Drink More Water

A healthy smile is just a sip away if you drink more water for your oral health. Our bodies are 60% water, so by consuming sugary beverages, we aren’t doing anything to improve our overall health. Sugary beverages like juice or soda pop may wash away food particles but they leave unwanted sugar behind on teeth.  Water cleans the mouth with every sip and Dr. Cynthia Wong is here to tell you why.

The cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth feed off sugars and produce acid that wears away enamel. Water dilutes these acids to keep your smile cavity-free. Additionally, human saliva has 99% water content, so when drinking water, you are preventing yourself from experiencing dry mouth and reducing your risk of tooth decay. Though drinking water helps you maintain a healthy smile, don’t forget to brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, and visit us for professional cleanings.

If you have questions or concerns about orthodontic treatment, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.drcynthiawong.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.

Brushing and Flossing with Braces

The staff at Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics wants patients to remember that brushing and flossing are important no matter what stage of orthodontic treatment you are in.  But how do you get the best clean with braces? Here are some tips!

• ·        Holding the head of the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the gum line will help the bristles clean around the brackets most effectively.


• ·        Floss threaders and orthodontic floss help you thread floss underneath the wires of your braces.  Once you thread the floss underneath each wire, wrap your pointer fingers around each end of the floss. 


• ·        Rub the side of each tooth up to the gum line, and once you’ve removed the plaque and food particles, remove the floss the thread it underneath the next wire. 


• ·        If you feel flossing between your braces does not remove all the lingering food particles, you may be more effective with a water flosser.  Water flossers use a stream of water and pulsing pressure to clean between your teeth and any brackets or appliances.

To learn more about oral hygiene and all the services we provide at the practice, visit www.drcynthiawong.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.

How Sugar Affects the Teeth

Foods that contain sugars of any kind contribute to tooth decay. Though Dr. Cynthia Wong understands that we can’t eliminate sugar from our diets completely, reducing the amount of sugar we consume can go a long way. The mouth is full of bacteria, many of which are beneficial to your oral health. However, certain harmful bacteria will feed on the sugars we consume and destroy tooth enamel.  

Soda, energy drinks, chocolate milk, and fruit juices are beverages that contain an abundance of sugar. For example, a glass of apple juice can contain as much sugar as a can of soda. Dr. Wong suggests opting for better choices such as water, unsweetened tea, milk, or diluted juice. If your sweet tooth is just too strong, there are other ways to protect your teeth. For starters, brush your teeth after you eat to eliminate the acids that stick to the enamel and floss to remove any excess carbohydrates.

If you have questions or concerns about the status of your oral health, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visitwww.drcynthiawong.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.

Using a Tongue Scraper

Have you ever stuck your tongue out while standing in front of a mirror and noticed a white layer of film sitting atop it? If so, that coating means that you have a buildup of food particles, debris, bacteria, and dead cells on your tongue. You may also have a bout of bad breath. To solve this problem, Dr. Cynthia Wong recommends implementing a tongue scraper into your oral hygiene routine. Tongue scrapers are available in most drugstores in various shapes and sizes.

When we sleep, our digestive system remains awake, removing toxins from our body by depositing them onto the surface of our tongue. If we don’t scrape away these toxins, they get reabsorbed by the body and can lead to respiratory difficulties, digestive problems, and a compromised immune system. Once you purchase a tongue scraper, to use it you simply place the oral device at the back of your tongue and gently bring it forward along your tongue, repeating as often as needed. As a result, your breath will breath will be fresher and your mouth will feel cleaner.  

If you have questions about oral hygiene and oral health, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.drcynthiawong.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.