Back to school with Dr. White

Now that many of the schools are back in session, Dr. White and team would like to remind all of our patients about the importance of scheduling appointments in advance. With school, clubs, sports and family duties to consider, we know that it can be challenging to find time to visit our Hudson or Northfield office this fall. In order to accommodate all of our patients’ busy schedules, it is important that you plan ahead for your appointments so that we are able to provide you with an appointment time that is convenient for you.

As always, please remember to give us advanced notice if you’re unable to make your regularly-scheduled appointment. If we receive enough notice, we might be able to schedule another patient for that time. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your fall appointment.

We’ll see you soon and hope summer is winding down nicely for all our patients!

Dr. White and team proudly offer complimentary consultations!

At Braces by White, our greatest goal is to help you achieve a healthier, happier, more confident smile. We believe in building strong relationships with our patients in order to create a more personal and rewarding orthodontic experience.

One of our commitments is meeting with you to help you explore all or the options available to you or your child. We offer complimentary consultations for those interested in orthodontic treatment. During this time, you'll have time reserved with Dr. John White, who will assess your particular needs as well as discuss treatment options available and answer any questions you may have. We place a high value on making sure you have complete information before beginning treatment.

If you have been thinking about obtaining the dazzling smile you’ve always wanted, we invite you to give us a call. Serving Northfield, Hudson, Cleveland, Akron, Twinsburg, Brecksville and Macedonia, OH, Dr. White is your orthodontic specialist.

See you soon!

Dr. White is proud to treat patients with special needs

We have always been proud of our care for special needs patients. At some level it seems most of our patients would like to be treated as special. Often this means little more than taking the time to ask questions about feelings, listening to the patient and parent's answer, and responding.

Taking a little extra time to make sure everything is clear before we do anything seems to make a big difference.

We have had staff with children that had autism, so we are attune to their special needs.

And finally, anyone who has met Dr. White knows that he is intimately/personally aware of ADD / ADHD management.

Dr John White

More happy patients at Braces by White!

Once in a while, our staff at Braces by White receive patient reviews that make us really proud to do the work we do every day: creating beautiful smiles for our patients in Northfield, Hudson, Cleveland, Akron and surrounding communities. Check out what a few of our patients are saying!

"He is very nice. Most importantly, he treats my kids like human beings. Dr. White and his staff address my children directly, honestly, and kindly. He also produces very good results." ~ Andrew B.

"Love, Love, Love him. Dr. White knows what he is doing. He answers questions with no hesitation and makes you feel very welcomed and at home." ~ Alexiz Z.

"He is very knowledgeable, thorough and accommodating. Also, if one office is booked for an after-school or no school time, the other office may have an opening." ~ Robert C.

"The staff is always so nice and cordial , and the good Doctor knows how to run an office. My teeth have never been healthier and I get comments about them."‎ ‎

"Dr. White is friendly. He makes all of us feel at ease. I like his approach in that he isn't overly aggressive and is not only concerned about the health of my children but also understands the financial impact of his recommendations. EVERYONE on the staff is helpful and friendy too!" ~ Abby M.

"Dr. White is very professional and up to date with the newest techniques. The girls in the office are very pleasant and everyone makes you feel relaxed." ~ Tracie V.

Fall photo contest at Braces by White!

Announcing our new patient contest! Now through October 31st, we’re asking you to post a professional photo of yourself to Dr. White’s Facebook Wall and ask your friends to “Like” your photo!

The person with the most “Likes” will win an iPod Nano!

This contest is only limited to current or former patients of Dr. White. Please make sure the photos are professionally-shot or are clear head and shoulders portraits, i.e., high school senior photo, prom or yearbook photo.

Make sure you have a wide smile in your photo! Also, please note that you cannot vote for your own photo on Facebook.

We look forward to seeing your happy, confident smiles!

Love your new smile? Then we invite you to review Dr. White on Google!

At the orthodontic practice of Dr. John White, our greatest goal is to help you achieve a healthier, happier, more confident smile. Dr. White has over 30 years of experience in orthodontics as a student, teacher, and practitioner. He understands the needs of his patients, and treats patients with the same respect, compassion, and honesty that he would expect for his own family.

Whether you've visited our offices in Northfield Center and Hudson for weeks or months, we'd love to hear your feedback about Dr. White and our team on our Google Local page.

You may write a review here for our Hudson office or here for our Northfield Center location.

Thanks in advance and we hope you're having a great weekend! Dr. White & our staff look forward to reading your testimonials! And be sure to "Like" us on Facebook for a chance to win an Apple iPad!

Like us on Facebook, and you might win an iPad!

At Dr. White’s office, we value the relationships we’ve developed with our patients over the years. Even if you visit our office on a regular basis, did you know you can always connect with us on Facebook and other social networks?

In fact, by “Liking” us on Facebook by September 15th, you will be automatically entered for a chance to win an Apple iPad! The runner-up will receive a $100 Best Buy gift card, and three third-place winners will each receive a $50 Best Buy gift card.

By “Liking” us on Facebook, you will receive contest news, updates and announcements – all through your news feed! The drawing will be done in our office the week of September 20th, with the winners notified and the prizes distributed in our office the week of September 27th.

See you on Facebook and GOOD LUCK everyone!

June is National Smile Month! From Dr. John C. White

Now that we’re in June, Dr. John White thought this would be a great time to remind our patients that June is National Smile Month, and a great time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to our office. After all, a person's smile outranked eyes, hair and body as the most important physical feature, according to our friends at the American Dental Association.

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Here's a helpful video showing you how to brush with your braces on.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment.
* Visit your dentist regularly (usually every six months apart) in addition to visiting Dr. White.

We hope these tips help! Happy Wednesday!

Bottled Water May Be Behind Tooth Troubles: Dr. White Explains

We at Dr. White's office want you to know that as more families turn to bottled water and away from the tap, they may be missing out on one important ingredient that most brands of bottled water fail to include: fluoride!

As of 2005, bottled water is second only to soft drinks as the most popular drink in the United States, beating out milk, juice, and – more significantly – tap water. Between 2001 and 2006, the amount of bottled water sold in the U.S. rose an average of 10% per year. And many dental health specialists point to bottled water’s increased popularity as the culprit behind rising rates of cavities.

Because fluoride helps strengthen teeth, it is an important component of maintaining good oral health. The benefits of fluoride were noticed in the early part of the twentieth century, when researchers found communities with low levels of tooth decay. It turned out that these towns had measurable levels (around 1 part per million) of fluoride in their drinking water.

Beginning in the 1940s, communities have fluoridated their water supplies, and dentists have seen a significant decline in cavities ever since. The American Dental Association endorses both community water fluoridation and the use of fluoride-containing products as a safe means of preventing tooth decay. Between tap water and toothpaste, most of us get sufficient amounts of fluoride.

But if your family avoids fluoridated tap water in favor of ever-more-popular bottled water, you could be missing out on the levels of fluoride necessary to make a difference in your oral health.

If bottled water is your water of choice, check the label to make sure that your brand contains fluoride. As of a 2006 decision, the FDA allows bottled water containing .6 to 1.0 milligrams per liter of fluoride to carry a label stating that fluoridated water may reduce the risk of dental cavities or tooth decay. The ADA has backed this decision.

Of course, simply drinking fluoridated water is not a magic ticket to perfect teeth. To keep your choppers in tip-top shape, it’s important to brush and floss daily and avoid sugary sweets, in addition to maintaining your fluoride intake and visiting us at Dr. White's office regularly.

White Spots On Your Teeth Explained by Dr. White

You know those white spots that sometimes appear on teeth? Well we were curious and wanted to know, so we asked Dr. White to explain them. Here are his responses:

What causes white spots on your teeth? Some are developmental, like a flaw in a diamond called an inclusion. Some are related to different minerals absorbed during enamel formation. Some are caused by damage to the cells that produce enamel either by systemic infections and fevers or direct from a baby tooth infection or trauma.

Can they be cavity-related? They can be the initial signs of enamel decalcification caused by the acid produced by plaque.

What about fluoride in your water, can that cause white spots too? How do you know how much fluoride is in your water? Fluoride can also cause enamel discoloration and opacity but not usually the typical white spots. Call the local water provider or the local health department.

Can white spots appear after braces? How can you best prevent that from happening? The white spots after braces are decalcified areas from plaque acid not removed by good hygiene during braces. They can be prevented by good hygiene and fluoride.

What about white spots that appear in the morning and fade as the day progresses, what does that mean? Usually this means mouth breathing causing dehydration of the enamel on the front teeth.

Are white spots on your teeth genetic? Sometimes - see above.

Can nutrition and diet affect the white spots? Early in life yes, after teeth are erupted the changes are to the surface rather than internal.

What are the best ways to prevent these white spots from appearing? Proper fluoride levels in drinking water. Water testing for heavy metals in environment. Knowledge of which antibiotics and other chemicals that can damage developing enamel. And proper hygiene.

If white spots are already present, how are they treated? Recalcification with fluoride, microabrasion of shallow lesions, and restoration by the dentist.

How To Stay Young And Healthy from Dr. White

Whether you’re 5 or 50, your health depends on your awareness of what’s good for you. But in a world filled with fad diets, blaring advertisements, and unintelligible ingredient lists, we at Dr. White's office know it can be difficult to determine exactly what is good for you – and what’s not.

For straightforward guidance on how to live a long, healthy life, we recommend Brush Your Teeth! And Other Simple Ways to Stay Young and Healthy by Dr. David Ostreicher. The book sums up good health in six fundamental principles: hygiene, diet, attitude, exercise, sleep and personal safety.

Drawing on nearly three decades of experience as an orthodontist and professor of health and nutrition, Dr. Ostreicher definitively answers age-old debates, like the best way to prevent colds and flu (your mom was right: wash your hands). He provides straight talk on a variety of diet choices including salt, fats, carbs and organic food, and he documents the importance of regular sleep, stress reduction and positive thinking to your overall health. His suggestions throughout are simple, clear, and inexpensive.

Dr. Ostreicher advocates a back-to-basics, common-sense approach to staying young and healthy. We at Dr. White's couldn’t agree more, and we’d like to repeat the title of his book as our favorite piece of advice: don’t forget to Brush Your Teeth!

Oral Piercing: Is It Worth It? Dr. John White Explains

Piercing, like tattooing, is one of today’s popular forms of “body art” and self-expression. If you’re thinking about getting a piercing – or if you already have one or more – we at Dr. John White's office want to share some health risks you should know about.

Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Just touching your mouth jewelry (tongue barbells and lip and cheek labrettes) can lead to infection. Many people who have piercings tend to regularly touch them – which is a perfect opportunity for bacteria from hands to enter piercing sites. Also, food particles that collect around piercing sites can lead to infection.

Pain and swelling are other possible side effects of piercing. Your tongue – the most popular piercing site in the mouth – could swell large enough to close off your airway! Piercing also can cause uncontrollable bleeding or nerve damage. Damage to the tongue’s blood vessels can cause serious blood loss.

The hoop, ring, stud, and barbell-shaped jewelry can hinder your ability to talk and eat. Some people also develop a habit of biting or playing with their piercings – which can lead to cracked, scratched teeth; gum damage and recession; and sensitive teeth. There may also be a need for restorations, such as crowns or fillings, and additional dental treatment due to piercings.

Consider the potential pitfalls of piercing carefully before getting one. Keep in mind that it will be an added responsibility to your life, and will need regular upkeep. Make sure that you’re committed to the task of taking care of it for the full healing period and beyond.

If you have an oral piercing, pay special attention to it. Clean the piercing with antiseptic mouthwash after eating, and brush the jewelry when you brush your teeth. Of course, let us know at Dr. John White's office if you have any questions.

Parsley and Other Ways To Brighten Your Smile from Dr. John White

At Dr. John White's Office we see lots of patients concerned about their bad breath. So we want to educate you about what you can do to really keep your chompers clean and breath minty fresh!

Naturally, good oral hygiene is the first set. With proper brushing and regular dental checkups you can keep bad breath (halitosis) in check.

Certain foods, medications, smoking, sinus issues, or even gum disease cause most bad breath. If the stink lingers for longer than 24 hours, you should see us at Dr. John White's Office. It might be something more serious, like dehydration, zinc deficiency, diabetes, liver failure, kidney failure, or even certain kinds of cancers!

In the meantime, here are some home remedies to keep you smiling bright from Dr. John White's Office.

--Spice Up Your Life
Snack on some cloves, fennel, or anise after each particularly odorous snack.
--Don’t forget the tongue
Lots of people brush their teeth regularly, but leave the tongue alone. One of the main causes of bad breath is food and plaque residue on the surface of your tongue. So give it a nice gentle brush-over too!
--Watch your drinking habits
The worst options are coffee, wine, whiskey, and beer.
--Frequent brushing
Carry a toothbrush with you so brushing after each meal is convenient and refreshing! Trust us, you’ll love the way it makes you feel. If you can’t brush, still swish around a couple sips of water to remove any lingering food.
--Make your own Gargle
Gargling with a home mixture of sage, calendula, and myrrh gum extracts four times a day should ward off that bad breath potential.
--Parsley’s there for a reason
Finish your parsley after you finish your dinner and you’ll find a refreshing breath enhancer. Hate the texture? Throw a couple sprigs in a blender to sip after each meal.
--Sugarless Gum
Always a good idea to carry some mints or sugarless gum for that quick spruce up before you meet the boss.
--Don’t cut that cheese
The stronger the cheese, the stinkier your breath can become. Think about blue cheese and Roquefort? They really get the party started in your mouth and it’s hard to make them leave!

A Sour Smile Is Not A Happy Smile -- Dr. John White

It’s no secret that sweet, sugary candies and drinks have an adverse effect of the health of your smile, but what about sour or tart candies? We at Dr. John White's office thought you might want to know what kind of an effect does eating or drinking something sour have on my smile?

Recent research from the Minnesota Dental Association suggests that the amount of acid in sour candies is enough to eat away at tooth enamel and cause cavities. Here are a few souring facts about sour candies, and some helpful tips on how to protect your teeth from Dr. John White(even if you cannot give up sour candies all together).

Facts

-Sour candies can be very acidic, and may actually burn the gums and cheeks, while weakening and wearing down the enamel on your teeth. (Check the acid levels in some of your favorite candies)

-It can take almost 20 minutes for the acid in sour candies to become neutral. Holding the acid in your mouth by sucking on sour hard candies or chewing sour gummies can keep the acid active for more than 20 minutes.

-The acid in sour candies can cause cavities and severe tooth decay.

Protect your teeth

-Limit the amount of sour candies that you eat on a daily basis, and if you do indulge, remember not to suck or chew on sour candies for long periods of time.

-After eating sour candies, rinse your mouth out with water, drink milk, or eat a couple slices of cheese. This will help neutralize the acid in your mouth (wait at least one hour before brushing your teeth with toothpaste, as this can actually increase the effects of acid on your teeth)

-If tooth erosion has already begun, ask your dentist about ways you can help reduce sensitivity and continue to protect your teeth.

Hope this helps! From Dr. John White.

Take Dr. White's Soda Pop Quiz

We at Dr. White's office wants to know, where does all that soda pop go?

On average, the typical person consumes over 50 gallons of soda pop per year! The amount of acid and sugar found in a can of soda can cause serious tooth decay and lead to cavities, gum disease, and even tooth loss!

We at Dr. White's office know that you don’t want to lose your teeth, so take the soda pop quiz, presented by the Minnesota Dental Association, and learn more about how to keep your smile healthy.

It’s a fun interactive quiz, so enjoy! From Dr. White's office.

$1.50 for a Cavity -- Dr. White

Vending machines are a quick way to satisfy hunger. You put in $1.50 and you get back a candy bar, bag of chips or even a soda…but that’s not all! Vending machines not only dispense sweet treats and caffeine bursts, but they also dispense cavities!

Every time you chow down on that chocolate bar the bacteria in your mouth have a party feasting on the sugar. The sugar quickly turns into acid; that’s right, ACID!!! The acid sits on your teeth and eats away at the tooth’s natural enamel (the stuff that protects your tooth from decay). When this enamel is eaten away by the acid on your tooth, you get a cavity! Brushing your teeth after eating a sugary treat can help prevent cavities; but before you indulge remind yourself: “can’t brush? Hold the sugar!”

When choosing a snack, consider these nutritional options that will not only satisfy your hunger and that “sweet tooth”, but won’t cause acid build up resulting in cavities from Dr. White:

--Fresh Fruits (berries, oranges, melon, pears, etc)
--Raw Vegetables (broccoli, celery, carrots, etc)
--Bread
--Pretzels (low salt)
--Milk (low or non-fat)
--Cheese (low or non-fat)
--Nuts and seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc)
--Sliced meat

Enjoy from Dr. White!

Fluoride is Your Friend -- Dr. White Explains

At Dr. White's office, we know that there are so many ways you protect your teeth throughout your orthodontic treatment. You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly and protect your mouth and appliances from being damaged. But did you know there is another, often forgotten about, way to keep your teeth clean and healthy during your treatment?

Fluoride – a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay – can help keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties, topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is applied directly to the tooth. Topical fluoride includes toothpastes and mouth rinses. Systemic fluorides are swallowed in the form of a dietary supplement. Dentists and orthodontists use in-office fluoride treatments to help protect the oral health of adults and children undergoing dental/orthodontic procedures.

Fluoride used in the dentist/orthodontists office is often times a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask your doctor how to purchase professional strength fluoride). A fluoride treatment typically takes just a few minutes. After the treatment patients may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride. Depending on your oral health or doctor’s recommendation, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six or 12 months. Your doctor may also prescribe a fluoride product such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses for at-home treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright from Dr. White!

Nifty"Eggs"periment from Dr. White

Summer is drawing near. If the little ones aren’t at camp, you may run out of ideas to keep them occupied. Why not use a fun and simple science experiment to focus their attention for a while? Dr. White found one that includes a lesson about why it’s important to brush teeth to make plaque go away.

Gather the items you will need for this experiment:

* 1 hard-boiled egg with the shell on
* 12 ounces of Coke, Pepsi or other dark-colored cola
* 1 container large enough to hold the cola and egg
* 1 plastic bowl
* 1 toothbrush
* 1 drop of fluoride toothpaste
* Clean-up supplies

Explain to your child that plaque is a sticky layer of germs that collects on her teeth. If she doesn’t brush, plaque can cause serious problems for her teeth, for example holes in the teeth (cavities) or swollen gums (gingivitis). Tell her that you are going to do an experiment to see how plaque coats her teeth, and why brushing twice a day is important for healthy teeth and gums.

Conduct the experiment:

1. Make the comparison between the white color of the egg and the white color of your child's teeth.

2. Place the egg into the container and pour the cola over it, so that it completely covers the egg.

3. Let the egg sit in the cola for 24 hours.

4. Remove the egg from the cola. The egg will be stained and yellowish.
5. Explain to your child that the colored layer that has appeared on top of the eggshell is just like the layer of plaque that occurs on her teeth.

6. Place the egg in the plastic bowl and give your child the toothbrush with the drop of toothpaste on it.

7. Let her brush the "plaque" off of the egg. The yellowish film will disappear, exposing the white eggshell. Explain that the same thing happens when she brushes her teeth.

Dr. White Talks About Xylitol Gum

We get questions all the time at Dr. White's office about different kinds of gum. So we wrote down some of the most common ones and got Dr. White to give us his professional opinion.

What kind of gum is best to chew?

Any kind of gum is fine to chew as long as it is sugarless and you only chew one stick at a time.

I have hear a lot about Xylitol gum, is that okay to chew?

Xylitol gum is a fine gum. Again, the important factor is if it is sugarless.

Is it okay to chew gum for extended periods of time?

Prolonged gum chewing can be a problem for your jaw. If you chew between one half hour to one hour a day, you should be fine. Anything longer than that and you might run into problems for the joint. As a general rule, I tell my patients that once the flavor is gone, chuck the gum. Who wants to chew flavorless gum anyway?

Hope this helps! If you have any more questions about gum, please contact us at Dr. White's office!

Now Mom and Dad Can Have Perfect Too from Dr. John White

Focusing on your kids' teeth so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking wistfully about having your own set of perfect teeth, let Dr. White know! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you!

Time and expense

Your teeth are unique, and the cost of Invisalign varies according to the complexity of your treatment plan. The time involved in treatment varies as well, and with new Invisalign Express, designed specifically for common problems like minor crowding and spacing, you could have your new perfect smile in less than six months!

Thinking ahead

If your health care plan covers orthodontics, it most likely covers Invisalign treatment to the same extent as conventional braces. Check your benefits, then give us a call at Dr. White's office to set up a consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment.