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It’s that time of the year when your sweet tooth starts acting up, and for good reason. Everyone knows that Halloween is around the corner and candy is sure to be everywhere.

As dentists, we tell children to make sure that they brush their teeth twice a day, to floss, and lay off the sweets, but this time of year it’s tough for adults to follow their own advice.

But why is candy so bad for teeth, anyway? The main reason is corrosive acid, which is produced by bacteria fueled by sugar. These bacteria love sugar just as much as the rest of us, and candy creates a perfect environment for them. As the sugars settle into and in between teeth, the resulting acid slowly decays them to the point where small holes we call cavities are created. Unfortunately, if you have braces, the problems only start there.

Now let’s talk about the good stuff…

Candy

It tastes delicious! We all know it, so there’s no reason for us to completely avoid the sweet tastes of Halloween. But, as with most things, it needs to be done with moderation in mind.

Also like most things, some varieties of candy are worse than others. So here’s a breakdown for you:

Gummy Candies

Let’s take a look at gummy candies. They taste great, feel cool in your mouth, and stick to your gums so you can enjoy them long after they’re “gone.” Well, the reason they taste so good is because of the enormous amount of processed sugar that is packed in each bite of your favorite bear or worm. Next, that gummy texture which feels so fun and sticks to your gums is great, until the sugar that’s in it starts to fester underneath your gum line causing gum disease, coupled with tooth decay.

Gummy and sticky candies are also the worst for braces. These candies are hard to clean off of braces once they’re stuck in, and the longer they’re stuck, the better chance they have of harming your teeth.

Hard Candies

Up next on the list are hard candies, such as Jolly Ranchers, suckers, or lemon drops. Hard candy is usually nothing more than caramelized sugar. Sugar paired with your favorite artificial flavor sounds delicious and is enough to make your mouth water on its own, but the sugar mixed with the potential tooth breaking possibilities is enough to leave any dentist scared for your little ones’ teeth come November 1st.

Hard candies are also rough on braces too. Just think of the sound or the feeling of hard candy on metal…it’s not good for anyone!

Candy Apples

Lastly, there’s the old standby of candy apples. The first ingredient is the apple, and those are great sources of nutrition. Plus, due to the nature of their construction, they act almost like a toothbrush as your teeth chomp through, cleaning off any plaque or debris.

But, then there’s the caramel. Even though an apple can help clean up some of the sticky caramel, it can’t get all of it. Besides, eating whole apples and caramel aren’t the easiest or the best when you have braces.

Lastly, there’s the stick. We highly recommend that you don’t go munching on that… So maybe it’s best to avoid candy apples with braces.

Happy Halloween!

Have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN and let’s enjoy some tasty, sweet treats, but remember to brush and floss to protect your teeth—they’re the only ones you have.

If you have any questions about braces or Invisalign in Creve Coeur, or would like to schedule an appointment, call Dr. Frost today at (314) 567-1888 or fill out our online form.


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Athletes tend to be the picture of physical human perfection, but that is not always the case, especially when analyzing their oral health. There are multiple contributing factors to this, but here are just a few.

For starters, athletes at a high level who don’t participate in the major sports are less likely to have access to dental insurance plans. Athletes who train and compete in the fringe sports spend their time training and are not provided dental insurance by their employers. Additionally, if they are not a top level performer, they are typically not provided with health insurance by their sport’s governing body.

Next on the list of reasons is the amount of sugary sports drinks athletes consume over the course of training. It makes sense that drinks high in sugar and acid would erode an athlete’s teeth faster than water, and without access to proper dental care, athletes run a higher risk of damaging their teeth through the consumption of these sports drinks.

Lastly, there is a study recently released by Scandinavian researchers that points to an altogether different hypothesis. The researchers believe that the pH level of athletes’ saliva is to blame for their poor dental health. In the course of their study, the researchers found that athlete’s saliva was more alkaline than that of an average person. Additionally, the researchers noticed that athletes produce less saliva while they are training. This is troubling because there is a protein in saliva that aids in the prevention of tooth erosion. Finally, the researchers also noted that athletes were at a higher risk of tooth erosion than the average person as a result of their strenuous workout patterns.

Athlete or not, consuming acidic or sugary drinks is an issue for dental health. Be sure to brush twice a day and take proper care of your teeth. If you have any questions about the best dental practices—especially if you have braces or Invisalign—call Dr. Frost today at (314) 567-1888 or fill out our online form here. He would be happy to assist you with caring for your Invisalign or braces in Creve Coeur.


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The FIBA Basketball World Cup is currently underway and it looks like the United States is sure to take home yet another crown, but this is a dental blog so we’re here to talk about the goliath efforts of Dario Saric after having 6 of his teeth knocked out by Andres Nocioni. Not only did he come back into the game, but he buried a 3-pointer right after entering the game from having his dental health assessed.

Yes, Dario Saric is a terrific basketball player and he showed extreme grit in the game against Argentina, but he made a crucial error in judgement when he decided to not wear a mouth guard. Basketball is a non-contact sport, but there is bound to be accidents and an elbow flying errantly into your mouth is one of them. Some of the best in the game wear a mouthguard and there is a variety of styles to pick from for function and the always important ‘cool factor.’

When you’re playing sports your mouthguard is your last line of defense in protecting your teeth and it should always be on top of your list when getting ready for practice or the game. When picking your mouthguard you have the option of a standard mouthguard, which offers some basic protection for your chompers, but not as much as the other alternatives.

Next in terms of protection would be a mouthguard from the boil and bite variety. This mouthguard offers a great deal of protection, but usually fills your mouth with excess material that makes it difficult to communicate with your teammates.

Lastly, there is the custom mouthguard. This piece is very streamlined as it’s created to fit perfectly into your mouth. Not only is it great for sports where communication is relied on heavily, but with custom mouthguards you can create one that is as cool as your nerves when you’re shooting those game winning free-throws.

So have fun out there and don’t forget to protect those teeth of yours, because they’re the only ones you have. For any questions about mouthguards and how to protect your teeth better, contact Dr. Frost today at (314) 567-1888 for your consultation.



Of all people, why do elite athletes tend to have bad teeth? You would think that people who spend so much time and effort on their bodies would not neglect their mouths, but they do. Paul Piccininni, the dental director for the International Olympic Committee has seen the problem first-hand time and time again.

He bluntly commented on the issue, saying, “they have bodies of Adonis and a garbage mouth.” He has seen many athletes over the year who have had serious dental problems, some of them bad enough to keep an athlete out of a competition. Even Michael Jordan had a an undisclosed dental issue that could have kept him out of the 1984 games when he was Team USA’s top scorer.

But why do the mouths of these otherwise models of perfect health tend to suffer? According to Piccininni, training is a big issue. Everything an athlete does to train for an elite competition like the olympics seems to be hard on teeth, from frequent eating to dehydration and teeth grinding. Drinking acidic and sugary sports drinks and energy gels add to the problem, as does the stress of competition and neglect as a result of travel.

In some athletes’ cases, access to care and financial resources are the issue. Medical treatment at the Olympics is free for athletes, so some will put off going to a dentist until they know their care will be paid for. Still other athletes are too focused on the more competitive parts of their bodies to bother with their teeth.

Like the rest of us, it seems that most of these athletes start taking better care of their teeth in the end. This may come as a result of a missed competition, an unexpected procedure, or even a decrease in performance.

A healthy mouth is important for all of us, including athletes. A straight, attractive smile is also essential for some of us. After appearing in so many TV shows, movies, and commercials, even Michael Jordan sees the benefit of taking care of his teeth now.

Contact Dr. Frost in Creve Coeur, MO if you’re thinking about braces or Invisalign. After you see how easy the process has become, you will want to make the investment in yourself. Simply fill out our online form or give us a call at 314-567-1888.



Most Americans are concerned about their appearance, which includes their smile. For some, appearances are not only important—it can mean the difference in their paycheck. Those in sales and even some professionals know how far an impressive appearance will go for both their confidence and other people’s confidence in them.

Your face and your smile are often two of the first things others will see when meeting you, so that’s a great place to make the right first impression. And while people are attracted to a great smile, having one also does wonders for your confidence.

In fact, a recent study from the University of Manchester in Britain showed that subjects with poor or missing teeth had dramatically lower self-confidence. These subjects are conscious about their teeth and often avoid smiling, which affects their own mood as well as the impressions of others. Some studies have suggested that the act of smiling alone can improve one’s mood and that seeing others smile indicates that they are intelligent and trustworthy.

Professionals and businesspeople know this is the case, which is why many spend more time on their teeth. From good daily hygiene to investing in braces or Invisalign, working towards a great looking smile is good for their health and their careers.

If you think you don’t have the time for braces or even Invisalign, you will be surprised at how quickly and easily you can get fitted. Plus, Invisalign is invisible while you’re using it, so your smile will look progressively better during the treatment without having to see braces in the mirror.

For a free consultation for braces or Invisalign, call Dr. Andy Frost at (314) 567-1888. Dr. Frost has years of experience as an orthodontist in the Creve Coeur and St. Louis area, where he has exceeded the expectations of hundreds of patients.



Because there is so many factors involved with the alignment of teeth, there are many different reasons why they can become misaligned. We will look at just a few of the main causes here, but you can always ask us if you need more information about causes and treatment options for misaligned teeth.

Teeth

Of course, how the teeth themselves grow in and move will affect how they end up aligning with one another. Teeth can start out or become too crowded, too spaced apart, they can erupt (grow in) at an angle, or they can even erupt in an unusual place.

All of these possibilities can cause discomfort or at worst, they can cause teeth to function improperly. The good news is they can all be corrected through orthodontics, including braces or Invisalign.

Jaw

The natural position or alignment of the jaw can cause teeth to be misaligned. Jaw problems can also be the result of an accident. Since there are several muscles and bones that work together to operate the jaw, these problems can sometimes be more challenging to address.

In any case however, these issues can also be corrected through the use of orthodontics, surgery, physical therapy, or a combination of the above.

Habits

Some habits can influence teeth to move and become misaligned, especially those which occur while teeth are growing in. Children who suck on fingers, thumbs, or pacifiers are at high risk of affecting the alignment of their teeth once they grow in, just as those with similar habits such as chewing on pens can affect their teeth later on in life.

No matter your needs, we can help you get the best treatment for your unique smile. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call orthodontist Dr. Frost in Creve Coeur, MO at (314) 567-1888 or contact us online today.



Braces certainly complicate things when it comes to the food you eat, but no matter if you have braces or not, there are many foods that are good for your teeth and many that are not so good.

Tooth decay is ultimately caused by acid eating away at the enamel of your teeth. Orthodontists and dentists will always tell you to brush and floss in order to reduce the amount of plaque buildup on your teeth. Plaque is a layer of bacteria that accumulates on the surface of your teeth. That bacteria then produces acid, which is what causes decay.

Many of the worst foods for your teeth are those that stick to or get stuck between your teeth, and those that contain sugar. Both kinds of food will attract bacteria, which jump-starts the process described above.

The best foods are the ones that either fortify the minerals in your teeth, those that encourage the production of saliva to wash away bacteria, and those that can actually help to remove food particles from your teeth.

Let’s look at a few of the best and the worst, as suggested by a prominent dental school:

Good for your teeth:

Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables are said to have a detergent-like effect in your mouth, and they promote saliva flow. Both of these effects help to clean and fortify teeth.

Cheese, milk, plain yogurt, and other dairy products generate saliva and are good sources of calcium.

Green and black teas both contain polyphenols that either kill or suppress bacteria.

Sugarless chewing gum is a good saliva generator that also removes food particles from your teeth.

Foods with fluoride like fluoridated drinking water help teeth by washing away bacteria and by adding fluoride.

Bad for your teeth:

Sticky candies and sweets stay in your mouth longer and contain loads of sugar.

Starchy foods like soft bread and potato chips can get stuck in your mouth or between teeth.

Carbonated soft drinks contain tons of both sugar and acid, making them extremely harmful to teeth.

In addition to paying closer attention to your diet, good oral hygiene like brushing and flossing is always the best way to prevent tooth decay whether you have braces or not.

For more information about taking care of your teeth before, during, or after an orthodontic treatment like braces, contact orthodontist Dr. Frost either online or by calling (314) 567-1888. We look forward to assisting you with braces in Creve Coeur.


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