Teeth and oral health Q & A with Dr. Hodgkins

Lately, Dr. Hodgkins and our team have been receiving some very interesting patient questions about teeth and braces. Today, we thought that we would share a few of these questions and their answers with all of our patients. We hope that this will help with any teeth and oral health questions that you may have!

Do you have a question for Dr. Hodgkins? Give us a call, or ask the next time you're in for an appointment!



Q: It’s said that the changing seasons can have an effect on your body and joints. Can the seasons changing also have an effect on the way my mouth feels, especially during orthodontic treatment?

A: On average, atmospheric changes do not affect the way your mouth feels in the long run. You may notice a temporary, short term, change in your mouth as the seasons change.

Q: If I play sports and use a mouth guard can constantly biting down on the hard rubber eventually cause my teeth to shift and become crooked?

A: No, it takes constant pressure for at least 10 hrs. before a mouth guard could cause your teeth to shift.

Q: If my wisdom teeth came in straight, do I still need to get them removed?

A: Wisdom teeth removal is determined on a case by case basis. Some people are recommended to keep their wisdom teeth.

What are patients saying about Hodgkins Orthodontics?

Last week, we asked you, our wonderful patients, what you most liked about your experience at Hodgkins Orthodonitics. Well, we received some pretty great reviews, and thought we’d share a few with you today. Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office! Dr. Hodgkins and team love getting patient testimonials!

"Dr. Hodgkins is professional,very friendly, good natured, and always looks out for the best interest of his patients. He has done an amazing job at helping my family members with their smiles which translates to confidence. I highly recommend him to all my friends." ~John

"Dr. Dudley was super nice to my daughter. He explained the procedures with great ease and care. Talking with his staff was very easy going. Going over the payments with Tracey was a breeze." ~Angelica

"Dr. Hodgkins was extremely personable, friendly and easy to talk to on. I had previously considered going to multiple orthodontists to ensure that I found the "right one," but am convinced after my first visit that there is no need for me to search anywhere else." ~Carlos

"This was my first time coming to Dr. Hodgkins and I loved him from the start. He related to me and made me feel at ease about my smile. I was very insecure about my smile and worried that I had to wear braces as an older adult. He recommended that I wear Invisalign and I was really happy. I liked the fact that he has lots of experience, as well as is an Elite Invisalign office." ~Inez

"I have always felt that Dr. Hodgkins cares about his patients, he listens to your concerns no matter what. He is super great, awesome, and the very best. I could not have chosen a better orthodontist." ~Deborah

Why do you love Hodgkins Orthodontics?

From your very first visit to Hodgkins Orthodontics, Dr. Hodgkins and our team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. That's why we offer a high level of professionalism, the latest in orthodontic techniques, and bilingual staff both at the front desk and chairside.


Today, we thought we’d ask you: Have you been especially impressed by the work of Dr. Hodgkins? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Thank you,
The team at Hodgkins Orthodontics

Top ten tips for maintaining sparklin’ clean BRACES

Proper oral care habits are essential to the health of your mouth and teeth. Braces present new cleaning challenges since food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth. Hence, you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque away with these top ten tips:

1. One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.

2. It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.

3. The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.

4. Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

5. Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

6. Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.

7. Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.

8. Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.

9. Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.

10. Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need help finding the right Dentist for you, feel free to contact our office - we’d love to help!

Hope this helps!
-Hodgkins Orthodontics