Love the job you have

Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

In case you didn’t know, Confucius is a pretty smart guy. It’s so important to take joy in every thing you do. We’re on this planet for such a finite time, why would you waste it doing something you didn’t love?

When you love your job, work not only goes by quicker, but you are even MORE inclined to think of new and innovative ways to spend your time there. You are more productive and at the end of the day, you feel like you’ve accomplished something great.

The workplace is where we spend most of our waking-hours. When you love your job, the workplace is just an extension of home and your co-workers start to feel like family.

Find your passions, follow them and discover your purpose. You’ll find your life’s work to be much more satisfying.

I am thankful to have the job I do, because I love nothing more than to see people smile. Our whole office loves to see people smile – that’s why we’re in the business of it!

You have three options when it comes to your work: Love it, change it or leave it!

Never Too Late

Think you're too old for braces? Actually, one out of every five orthodontic patients are adults. Check out this awesome infographic from damonbraces.com and you'll see adult braces are more common than you think!

 

Call us at 210.354.3131 for more information! We want to make you smile!

When is it time to see the orthodontist?

One of the most common questions we get is: At what age should a child see an orthodontist?

Typically, parents or guardians should bring a child in when they are 6 or 7 years old unless their dentist suggests otherwise. Your dentist might recommend a visit because they see a problem the teeth or jaws. 

Orthodontists treat kids for many problems, caused by losing baby teeth too soon, accidents, or habits like thumb sucking. They might also treat for genetic reasons like overbites and under bites.

Sometimes the orthodontist may recommend that you have one or more teeth removed to create more space in your mouth. If you need to have teeth removed, the dentist or oral surgeon will give you medicine to keep you comfortable during the procedure.

For adults, anytime would be a great time to see an orthodontist. Many adults believe that braces are just for kids, but in reality, 1 and 4 new patients are…you guessed it…adults! 

The benefits of packing a dental kit

Unless you have the luxury of staying at your house all day long, (in which case, get out of your house every once and a while – experience sunshine!), you probably don’t have access to your toothbrush and toothpaste all of the time. Consider packing a “dental kit” to put in your desk drawer or keep it in your purse. Your kit should contain the essentials, tooth brush, toothpaste and some floss.

Why?

If you are a regular coffee drinker, gum chewer or afternoon sweet-snacker, your teeth are being exposed to all sorts of things that would love nothing more than to set up shop in between your teeth and gums which could lead to plaque and gingivitis. Brush it away with your desk tooth brush and toothpaste!

Have you ever eaten something at work and it felt like you had something stuck between your teeth ALL DAY? Desk floss to the rescue.

Consider packing a desk dental kit, you’re teeth and gums will thank you for it!

Note: It’s not good to brush your teeth after EVERY meal as it wears down the enamel of the teeth. A dental kit should be used in the case of minor dental emergencies. 

More than a Bad Habit

Some people do it because they’re nervous, others because they’re bored. Some folks probably don’t even know how often they do it. What’s worse is they don’t realize the consequences.

So what is it?

Onychophagia—an arguably, unnecessarily complicated way of saying nail biting.

If you’re a nail biter or ever have been one, you probably remember your mother snapping, “That’s a disgusting habit!” Well, she was right. Nails are full of bacteria, more so than your hands. In fact, the bacteria that nails harbor make them almost twice as germy as fingers alone. Think of that next time you have the urge to chomp down!

What about the issues this habit may cause your teeth, though? Constantly chewing on nails can wear teeth down overtime, causing them to become weak or crooked. This is especially harmful for those with braces. Nail biting puts extra stress and pressure on teeth and weakens roots, prolonging the time you will need to wear braces.

Still not convinced? Consider this. People who bite their nails were found to have to spend $4,000 more on dental health care overtime. Yikes! Love shopping? Think of how many cool things you could buy with $4,000 instead of using that money to fix an easily preventable problem.

How can you kick the habit? Don’t worry. We have some tips to get you to keep your nails away from your teeth so that you can be back on your way to a perfect smile!

• Wear a coat of nail polish or two to discourage you from biting. This isn’t limited to girls. A couple of coats of clear polish is invisible but won’t taste good if you take a bite, guys!
• Since nail biting often occurs due to stress, try other methods to help you relax. Yoga, meditating, or even a nice hot bath can go a long way.
• Keep your nails trimmed short. Notice that we didn’t suggest you do this by biting them! Use a nail clipper to regularly trim your nails and get rid of the temptation that comes with longer nails.
• Remember—biting your nails isn’t worth the money that will eventually have to be spent on tooth repair! 

Stay on the right track to get that beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. We’ll help you get there. 

Photo Credit: BriannaJayde Photography via Compfight cc

You need to be flossing. Here’s why –

Photo Credit: Rob Boudon via Compfightcc

Think about your last orthodontic or dental check-up. When your dentist or orthodontist asked, “have you been flossing daily?” How did you answer? Honestly. According to a 2010 survey conducted by the American Dental Association, a little less than 50% of Americans would have to answer no. Why is flossing so important? Here are a couple of reasons -

Your toothbrush can’t do it alone – Most Americans are great at brushing the recommended two times a day. Which is great. Regular brushing can help prevent plaque – but, a toothbrush cannot help prevent tartar from forming in between teeth. Floss gets all of the food particles a toothbrush leaves behind.

Show your gums some love too – Speaking of tartar, tartar buildup can lead to gingivitis: red, swollen gums that are the first stage of gum disease. If left unchecked, the bacteria-laden tartar and plaque can spread even deeper below the gum line, causing periodontitis: severe gum disease characterized by severe inflammation and eventual tooth and bone loss.

Flossing can help keep the rest of your body healthy - Tooth and gum disease can have effects that go far beyond discolored teeth, discomfort or bad breath. Research has shown that the bacteria that flourish in an unhealthy mouth can harm the rest of the body, leading to heart disease, diabetes and respiratory illness. 

Top 4 Worst Drinks For Your Teeth

You may not realize it, but every sip you take of a drink other than pure water exposes your teeth to all sorts of harmful substances. Never fear, there are a few things you can do to prevent early tooth decay. Here are a few drinks to avoid or use with caution:

Soda – This one seems obvious - carbonated soft drinks possess high levels of sugar and acidity, which hurt tooth enamel and can lead to decay and cavities. The acidity in sodas can leave your teeth coated with sugary sweetness for up to an hour after the consumption of just one can of soda.

Sports drinks – While they leave you feeling hydrated after a particular daunting game of basketball, this category is probably the worst in terms of sugar levels and acidity.

Coffee – Beware caffeine lovers, this morning pick-me-up can leave your teeth yellow and dull. To decrease these effects, try drinking with a straw to avoid direct contact or follow each cup with continuous water consumption.

Tea – While calming, tea also has potential staining power. Tea contains a substance called tannic acid, which is what gives it the dark color. If you have pits and grooves on your teeth, the tannic acid may settle into them, causing discoloration over time. 

Fret not, coffee drinkers, energy seekers and soda aficionados, while the beverages you crave host myriad side effects, you can still keep your choppers in tip top shape. Using a straw, drinking more water, brushing at least twice a day and flossing regularly will help to protect your teeth from sugar buildup and decay.

10 Thoughts After Getting Braces

Those first moments sporting a new set of braces can be a little overwhelming. There are so many questions that run through your mind, you forget to ask half of them. If you’ve been wearing braces for a while now, you’ll probably read through this list and giggle now that you know some of the things you thought were just downright silly. If you’re getting ready to get braces soon, take comfort in the fact that you’re not the only one with questions and concerns. Here’s our list of 10 of the funniest and most common thoughts people have after getting braces for the first time.

1. Wait, I can’t eat what?
2. My mouth is sore. How long does this last?
3. I don’t see how this is going to make my teeth straight.
4. Oh, I have to come back so you can adjust them—that makes more sense. Carry on.
5. Mom is trying to take a picture of me. Should I smile? Mouth closed or braces showing?
6. Am I going to set off metal detectors now? That’s kind of embarrassing, but also pretty cool.
7. How does one apply this wax that you speak of?
8. At least I don’t need headgear…wait, I’m not going to need headgear right?
9. I hope this color doesn’t look weird. Maybe I should have gone with purple.
10. If Katy Perry can look fabulous in braces, so can I!

Just to set the record straight, you will not set off any metal detectors with your new braces! Feel free to travel via airplane to your heart’s content. Remember, there’s no reason why you can’t look and feel as great as people without braces. Because of your braces, you’re on your way to a perfectly straight smile that will leave you feeling more confident than ever. That’s something to celebrate!

Orthodontics: A Glossary of Terms

Have you ever heard your orthodontist use a term you didn't quite understand? Check out this helpful glossary to learn all about orthodontic terms and what they mean! 

Archwire – The metal wire that is attached to the brackets and used to move the teeth.

Bruxism – Grinding the teeth, usually during sleeping. Bruxism can cause abnormal tooth wear and may lead to pain in the jaw joints.

Buccal – The cheek side of the back teeth in both arches or jaws.

Cephalometric Radiograph – A lateral (side view) x-ray of the head.

Chain – A stretchable series of elastic o-rings connected together and placed around each bracket to hold the archwire in place and move the teeth.

Class I Malocclusion – A malocclusion with the proper molar relationship and teeth that are crowded together, spaced apart, an overbite, an openbite, a posterior crossbite or an anterior crossbite. 

Class II Malocclusion – A malocclusion with the upper front teeth protruding or due to the lower teeth and/or jaw positioned back relative to the upper teeth and/or jaw.

 Class III Malocclusion – A malocclusion with the lower front teeth protruding or due to the lower teeth and/or jaw positioned ahead relative to the upper teeth and/or jaw.

Congenitally Missing Teeth – A genetic occurrence in which the expected number of permanent teeth do not develop.

 Crossbite – Upper posterior (back) teeth are in crossbite if they erupt and function inside or outside of the arch in the lower posterior teeth. Lower anterior (front) teeth are I crossbite if they erupt and function in front of the upper anterior teeth. A crossbite can be individual teeth or groups of teeth. 

Ectopic Eruption – Term used to describe a tooth or teeth that erupt in an abnormal position.

Fixed Appliances – An orthodontic appliance that is bonded or cemented to the teeth and cannot be or should not be removed by the patient.

 Impaction – A tooth that does not erupt into the mouth or only erupts partially is considered impacted. 

Malocclusion – The term used in orthodontics to describe teeth that do not fit together properly. From Latin, the term means "bad bite."

Mixed Dentition – The dental developmental stage in children (approximately ages 6-12) when they have a mix of primary (baby) and permanent teeth.

Open Bite – A malocclusion in which teeth do not make contact with each other.  With an anterior open bite, the front teeth do not touch when the back teeth are closed together. With a posterior open bite, the back teeth do not touch when the front teeth are closed together.

Orthopedic Appliance – A removable functional appliance designed to guide the growth of the jaws and face.

Panoramic Radiograph – An x-ray that shows all the teeth and both jaws on one film.

Palatal Expander – A fixed or removable device used to make the upper jaw wider.

Separators – An elastic o-ring or small wire loop placed between the teeth to create space for placement of bands. Separators are usually placed between the teeth a week before bands are scheduled to be cemented to the teeth.

Tongue Thrust – An individual's tongue pushes against the teeth when swallowing. Forces generated by the tongue can move the teeth and bone and may lead to an anterior or posterior open bite.

Thanks to AAO for all of these definitions! Learn more about the AAO here: www.mylifemysmile.org