Happy Birthday, America!

Happy Birthday, America!

 The smell of BBQ, the hot summer heat, laughter of family and friends and the sound of firecrackers going off; what a great day Friday, July 4 will be! Independence Day is a day for all of the United States to come together as one and partake in a celebration that is 238 years old. In honor of our founding fathers and all those who have lost their lives in order to secure this day as a day of freedom, all of us here at Texas Orthodontics would like to wish y’all a happy Independence Day!

Here are a few “did you knows” about this great holiday:

·         The estimated number of people living in the United States in 1776 was 2.5 million

·         According to U.S. World Population, the nation’s estimated population is 318.4 million

·         56 people signed the Declaration of Independence

·         Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston made up the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration.  Jefferson, regarded as the strongest and most eloquent writer, wrote most of the document

·         In 2013, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags was $4.0 million

·         It is said that pork hot dogs and sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa

·         There is a good chance that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for nearly one-sixth of the nation's total production. 

·          According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics, The value of fireworks imported from China in 2013 was more than $203.6 million

No matter if you’re floating the river, enjoying a concert, having a cook-out with friends and family, or simply relaxing at home, remember this day and be thankful for the land of the free and home of the brave! 

                                                                                                      

                                                                                           Let Freedom Ring!

                                                                                 

 

What do your rubber band colors say about you?

If you’re a kid (or even if you’re an adult), one of the most fun parts of getting braces is choosing the colors for your rubber band brackets! Some people choose colors that correspond to the holiday coming up like red and green for Christmas or pastels for Easter. Others choose the colors of their favorite sports team (who didn’t want to get black and silver during the Spurs playoff run?) Some people just choose their favorite color. What does your favorite color say about you? Check it out:

• Red tones indicate that you are ready for action and take charge of your life with aggressive, forward-thinking steps.

• Blue tones are calm and relaxing. You are conservative and exhibit integrity when dealing with situations.

• Green tones represent growth and balance. You are level-headed and look for opportunities to grow emotionally and spiritually.

• Purple tones attract creative energies. You like to have fun and use your imagination in every aspect of your life.

• Orange tones indicate that you are optimistic and thrive in social situations where communication is open.

• Pink is a romantic color that represents a caring personality. You also enjoy having fun with silly games and endless laughter.

Get to know: Nyomi Casillas

We love our Texas Orthodontics family! Get to know more about one of our team members: Nyomi Casillas!

Favorites -
Movie: The Notebook
Color: Pink
Artist: George Strait
Team: San Antonio Spurs

Her bucket list:
1. Go bungee jumping
2. Visit New York
3. Go to space

If someone wrote a book about you, what would the title be?
Me, Myself and I

Who inspires you?
My Mom inspires me because I want to make her proud.

What is your dream vacation?
Cancun

Be honest, how often do you floss?
Twice a day!

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with others about life?
Live each day like it's your last.

Candy Month

We’re not sure if your kiddos know this, but June is Candy Month. If they’re unaware of this seemingly insignificant celebration, keep them away from this page! If you have a sneaking suspicion that they do know about it, check under their bed for a candy stash, stat! It’s hard to separate kids and candy, but with braces on, once a year is plenty for a holiday made just for the sake of eating candy—we’re talking about you, Halloween!

What makes candy so magically delicious? Sugar! This culprit isn’t as sweet as it may seem though, folks. Sugar may lead to heavy plaque build-up that is hard to get rid of with braces. That plaque can eventually lead to white spots left behind on teeth. If that’s not enough to deter your little one from that jawbreaker, remind them that candies are just too hard to bite down on without running the risk of damaging braces. Chomping on lollipops isn’t good for anyone, braces or not, but if your child does wear braces, hard candy can bend or even break their wires and brackets.

Hard candies aren’t the only type that don’t go well with braces. Chewy candies can cause just as much damage. Have you ever gotten a wad of Double Bubble stuck in your hair? Yikes! Getting something that sticky stuck in your strands can be painful to get out. Sometimes, people even have to resort to cutting that piece of hair off completely. The same thing may happen with candy and braces. Candies like taffy, caramel, and Starbursts are so sticky and chewy that they can potentially pull orthodontic appliance off of teeth. We love visiting with our patients, but preferably not because they accidentally ripped off their braces.

Not all candies are going to ruin braces. Typically, chocolate without caramel and nuts are ok as long as teeth are brushed soon after. Your child doesn’t have to be deprived of yummy treats. Instead, talk to them about which snacks are ok vs. which can be damaging and slow down the process of getting them the beautiful smile they want! Ironically, June is also National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month. Cut your kids a deal—one piece of chocolate for one cherry tomato!

A Brief History of Braces

                The desire for a perfect smile has been around for centuries. Scholars and historians say braces date back to ancient times. Works and studies of Hippocrates and Aristotle have been found dating back to 400-300 BC. Archeologists have also noted finding ancient Egyptian and Roman remains with metal and wires on their teeth-believed to have been used to help straighten teeth. One archeologist even discovered a Roman tomb in which the deceit’s teeth were bound in gold wire. They also discovered a written document explaining what the gold wires were used for. Although the ancients may not have had the savviest way of straightening teeth, they can be credited with being the first to try.

18th Century:  The French dentist Pierre Fauchard is known as the father of modern dentistry. In 1728, he published a book regarding various ways to straighten teeth. Fauchard also used a device known as the “blandeau” to widen the upper palate. Louis Bourdet, another French dentist, wrote a book in 1754 that discussed tooth alignment. Bourdet made strides as the first dentist to reduce teeth crowding.

19^th Century: Orthodontics became a specialty of its own during the early 19th century. The first wire crib was used in 1819, establishing the beginning of modern orthodontics.  During this period, gold, platinum, silver, steel, gum rubber, vulcanite and other metals were used as brackets.

·         In 1901, Edward Angle founded the American Society of Orthodontia, which was later renamed as the American Association of Orthodontists in the 1930s.

·         In the 1960s, gold was universally abandoned in favor of stainless steel brackets and wires. Twenty years later, tooth-colored aesthetic brackets made from single-crystal sapphire and ceramics became the go-to bracket.

Modern Day:  Orthodontists have made giant strides since the days of the ancients and those in 18^th and 19^th centuries. Treatment plans can be created using a 3D digital model; a computerized process can be used to customize your archwires and you now have the choice of clear braces, Invisalign or regular brackets. No matter your treatment plan, the developments made over the years have allowed for efficient, effective and comfortable braces for all.  

The science of smiles

You’ve probably heard that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile – while that’s a nice reason to keep a smile on your face, there is so many more reasons your should be cracking a grin.

Let’s start from the beginning – did you know that smiling isn’t a learned behavior but an inherited trait? Humans are the only species with the facial muscles that pull the mouth into a smile! While studying blind and deaf children, scientists have noted that their smiles appear as an expression of joy and happiness, thus, smiling is not a product of learning.

Smiling reduces stress that your body and mind feel, almost similar to getting good sleep, according to recent studies and smiling helps to generate more positive emotions within you. That’s why we often feel happier around children – they smile more. On average, children smile around 400 times a day. Happy people still smile 40-50 times a day, but the average person only smiles 20 times per day.

Why does this matter? Smiling leads to decrease in the stress-induced hormones that negatively affect your physical and mental health, say the latest studies.

The next time you’re told to, “say cheese,” think about the science behind your smile!

Protecting your teeth from summer sports

If you or your child plans to participate in sports this summer, make sure you’re taking the necessary precautions to prevent tooth loss or damage to your braces. In older children and adults, sports injuries are common. Dentists estimate that between 13% and 39% of dental injuries occur while playing sports.

Currently, the state only requires football players to consistently wear mouth guards and this measure is believed to prevent about 200,000 mouth injuries a year. Not surprisingly, most sports-related mouth injuries come from sports where mouth guards aren’t required: basketball, soccer and especially baseball. A study of high school athletes found that 75% of injuries occurred when mouth guards weren’t worn.

A mouth guard is a soft plastic or laminate device used in sports to prevent oral injuries to the teeth, mouth, cheeks, tongue and jaw. There are many different types of mouth guards to choose from, but a  custom-mouth guard will provide the highest level of protection.

If you are playing a sport and you chip or lose a tooth, put the chip or tooth in a cup of water and call your dentist immediate. If any damage is done to your braces, call your orthodontist’s office to schedule an appointment to get it fixed. Protect yourself this summer with a mouth guard! 

Retaining that beautiful smile

When all is said and done, your teeth will undoubtedly look beautiful after orthodontic treatment – but how can you keep them this way? Your retainer of course. The best part of modern orthodontic treatment is the variety of options patients will have post-braces.

Permanent – A permanent retainer is the perfect solution for patients who don’t want to think about their retainer. It is bonded on the back of your teeth and provides a great long-term result for teeth straightening.

Hawley – The most common retainer you’ve probably see is a Hawley retainer made of acrylic and metal. The acrylic goes up against the roof of your mouth and the metal is in front of your teeth like braces. This is the most reliable type of retainer. Your orthodontist can "tweak" the metal to help finish any small refinements that still need to be done to your teeth.

Essix – An Essix retainer is very similar to an Invisalign tray. Many orthodontists give both an Essix and a Hawley retainer to patients. An Essix is good to wear during the day when patients are interacting with people and a Hawley is perfect for sleeping.

No matter what type of retainer your get, the most important thing is to wear it exactly as the orthodontist tells you. The type of retainer you get will depend on your specific needs. Leave this decision to your orthodontist – unless you get to pick! Then follow you heart to the right retainer for you.

Do I Have to Use Mouthwash?

Although the majority of people understand the importance of brushing and flossing, many still wonder if mouthwash makes any difference. To most people, mouthwash is often the forgotten ingredient in the oral cleaning recipe for success. However, using mouthwash is extremely beneficial to your teeth, tongue, gums and lining of your mouth. Mouthwash can be used to aid a lot of oral hygiene problems—it can freshen breath, decrease dental plaque, prevent tooth decay and help control gingivitis. One thing to remember about mouthwash, as with any other oral hygiene product, is that you must use the right kind in the correct way. Below, I've highlighted a few reasons why mouthwash is so critical to your oral hygiene, as well as a few things to keep in mind when selecting a mouth wash.

·         Using mouthwash in general, even if it doesn't have fluoride, can help reduce your chances  periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the "inflammation and infection of the ligaments and bones that support the teeth."

·      Mouthwash increases the effectiveness of brushing and flossing by killing the germs and bacteria that forms in the places that are cleaned.

·        Oftentimes, bits of food get stuck between the teeth, mouthwash helps loosen and remove those particles, when floss can’t get the job done.

·         The fresh-clean mouth feeling you get after rinsing indicates that the mouthwash has done its job. 

·         Mouthwash decreases your chances of getting halitosis throughout the day. 

 ·         Mouthwash can reduce the quantity and quality of the dental plaque and bacteria in your mouth.

·         Select a mouthwash that has the ADA approval sign on the bottle, meaning it actually does what it claims to do.

·         If you suffer from dry mouth, then choose a mouthwash that is alcohol free.