health
Dr. Zohreh Rasouli
March 15, 2019
It’s 11 pm and, while you should be in bed, you’re standing in front of the fridge trying to decide a snack of choice before calling it a night. You know this isn’t the best life choice for your waistline, but did you know that it’s also bad for your oral health – especially your braces. Your orthodontic treatment increases the potential to leave food behind on the teeth after eating.
Late Night Snacking Can Lead to Tooth Loss
A 2010 study in Denmark discovered a relationship between midnight snacking and tooth loss. Over a six-year period, a group of over 2,000 adults (8% labeled “nocturnal eaters”) were found to have significantly increased their chances of tooth loss from repeated midnight snacking. (more…)
Did you know that orthodontic treatment is more than just straightening teeth? The 
Although diabetes has become a fairly common disease in most recent years, it is still very serious and should be managed properly to avoid damaging effects to the body. These damaging effects include threats to your oral health that can greatly influence your orthodontic treatment. 
At the start of every new year, most of us begin to reevaluate our waistlines and opt for a healthier lifestyle. With the growing popularity of juicing in recent years, more of our patients have been turning to this diet as a means of increasing their fruit and vegetable intake. While blending veggies, fruits, and other nutrients together can be very beneficial for overall health, do you really know the effects on your oral health?
All of us here at Oyster Bay Orthodontics have heard the expression “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Taking this to heart can make our teeth stronger and brighter if we eat the right foods to support that healthy smile. 
At the start of each new year, we often hear people say, “New year, new me.” But what exactly does that mean? At Oyster Bay Orthodontics, we say “New year, new smile, better hygiene.”
When it comes to smoking, we’ve all been reminded constantly of the effects it can have on our overall health. In most cases, lung cancer is often the disease of choice that is a result of smoking. However, the damaging effects of smoking don’t stop there. Do you know the negative effects smoking can have on your oral health as well? Stained teeth and bad breath are just the beginning. At Oyster Bay Orthodontics, 
Have you ever had that awkward experience when you drink a cold beverage and immediately feel a sharp pain in your teeth? You’re not alone. In fact, one in eight people has this same problem with tooth sensitivity. So what’s the cause? Believe it or not, tooth sensitivity such as this doesn’t have anything to do with cavities or even braces, the most common cause is brushing with too much force. 
If you’re a fan of food like we are (and really, who isn’t?), then Thanksgiving just might be one of your favorite holidays. Not only do you get to spend time with the ones you love, but you can also eat all the foods you might not get to eat as often.
Dr. Zohreh Rasouli and the Oyster Bay Orthodontics team want to dispel an urban legend about chewing gum: if you swallow a wad of gum, it does not sit in your stomach for seven years. In most cases, actually, not even seven days. Chewing gum, although not meant to be swallowed, passes harmlessly through the digestive system and is excreted in the same manner as everything else we eat.
