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National Oral Health Day

Written by North Shore Dental on November 5th, 2015.

National Oral Health Day
 
Do you know New Zealand has the third highest sugar consumption rates in the western world. It is no wonder that we also come third in obesity and type 2 diabetes rates in western world. 
 
Sugary drinks are the major source of added sugar in our diet. The large amount of sugar in these drinks significantly increases the risk of tooth decay.


switch to water

We are taking part in the 30 day switch to water challenge.
Join us and swap your sugary drinks to water and notice the benefits.

Changing habits and saying no to your usual sugary drinks is hard work. But it will get better and easier. Don’t give up!


 
 
Jessica's Final Journey to a Beautiful Smile

060A3350-148
 
After almost two years of wearing braces my patience has paid off. They've been removed and they look fantastic! Thank you to Mike and the team at North Shore Dental for the amazing work they've done on my new pearly whites.

It was the greatest feeling having them taken off. I'm finally able to bite into apples and no longer have to worry about food getting stuck in my teeth! This is perfect timing because the final of Miss World New Zealand is this weekend. With my new teeth I know I'm going to feel confident on stage, smiling my heart away. 

I've also been using a teeth whitener, compliments of North Shore Dental, which has given my teeth that extra white shine. The whitener has been working so well and I can't wait to show you my end results.

After the braces came off, two wires where inserted behind my top and bottom rows of teeth to make sure they the don't move in the future. 

Thank you North Shore dental for your support throughout my journey with braces as well as at Miss World New Zealand.
 
Jessica Tyson
 

For the last couple of months I have had a new best friend – my new plate.

What does it do? It is stopping my overbite!

20150731 124416-521

The plate is permanently attached to my teeth so I can't take it out until 6 months after it has been in there. It has a plastic piece attached to it so when I bite, the plate restricts me from biting back. So over time I will get use to biting correctly, hence getting rid of my overbite.

I found it very difficult to speak when the plate was first attached to my teeth. I found it especially uncomfortable at night as I felt uncomfortable resting my mouth in a new position. However over time that has improved.

The biggest challenge Ive had with this plate is that it has given me a lisp. At times I have felt embarrassed since I have been studying a new language and also work in retail. I communicate to people every day and I find it a little difficult having to repeat myself if somebody hasnt understood what I have said.

​I've also recently began an internship at TVNZ's Maori news show Te Karere as a news reporter. I have found it difficult to speak a new language, speak in a “newsy” tone and pronounce my voice clearly with a plate in my mouth. However a great positive that has come from this is that the plate has trained me to try and speak and pronounce my words more clearly. So when the plate is removed my voice will be even more clear than what is was without the plate!

Jessica Tyson

 My Journey to a beautiful smile.

Jessica pic 2
 
"So far I am 13 months into my journey wearing braces.  Time has gone really fast and my teeth are looking great!! 
 
The most recent change is wearing a removable appliance (plate) for the last 3 months. Its purpose is to develop my upper jaw width, especially my first left-side molar.  Before wearing the plate the molar had been a bit stubborn and hadn't straightened up with the other teeth. The plate I'm wearing has a screw in it that I turn every 5 days, to push the tooth out from the inside.  As well as that my braces are pulling the tooth from the outside to straighten it up.
 
Since wearing the plate I have seen a huge change. The molar has shifted more into line with the other teeth and I think it won't take long until it's completely straight! 
 
WHAT IS IT LIKE WEARING THE PLATE?
 
When I was first given the plate to wear I found it difficult to speak clearly for a few days. Since I work in retail and have to talk to customers a lot, I found it a little uncomfortable at work as I couldn't fully pronounce my words.  As well as that I am studying a full-time Te Reo Maori course where I am required to speak a lot of Te Reo Maori.  When I first wore the plate I found it very hard to pronounce these words and always wanted to take the plate out when I needed to do a speech.   For the first few days I also found the plate to be very uncomfortable. It felt as though it took up too much room in my mouth and it was very hard to eat food wearing it - and I was always tempted to take it out when I was eating (which I am not supposed to do). 
 
However, over time I have become very used to wearing the plate.  I don't mind eating with it and after about a week of wearing it my speech returned to normal again.  I also get excited seeing how my tooth is slowly straightening up alongside the other teeth. The plate is not painful at all so that’s also a bonus! 
 
HOW TO KEEP IT CLEAN
 
I have to clean my plate after I have eaten food.   At night I clean it with my toothbrush and toothpaste, and every three days I soak it for 3 minutes with a specialised cleanser which leaves my plate fresh and minty clean! “
 
Jessica Tyson
 

 
Jessica's Journey to a Beautiful Smile
 
 "My name is Jessica Tyson and welcome to my journey with braces. I’m 21 years old, from a small town named Whanganui and I moved to Auckland to study.  I am happy to say I recently graduated AUT University with a Bachelor of Communication Studies majoring in journalism. With my degree I would like to become a news reporter which is part of the reason I decided to get braces. Before I had braces I felt uncomfortable on camera because my teeth were not straight. With a career in television I think it’s important for me to feel as comfortable as possible.  I’m so excited to have straight teeth to give me that extra confidence on camera.
 
jessica (1)-395
Another reason I decided to get braces is because I’d like to enter Miss World New Zealand in 2016. I began doing pageants when I was 15 years old. Pageants have taken me around the world, after winning Miss Teen World Supermodel 2009 in Australia. Since winning an international teen pageant I have always had a dream to become Miss New Zealand and represent our country again. I’m so thankful for the help I am receiving from North Shore Dental. I’m happy that when I enter my next pageant I won’t feel camera shy because my smile will have the x-factor quality!"
 
 
 
 
 
For the last couple of months I have had a new best friend – my new plate.

What does it do? It is stopping my overbite!

20150731 124416-521

The plate is permanently attached to my teeth so I can't take it out until 6 months after it has been in there. It has a plastic piece attached to it so when I bite, the plate restricts me from biting back. So over time I will get use to biting correctly, hence getting rid of my overbite.

I found it very difficult to speak when the plate was first attached to my teeth. I found it especially uncomfortable at night as I felt uncomfortable resting my mouth in a new position. However over time that has improved.

The biggest challenge Ive had with this plate is that it has given me a lisp. At times I have felt embarrassed since I have been studying a new language and also work in retail. I communicate to people every day and I find it a little difficult having to repeat myself if somebody hasnt understood what I have said.

​I've also recently began an internship at TVNZ's Maori news show Te Karere as a news reporter. I have found it difficult to speak a new language, speak in a “newsy” tone and pronounce my voice clearly with a plate in my mouth. However a great positive that has come from this is that the plate has trained me to try and speak and pronounce my words more clearly. So when the plate is removed my voice will be even more clear than what is was without the plate!

Jessica Tyson

 My Journey to a beautiful smile.

Jessica pic 2
 
"So far I am 13 months into my journey wearing braces.  Time has gone really fast and my teeth are looking great!! 
 
The most recent change is wearing a removable appliance (plate) for the last 3 months. Its purpose is to develop my upper jaw width, especially my first left-side molar.  Before wearing the plate the molar had been a bit stubborn and hadn't straightened up with the other teeth. The plate I'm wearing has a screw in it that I turn every 5 days, to push the tooth out from the inside.  As well as that my braces are pulling the tooth from the outside to straighten it up.
 
Since wearing the plate I have seen a huge change. The molar has shifted more into line with the other teeth and I think it won't take long until it's completely straight! 
 
WHAT IS IT LIKE WEARING THE PLATE?
 
When I was first given the plate to wear I found it difficult to speak clearly for a few days. Since I work in retail and have to talk to customers a lot, I found it a little uncomfortable at work as I couldn't fully pronounce my words.  As well as that I am studying a full-time Te Reo Maori course where I am required to speak a lot of Te Reo Maori.  When I first wore the plate I found it very hard to pronounce these words and always wanted to take the plate out when I needed to do a speech.   For the first few days I also found the plate to be very uncomfortable. It felt as though it took up too much room in my mouth and it was very hard to eat food wearing it - and I was always tempted to take it out when I was eating (which I am not supposed to do). 
 
However, over time I have become very used to wearing the plate.  I don't mind eating with it and after about a week of wearing it my speech returned to normal again.  I also get excited seeing how my tooth is slowly straightening up alongside the other teeth. The plate is not painful at all so that’s also a bonus! 
 
HOW TO KEEP IT CLEAN
 
I have to clean my plate after I have eaten food.   At night I clean it with my toothbrush and toothpaste, and every three days I soak it for 3 minutes with a specialised cleanser which leaves my plate fresh and minty clean! “
 
Jessica Tyson
 

 
Jessica's Journey to a Beautiful Smile
 
 "My name is Jessica Tyson and welcome to my journey with braces. I’m 21 years old, from a small town named Whanganui and I moved to Auckland to study.  I am happy to say I recently graduated AUT University with a Bachelor of Communication Studies majoring in journalism. With my degree I would like to become a news reporter which is part of the reason I decided to get braces. Before I had braces I felt uncomfortable on camera because my teeth were not straight. With a career in television I think it’s important for me to feel as comfortable as possible.  I’m so excited to have straight teeth to give me that extra confidence on camera.
 
jessica (1)-395
Another reason I decided to get braces is because I’d like to enter Miss World New Zealand in 2016. I began doing pageants when I was 15 years old. Pageants have taken me around the world, after winning Miss Teen World Supermodel 2009 in Australia. Since winning an international teen pageant I have always had a dream to become Miss New Zealand and represent our country again. I’m so thankful for the help I am receiving from North Shore Dental. I’m happy that when I enter my next pageant I won’t feel camera shy because my smile will have the x-factor quality!"