Ask Dr. Caponera: Which foods are actually healthy for my teeth?

With so many foods and drinks to choose from during your treatment at Caponera Orthodontics, it's hard to decipher which ones are truly good for you. So we thought we'd provide some answers to some of the more important questions you may have.

Which foods and drinks are actually healthy for my teeth?

Natural food and drink are the healthiest! The best drink to have is water. Water re-hydrates the body and does not cause cavities. Plain coffee also does not cause cavities – but it can lead to dehydration. All other drinks either cause an increase in mouth bacteria. If you are drinking juice or milk, make sure to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste! Even though these are natural drinks, they can increase the sugar in the mouth which can lead to cavities. The fluoride helps the enamel of the tooth become harder and better defended against attacks from bacteria.

Can hard candies or hard mints cause damage to my teeth?

Dense mints and candies can, in some cases, chip teeth. If you have a lot of large fillings then the tooth is more apt to crack with a hard, dense food. Also, hard candies tend to be sticky in the mouth. Sticky pieces of candy can lodge in the grooves of the teeth and cause cavities. Natural candy (like chocolate) is better because the saliva is better able to dissolve & wash away the sugars.

Is sugar-free gum good for my teeth, or can it still cause cavities?

The American Dental Association has approved some sugar-free gum brands. Chewing gum increases the amount of saliva that is released into the mouth. This increased saliva carries proteins that help break down the sugars that can cause cavities. So, in some cases, sugar-free gum can be good for you! If you are wearing braces or retainers, ask Dr. Caponera if you can chew gum!

Are spicy or acidic foods bad for my teeth?

Acidic foods, such as citric juices or sodas, can change the balance of the saliva in the mouth. The combination of acid and sugar is the real enemy. The acid can attack the enamel structure of the tooth and the sugar feeds the cavity-causing bacteria. If you drink water or brush with fluoride toothpaste, the teeth are better protected and the acid is neutralized. Spicy foods actually increase the saliva production in your mouth.

Hope this helps!

-- Dr. Caponera and team

At Caponera Orthodontics, October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

Today is the first day of October, which means it's officially National Orthodontic Health Month! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists put a great deal of effort into adding useful information to their website. Dr. Rinaldo Caponera and our staff encourage you to check out their braces-friendly recipes!

Here is a brief list of foods we'd like you to avoid while you're wearing braces:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Taco chips
• Ice

Dr. Caponera and our staff at Caponera Orthodontics encourage you to give us a call at 954-376-3845, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. Caponera during your next visit if you have any questions!

Happy Friday!

Ask Dr. Caponera: What can I expect during my consultation?

Great question.

When you first come in for your initial consultation, Dr. Rinaldo Caponera will conduct a comprehensive examination to assess your oral health. This will better enable us to determine the best treatment method for you.

Your orthodontic evaluation will consist of an oral and facial examination to assess your oral health. Dr. Caponera will have you take intraoral and facial photographs as well as panoramic and cephalometric X-rays to help determine the proper orthodontic treatment method. Then, an impression of your teeth and bite will be taken to construct a model of your mouth. (This will help Dr. Caponera when examining your diagnostic records).

At your second appointment, Dr. Caponera will discuss your options with you. Our team feels it’s important to take the time to carefully examine your diagnostic records after your consultation so that Dr. Caponera can more thoroughly prepare for your treatment at Caponera Orthodontics. This additional preparation will ensure that you receive the best orthodontic care possible. At this time, we encourage you to ask us any questions you may have about your treatment.

If you are seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, our staff asks that both you and your child attend the initial consultation. We feel it is important that both you and your child completely understand Dr. Caponera’s recommendations before we proceed with treatment.

Give us a call and schedule a consultation! We look forward to hearing from you!

Dr. Caponera talks two-phase treatment

Typically, patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth. But in some cases Dr. Rinaldo Caponera has to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. Dr. Caponera and our team call this “two-phase treatment.”

When we have patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat. Examples include an upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly, or a mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in.

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has “baby teeth.” Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly, such as a retainer. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent the patient’s permanent teeth have come in. Phase two often does involve braces and sometimes headgear.

In order to catch early problems, Dr. Caponera recommends that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the American Association of Orthodontics). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit an orthodontist even sooner. For more information about two-phase orthodontics, or to schedule a consultation, please give us a call at 954-376-3845.

Enjoy your weekend!

September is National Childhood Injury Prevention Month!

This month, our staff at Caponera Orthodontics want you to be extra careful with your braces and appliances. After all, September marks the start of fall sports and an increased risk to mouth injuries. September also happens to be National Childhood Injury Prevention Month, and Dr. Rinaldo Caponera thought it’d be a good idea to share a few sobering facts about sports and facial injuries, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

Injuries can happen at any age: More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Collision and contact sports have higher injury rates—baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of all sports-related emergency room visits for children between 5 and 14 years of age. Despite the risks, many kids are still not wearing mouth guards and facial protection during games and practices.

Mouth guards are not being used: Sixty-seven percent of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet, 70% say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt. And here’s a chilling stat: One out of every four (27 percent) parents say their child has sustained an injury during an organized sport resulting in a trip to the emergency room, according to the AAO.

Not enough support for mouth guards: Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard, 84 percent say it's because the league or coach does not require it, the AAO says.

Hard hits occur in every sport: The average high school baseball pitcher can throw a fast ball between 75-to-85 miles per hour. This compares to being hit in the mouth by a speeding car! Cheerleading is one of the most dangerous sports, accounting for 65% of all injuries in high school girls' athletics, according to MSNBC.com.

We hope this helps you remember to always wear a mouth guard and other forms of protective gear when participating in fall sports! We encourage you to give us a call at 954-376-3845 if you have any questions!

Love your new smile? Then we encourage you to tell the world all about it!

At Caponera Orthodontics, we are dedicated to working with you every step of the way during your treatment. Whether you wear traditional metal braces with fun, colorful bands, or Invisalign, your new smile will be spectacular.

Whether you've visited Dr. Caponera's office for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office has fared during your orthodontic treatment! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there.

After all, reviews help Dr. Caponera create more beautiful smiles in Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and surrounding communities. Thank you in advance, and we hope you have a terrific week!

You may write your review here.

Fun facts about braces with Caponera Orthodontics!

Our patients at Caponera Orthodontics love fun facts - LOVE THEM. Who doesn't, really? But what about orthodontic fun facts? The American Association of Orthodontists has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that Dr. Caponera and our team thought you would enjoy. Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.

• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.