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1. Food pocketing/holding food in the mouth without swallowing it.

You know that what you eat directly impacts your health, and that includes the health of your teeth and gums. But it can work the other way around too. If you have an orthodontic appliance, such as braces, or have had certain dental problems or procedures, the health and comfort of your teeth and gums can directly impact what you eat.

Difficulty chewing is a common problem for older adults, and can have many causes and even takes longer time in eating food. Missing teeth, poorly fitting dentures, and mouth pain are typical culprits for chewing problems. If left untreated, these problems can increase the risk for weight loss, or inadequate intake of important nutrients, so your first step should be a visit to your dentist to help determine the cause of your problem. Meanwhile, eating soft foods (see tips for braces) can you help maintain your nutrients until you can see your dentist.

Here are a few important steps to take to help ensure you or your loved one are not struggling unnecessarily due to food pouching:
 See the dentist regularly, and make sure any pain or new issues are addressed promptly.
 Make sure dentures fit properly — they should not move, make noise during meals, or cause pain.
 Practice proper hygiene of teeth and dentures, like brushing and soaking. Seek help with this, if needed.

2. Invisalign Aligners & its Advantages

While there are many options to straighten your teeth Invisalign is the only clear option that is free of brackets and wires. Invisalign allows you to work, eat, and participate in social situations worry free! All while giving you a perfect smile. Invisalign has many benefits for the wearer, such as comfort and flexibility, below we will look at advantages of Invisalign has to offer.

• Invisible Appearance

Invisalign trays are invisible! They are completely clear so they don’t detract from your face or smile.

• Improved Cleanliness

Invisalign trays are removable – when you are ready to brush and floss your teeth just remove the trays, clean your teeth, then pop them back in.

• Saves Time

With Invisalign you will be able to spend less time at the orthodontist or dentist’s office as they only need to be maintained every 6 weeks on average.

• Safe and Removable

Is your child or teen in sports or band? Invisalign allows for a more comfortable experience without the scrapes other orthodontic options can cause.

• Better Dental Health

Straight teeth are better for your gums and dental health.

• Beautifully Straight Teeth

The result speak for themselves and Invisalign leads to beautifully straight teeth and a wonderful smile. Possibly the best reason to use Invisalign!

3. Mouth Breathing Habit

Mouth breathing habit develop in people when they can’t breathe through their nose. Mouth breathing may solve the immediate and essential problem of getting enough air. But mouth breathing can become a hard-to-break habit that can cause sleep disorders, dental problems and facial structure differences.

Mouth breathing habit affects adults and children. Healthcare providers estimate between 10% and 25% of children have mouth breathing habit. Children who have mouth breathing habit are more likely to have dental problems like malocclusion and facial difference. They can also develop obstructive sleep apnea that healthcare providers link to learning difficulties and behavioral problems. Malocclusion in children as well as adults happens when your upper and lower teeth don’t align. Proclination of anteriors justified by interposition of the hypertonic lower lip between maxillary and mandibular incisors provoking labioversion of the:

• Maxillary incisors
• Posterior crossbite
• Anterior open bite
• Distal relation of mandible to maxilla.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you think you or your child is developing mouth breathing. They’ll recommend treatments or medication to resolve the problem.

4. Teeth grinding at night

Teeth grinding (bruxism) often occurs during sleep. This is called sleep or nocturnal bruxism. A key challenge with sleep bruxism is that it is much harder for people to be aware that they are grinding their teeth while sleeping. Relatedly, a sleeping person doesn’t realize their bite strength, so they more tightly clench and grind their teeth, employing up to 250 pounds of force.

Teeth grinding at night is more common in children, adolescents, and young adults than middle-aged and older adults. Exact numbers of how many people have sleep bruxism are hard to come by because many people are not aware that they grind their teeth.

People with teeth grinding don’t grind their teeth throughout the night. Instead, they have episodes of clenching and grinding. People may have very few episodes per night or up to 100. The frequency of episodes is often inconsistent, and teeth grinding may not occur every night. Teeth grinding can increase the risk of problems with the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull, known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). TMJ problems6 can provoke difficulty chewing, chronic jaw pain, popping or clicking noises, locking of the jaw, and other complications.

The best treatment for teeth grinding at night varies based on the individual and should always be overseen by a doctor or dentist who can explain the benefits and downsides of a therapy in the patient’s specific situation.