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Keeping the area where your teeth meet your gums clean can prevent gum disease, and keeping your tooth surfaces clean can help you avoid cavities. Dr. Chapman of Chapman Orthodontics offers the following tips to his patients in Brownsburg, IN:

Brush your teeth at least twice a day. When you brush, don’t rush. Dr. Chapman recommends brushing for two minutes twice a day, and more frequently if you have braces — take enough time to do a thorough job.

Use the proper equipment. We at Chapman Orthodontics recommend using a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Also consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, for it can reduce plaque and the chance of gum disease more than does manual brushing. Moreover, these devices are helpful if you have arthritis or other problems that make it difficult to brush effectively.

Practice good techniques. Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle — aiming the bristles toward the area where your tooth meets your gum. Again Dr. Chapman reminds you that keeping the area where your teeth meet your gums clean can prevent gum disease. Also, don’t forget to gently brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue, with short back-and-forth motions.

Keep your equipment clean. Always rinse your toothbrush with water after brushing. Dr. Chapman also stresses that you store your toothbrush in an upright position, if possible, and allow it to air-dry until using it again. Toothbrush Tip: don’t routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers, it can encourage the growth of bacteria.

Know when to replace your toothbrush. Invest in a new toothbrush or a replacement head for your electric or battery-operated toothbrush every three to four months — or sooner if the bristles become frayed.

Follow these basic tips daily and if you have any question or concerns please don’t hesitate to call Dr. Chapman at 317.852.5566, or even to stop by Chapman Orthodontics when and if you are in Brownsburg, IN.

The discouraging connotation surrounding braces that implies that they’re solely for kids and teens has kept the idea of adult orthodontic treatments on the outskirts of many adult’s minds in Brownsburg, IN. Invisalign®, however, is becoming increasingly popular within the adult demographic, and at Chapman Orthodontics we encourage adult orthodontic treatment.

Here are a few key points to keep in mind in preparing for orthodontic treatment:

1. If you have sensitive teeth Sensodyne is a great toothpaste to help desensitize your teeth.
2. It is encouraged to practice excellent oral hygiene to prepare your gums for orthodontic treatment. Ask Dr. Chapman for suggestions.
3. It may feel uncomfortable at first, this feeling will go away and become more natural.
4. Chewing may also be difficult and consumption of certain foods may be impossible at first, but unlike tradition braces Invisalign® is designed for you to be able to remove during meals and to brush and floss. Ask Dr. Chapman for a list of foods to avoid during those first few weeks.
5. Your brushing routine may need to be amped up a bit or altered to fit more often into your schedule

There are many benefits that come with Invisalign® including improved self-esteem and better dental health, and thanks to Invisalign®, you can straighten your teeth invisbly. Contact Dr. Chapman at (317) 852-5566 or visit Chapman Orthodontics when and if you are in Brownsburg, IN or surrounding areas to start your journey with Invisalign®.

With Thanksgiving tomorrow, we at Chapman Orthodontics in Zionsville, IN want to offer you these last minute Thanksgiving dental tips:

1. The sugary sweet potatoes and pumpkin pies make their way to everyone’s Thanksgiving diner every year. This year try reducing the sugar in the recipe by avoiding additional toppings like marshmallows or whipped cream.
2. Add a vegetable platter to the dinner table. Crunchy options such as celery and carrots help stimulate the gums and scrape away plaque from your teeth. Celery also stimulates saliva production, which helps neutralize bacteria.
3. Don’t forget to keep up with your oral hygiene in between all the friends, family, food and football. If possible, brush your teeth and floss between meals, but if you can’t do that, rinse with water and chew some sugar-free gum to minimize the buildup in your teeth.

Dr. Chapman looks forward to seeing you at your next appointment. Happy Thanksgiving!

Fluoride strengthens our teeth and helps us maintain good oral health, and as more people turn to bottled water and away from the tap, they may be missing out on one important ingredient, fluoride.

Many townships add fluoride to their local water source unlike a number of the ever-more-popular bottled water brands. Dr. Chapman of Chapman Orthodontics in Plainfield, IN encourages you to check the label to make sure your choice of bottled water contains fluoride. Here is a list of brands that do:

1. Alhambra
2. Arrowhead
3. Belmont Springs
4. Crystal Rock
5. Crystal Springs
6. Deer Park
7. Diamond Springs
8. Hinckley Springs
9. Ice Mountain
10. Kandiyohi
11. Kentwood Springs
12. Mayer Bros.
13. Mount Olympus
14. Nursery Water
15. Ozarka
16. Poland Spring
17. Pure Flo
18. Puritan Springs
19. Shenandoah
20. Sierra Springs
21. Sparkletts
22. Zephyrhills

To maintain your fluoride intake, Dr. Chapman also recommends using a toothpaste and/or mouthwash that contains fluoride. Drinking water, and using a toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride will really make a difference in your oral health. If you have any questions contact Dr. Chapman at 317.839.6533 or visit Chapman Orthodontics if and when you are in the Plainfield, IN area.

The first thing we do every morning is brush them. The teeth are the hardest substances in the human body. And besides being essential for chewing, the teeth also play an important role in speech. Learn the different parts of the teeth and how they all come together to give you your unique smile with Dr. Chapman and his team at Chapman Orthodontics in Brownsburg, IN.

1. Enamel is the hardest, white outer part of the tooth. Enamel is mostly made of calcium phosphate, a rock-hard mineral.
2. Dentin is the layer underlying the enamel. Dentin is made of living cells, which secrete a hard mineral substance.
3. Pulp is the softer, living inner structure of teeth. Blood vessels and nerves run through the pulp of the teeth.
4. Cementum is a layer of connective tissue that binds the roots of the teeth firmly to the gums and jawbone.
5. Periodontal ligament is tissue that helps hold the teeth tightly against the jaw.
6. Incisors (8 total) are the middlemost four teeth on the upper and lower jaws.
7. Canines (4 total) are the pointed teeth just outside the incisors.
8. Premolars (8 total) are the teeth between the canines and molars.
9. Molars (8 total) are the flat teeth in the rear of the mouth, best at grinding food.
10. Wisdom teeth or third molars (4 total) erupt at around age 18, but are often surgically removed to prevent displacement of other teeth.

Often times our teeth don’t grow in exactly the way we’d like them to and that’s where Dr. Chapman steps in. Contact our practice at 317.852.5566 to schedule your initial orthodontic consultation.

Halloween is on Friday, and the whole purpose of Halloween is to eat candy right? And, what’s a few pieces of candy? Well at Chapman Orthodontics in Zionsville, IN, we examine some of the toxic ingredients in Halloween candy.

Sugar is in all of our favorite candies, and since sugar raises blood sugar, it can pull minerals from our teeth and bones, and destroy our teeth. Sugar-free candy anyone?

Roasted peanuts are probably the only natural ingredient in many candy bars, however, Dr. Chapman stresses that those with braces avoid Halloween candy that have nuts in them for they can damage the braces and lengthen the treatment process.

Corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenation palm kernel and coconut oil are not recognized by the body. As a result, they do not get digested properly, many times contributing to tooth cavities. Dr. Chapman encourages you to read the labels to check for these items, you’d be surprised how many things contain these ingredients.

If you have any questions or concerns contact Dr. Chapman at 317.873.5566. Have a happy and healthy Halloween!

While piercing the tongue, lip or cheek may be attractive to some, Chapman Orthodontics in Plainfield, IN want to enlighten you on the dental health risks associated with oral piercings, including infections, gum disease, damage to teeth and difficulties in daily oral functions.

Infections. Between the wound created by the piercing, the vast amount of bacteria already in the mouth and the additional bacteria from the piercing, Dr. Chapman stresses that oral piercings put you at a high risk of getting an oral infection.

During the healing period of oral piercings Chapman Orthodontics encourages you to:

• Brush after every meal and rinse with a mouthwash.
• Rinse your mouth frequently with warm salt water.
• Eat soft foods.

Gum disease. People with oral piercings—especially long-stem tongue jewelry (barbells)—have a greater risk of gum disease than those without oral piercings. Dr. Chapman explains that when the jewelry comes in contact with gum tissue it causes injury as well as a recession of the gum tissue, which can lead to loose teeth and tooth loss.

Damage to teeth. Again, teeth that come in contact with mouth jewelry can chip or crack. One study in a dental journal reported that 47% of people wearing barbell tongue jewelry for 4 or more years had at least one chipped tooth.

Difficulties in daily oral functions. Tongue piercings can cause difficulty in the way a person chews and swallows food, and the way they speak. This is because the jewelry stimulates an excessive production of saliva.

If you have any questions or concerns about your dental health please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Chapman at 317.839.6533 or visit Chapman Orthodontics when and if you are in Plainfield, IN or surrounding areas.

People who wear braces are limited in what types of candy they can enjoy on Halloween, and Chapman Orthodontics warn that candy can destroy the metal work of traditional braces, meaning costly and time-consuming repairs. Invisalign® wearers on the other hand, have much more flexibility which makes Halloween easier to enjoy. Unlike traditional braces, which have wires and brackets for candy to get caught in, Invisalign® has removable aligners which avoids candy getting stuck.

In both cases, Dr. Chapman of Chapman Orthodontics in Indianapolis, IN offers 3 easy tip-or-treats to help patients enjoy a healthy Halloween:

Free sugar-free candy and gum. You won’t find it at every house, but it’s out there, and Halloween is a good night to rack up on some free sugar-free candy and gum. Sugar-free candy stimulates saliva and prevents dry mouth—A dry mouth allows plaque to build up on teeth faster, and increases the risk of cavities. Chewing sugar-free gum can also prevent cavities. Increasing saliva as well, chewing sugar-free gum works to neutralize the acids of the mouth, prevent tooth decay and dislodge food particles from the teeth.

Avoid chewy/sticky, hard and sour candies. Gummy candies, taffy’s, and even dried fruit are a serious source of tooth decay, particularly when they get stuck in between teeth and/or brackets making it nearly impossible for saliva to wash away. Hard candies make a sugar and acid bath for your teeth, making them more vulnerable to cavities. And sour candies have high acid levels that can break down tooth enamel quickly. Noteworthy, Dr. Chapman warns that brushing right after consuming sour candy or any acidic foods or drinks for that matter increases the erosive action. You should wait at least 30 minutes.

Halloween candy side dishes. If you must, Dr. Chapman recommends eating candy and other sugary foods with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles. Brushing and flossing after meals is also encouraged for those with braces or Invisalign®.

Keep in mind these tip-or-treats as you trick-or-treat on Halloween in Indianapolis, IN, and if you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Chapman at 317.484.6388.

Have you ever tried eating your way to a whiter smile? Dr. Chapman of Chapman Orthodontics in Brownsburg, IN says that you can start whitening your teeth right in the kitchen! Over time, eating crunchy fruits and vegetables can help keep your teeth white. They trigger your mouth to make saliva, which washes away food particles so they can’t stain teeth. For example, strawberries have an enzyme that acts like natural bleach. And broccoli has minerals that form a film on teeth so pigments from other foods won’t stain them.

As for drinks, Dr. Chapman recommends staying away from anything that stains a white shirt—like coffee, tea, cola or red wine—because they can also stain your teeth. Try to cut back on these drinks, and remember to rinse your mouth with water when you’re finished. Going back to wine, white wine is not a better substitute for red. White wine can wear away enamel causing long-term damage, and the damage can be made even worse if you brush right after drinking since the outer covering is weakened. Try to wait half an hour before brushing.

Here’s a list of the best food and beverage choices for the health of your mouth:

Acidic foods (these should be eaten as part of a large meal to minimize the acid from them)

Chicken (or other meats)

Dairy products

Firm, crunchy fruits

Nuts

Unsweetened tea

Vegetables

Water (especially fluoridated water)

If you have any questions or concerns about your oral health please contact Dr. Chapman at 317.852.5566, or stop by Chapman Orthodontics when and if you are in the Brownsburg, IN area. Keep smiling!

At Chapman Orthodontics which serves Indianapolis, IN and surrounding areas, Dr. Chapman and his team recommend that their patients wear their aligners for approximately 22 hours a day. It is also encouraged that patients remove their aligners for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing, which is a perfect time to clean them. Here are four different Invisalign® cleaning methods to consider:

Method #1: The Invisalign® cleaning system. Designed by Invisalign®, this cleaning system helps remove plaque within 15 minutes and keeps your aligners odor-free and clear. You can get the Invisalign® cleaning system here at Chapman Orthodontics.

Method #2: Purchase a denture cleaning product. While you eat you can soak your aligners in denture cleaner (one aligner per one tablet of denture cleaner). At Chapman Orthodontics we suggest leaving the aligners in the cleaning product for approximately one hour. This should be done twice a day.

Method #3: Use a baking soda product. Dr. Chapman suggests dissolving 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1/2 cup of water, and then soaking your trays in the baking soda water for about an hour. This method also should be done twice a day.

Method #4: Brush your aligners. With a toothbrush and toothpaste brush your aligners, this will help keep them fresh and clean of any particles.

At Chapman Orthodontics we want to help you keep your aligners clean so that you can straighten your teeth invisibly. If you have any questions regarding your Invisalign care don’t hesitate to give us a call at 317.484.6388. As always remember to rinse before putting your aligners back on and keep on smiling!