Happy Thanksgiving

There are so many things to be thankful for year round, but isn’t it great that there’s a day designated just to giving thanks? We think so. We want to start a little early this year though, since we have been abundantly blessed. Here are some of the things we are most grateful for and you should be too!

1. Teeth – seriously, what would we do without them? The way we eat and speak would be radically different without our chompers.
2. Braces – as great as teeth are, sometimes they need a little help reaching their full potential. For that, we’re grateful for braces that help them get there.
3. San Antonio – this great city of ours just gets better every year. It’s our home and it’s a wonderful, beautiful one.
4. Freedom – this is easily one of the most taken for granted gifts of all. The fact that you’re able to go to the church of your choice on Sundays, vote for whichever candidate you’d like, and roam the internet freely to find this blog is no small thing. Many around the world don’t enjoy the same freedom.
5. A blue sky – isn’t it lovely? Have you looked up today to appreciate it?
6. Turkey – there always seems to be enough of it and it’s delicious.
7. Community – our San Antonio community is definitely special. It’s always amazing to watch San Antonians come together to help others in need, particularly during the holiday season – take the Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner and the Great Turkey Challenge 5K as examples!
8. Each other – we’re thankful for our patients, families, and friends. Don’t ever take yours for granted!

This list doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of reasons to be grateful. Nevertheless, here’s to a wonderful Thanksgiving. Stop tomorrow to really think about why you’re celebrating. May you eat as much as you can, but still find that your heart is fuller than your belly.  

A Braces Safe Thanksgiving Feast

We know that getting braces often means having to learn all about the foods that you can’t eat. Luckily, this post is different. Be thankful that there are many foods you can enjoy this Thanksgiving. If you’re not sure if your favorite dish is ok, read on for a list of some of the most classic Thanksgiving foods that are 100% orthodontist approved!

1. Turkey! What’s Thanksgiving without turkey (it’s not called Turkey Day for no reason)?! As long as you’re not eating it off the bone, this staple will be perfectly safe. Bonus points if you cut it up into small bites!
2. You’re free to eat all the sweet potatoes and/or mashed potatoes as your heart and belly desire. 
3. Stuffing is as yummy as it is safe as long as you keep the ingredients nice and soft. 
4. Green beans are typically prepared in such a way that makes them the perfect texture for people with braces. 
5. We know dessert is one thing you can’t avoid on Thanksgiving. Just make sure you stay away from crunchy ones (that means none of grandma’s pecan pie, but plenty of pumpkin!).

There’s no reason not to be able to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal just because you have braces. As is the case with all meals, make sure that you exercise caution and good judgment when serving yourself on Thursday. You are completely free to stuff yourself! 

Cold Teeth

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The chilly weather we’ve been experiencing lately got us thinking about some problems that come with the cold. Have you ever inhaled a cold breath of air only to find that your teeth hurt as a result? Cold weather causes sensitivity in many people – but why? There are several reasons this could be occurring, but below, you’ll find some of the most common.

1) Defective fillings that leave gaps open. This leaves all those sensitive nerves exposed.
2) Infected teeth or gums. Visit your dentist to check for gingivitis and other infections.
3) Cavities. Uh-oh! Nobody likes a cavity, but if breathing in cold air makes your teeth hurt, you may want to check for some.
4) Tooth grinding. Many people grind their teeth during their sleep and throughout the day without realizing it.
5) Brushing too hard. We know this one sounds crazy – how can you clean something too well? It’s possible, and it could be wearing away at your teeth.

 If you’re experiencing sensitivity to the cold air outside or cold drinks, it may be time for a visit with your dentist. In the meantime, make an effort to breathe in through your nose when you’re outside. Your cheeks, lips, and tongue will help insulate your teeth. Next time you’re at the grocery store, invest in toothpaste made to fight sensitivity as well. After all, healthy teeth are beautiful teeth!

The truth about gum

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If we gave you 30 seconds to name one thing you weren’t allowed to have after you got your braces on, you’d probably say: gum! And you’d be wrong…sort of.

Yes, there are a number of negative things gum can do to your braces. Orthodontics nightmares like bent wires and broken brackets could be the result of chewing gum. But if you chew the right kind and right amount of gum, you could be doing your mouth a couple of favors!

Choose sugarless gum – Chewing gum that contains sugar can be harmful to your teeth. Sugar fuels the acid producing bacteria in the mouth. Those brands of gum that contain sugar can be harmful to your teeth if they are chewed too often or if it is removed from the mouth too soon. Gum with sugar in it also has a stronger likelihood of sticking to your braces.

Activate that saliva – Studies have shown that chewing gum can have an indirect, positive effect on dental hygiene. After a meal, chewing gum helps to stimulate the production of saliva and overall salivary flow. This saliva helps wash away and neutralize the acid produced by bacteria in plaque. This acid is what causes dental decay and bad breath.

Massage those gums – According to some reports, chewing gum can relieve some of the pain that comes with braces. Chewing gum also leads to an increase in blood flow around your gum tissue and this can prevent common symptoms like gum inflammation from happening.

See? Gum isn’t all bad. Just be careful and choose the right amount of the right kind of gum.

Smile at a Veteran

At Texas Orthodontics, we love to make people smile. It’s literally what we do for a living. It must always be acknowledged however, that all of the rights we have that make us happy would cease to exist if it weren’t for our veterans. It is only because of their sacrifice that we are able to live without ever knowing such a heavy burden. We tire of the arguing and the differences in beliefs and views that seem to be hot political topics every day, but we forget that the ability to express these opposing points of view is a freedom we have only because of men and women who sacrificed their lives for it. 

We must never forget to be grateful. This country is forever indebted. We can never repay those brave men and women for making this country what it is, but with humble hearts full of gratitude, we can thank them, and through acts of kindness, humility, patience, and patriotism, may we never stop trying to prove ourselves worthy of their sacrifice.

Thank a veteran tomorrow. It’s the least we can do to let them know that their service will never be forgotten. Smile at a veteran every day – they fought for the freedom that allows you to do so.

Veterans, check out this list of what you can get for free or at great discounts tomorrow! http://abcnews.go.com/Business/top-veterans-day-deals-freebies-tomorrow/story?id=26769921

Thank you for your service. 

Everyone deserves a smile

At Texas Orthodontics, when we say, "We're Gonna Make You Smile®," we mean it! That's why we've set our prices to be the most affordable in San Antonio. But beyond that, we've made it one of our missions to service those who can't always help themselves. Dr. Hurst and his team have taken on a few pro-bono cases for some truly extraordinary individuals.

As you may remember, Texas Orthodontics partnered with Boysville last Christmas and we were introduced to one of the residents, Crystal. Boysville is a safe place for children in crisis who cannot remain in their own home for a variety of reasons. Its children come from homes that are in crisis, due to emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Sometimes a parent cannot take care of the child due to a terminal illness and do not have the support of family to take care of the children. By providing food, shelter, clothing and medical services, they are able to provide the basic necessities needed to make the child feel safe and comfortable at Boysville. Crystal has been a patient for about a year now and we are about to take on another child from Boysville.

For a long time, Dr. Hurst has wanted to give back to the military community by helping a wounded warrior. This summer, we found the perfect candidate and cannot wait to start treatment on him. We’ll give you the whole story when we get him in the office.

Dr. Hurst and his team know the power of a smile and they want to share that with San Antonio. The feeling of self-confidence that comes from a beautiful smile is truly priceless. We are honored to help San Antonio smile.