Hide Denture in Plain View

You can wear a denture that only you and I know is in your mouth: a partial flexible denture. And not only is a partial flexible denture nearly invisible, it adapts to the constant movement in your mouth.


A removable, partial flexible denture may be an excellent choice if you need to replace existing teeth or missing teeth, and the remaining teeth in your dental arch are healthy.

Unlike a conventional partial denture that is made from rigid acrylic material and uses metal clasps to clamp onto neighboring teeth [top photo], this appliance is constructed from a soft nylon-type material that matches the natural color of your gums. The "clasps" are extensions of the base material and curl snugly around the neighboring teeth [bottom photo]. Sometimes, a hole is punched in the material and the appliance is slipped over the top of a natural tooth like a turtleneck sweater.

A partial flexible denture has desirable advantages:

1. It is strong and stays in place when you chew, unlike a conventional denture that loses suction and pops loose, which can be embarrassing.
2. Your natural teeth do not need to be reshaped like they would with a bridge, for example.
3. It maintains the shape of your face and prevents your teeth from shifting.
4. It is thin and lightweight.
5. There is little or no speech adaption necessary.
6. Most patients immediately become accustomed to its fit and feel.

A removable, flexible partial denture can magically restore your beautiful smile. Call and schedule an appointment. We can discuss your smile goals and options.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Twitter Tweets Twist Truth

Social networking sites, such as Twitter, can be beneficial. In one instance, an Oregon police department posted a Twitter alert about a lost Alzheimer patient. Tweeters' lightening fast tweets assisted police in immediately locating the patient.


We have read that Twitter has been used to hawk unused medicines or to find someone who is willing to give up their unused medicine. Tweeters also give medical advice even though they are not healthcare professionals.

Technology can provide faster ways to deliver information; however, it will never replace knowledgeable healthcare professionals.

For example, we might prescribe a medication to help you resolve a dental condition. Even though we instruct you to take all of the medication, you might be tempted to stop the medication as soon as you feel better. What will you do with the leftovers?


Sometimes, well-meaning people will offer their unused medications to others not realizing they might be putting that person in danger. If you are considering giving your unused prescription to someone else, don’t. A medication is not one size fits all. It was prescribed based on your specific condition, other medications, age and weight, for example.

You always need to be on guard against potentially harmful "advice." Please, ask us about dental medication "advice" no matter where you get it—through mobile technology, the Internet or your local coffee shop.
We have many years of education and experience, and we constantly update our knowledge and skills, just to protect you.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Teeth Might Save a Child’s Life

Your youngster's teeth may one day have the ability to save his or her life.


Everyone's teeth contain pulp, a spongy material made up of tissue, blood vessels and nerves in the center of each tooth. A child's tooth pulp contains special stem cells that can become different types of tissue, such as oral and facial bone, cartilage, muscle and soft tissues.

Many people are already aware that bone marrow (that contains stem cells) is removed from one person and injected into a cancer patient in hopes of conquering the cancer. Imagine your child at an older age being inflicted with a condition such as Parkinson's disease. Your child's own stored dental stem cells could be used to repair the brain tissue damaged by Parkinson's.

Using one's own cells is called "personalized medicine," and it is becoming a popular way to use resources from a person's body to conquer disease or regenerate tissue, which eliminates ethical concerns. Using one's own stem cells also prevents the body from rejecting the cells or from inheriting an unwanted condition from an outside donor.

A dental stem bank has been set up (outside the U.S.) to explore using one’s own stem cells for dental applications. So far, three states have certified the stem cell bank’s processing and quality control procedures.
Even though we can't use this personalized medicine technology today, the prospect of its development is very exciting!

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

It's Not What You Eat; It's How Often

This is the time of year everyone is giving you advice on eating. And this is no exception. But we aren't as concerned about how living off of hors d'ouevres or having that extra piece of pie will impact your waistline. We're concerned that the constant availability of food, especially during the holiday season, will wear out your teeth.


It can be confusing trying to make sense of the information about eating regular meals and avoiding foods that increase your risk for caries, especially when the trend is to snack throughout the day. Some weight-loss diets recommend eating five or six small meals a day.

Saliva washes harmful bacteria off your teeth and helps neutralize decay-causing acid, but snacking overwhelms your saliva. Consequently, when you constantly snack, your teeth are bathed in bacteria-produced acid all day long, putting you at high risk for tooth decay. Every time you eat, it takes your saliva about 20 minutes to put your mouth back into balance. If you are constantly eating, you don’t give your mouth enough time to recover from the acid attack.


When you snack, snack wisely. We recommend that you choose foods and beverages that have a low caries risk (low sugar and not acidic). And don't forget that beverages can be treacherous. That gingerbread, cocoa, egg nog latte with the chocolate snowflake may look like a harmless holiday indulgence, but those fancy coffee drinks can have as much as 69 grams of sugar. And you know sugar feeds cavity-causing bacteria. Consume foods made with the three natural sugars that prevent caries: tagatose, isomalt and xylitol.

Tagatose is sold under the name Naturlose, which is also a healthy sugar for diabetics. Naturlose foods include candy, cocoa, ice cream, powdered milk, yogurt, cheese, fruit juices and diet soft drinks.
Isomalt is a common ingredient in diabetic foods and candies.

Xylitol, a natural sugar found in some plants, is used in several foods, gum, candy, and lozenges.
The American Diabetes Association states that sugar alcohols such as isomalt, maltitol and xylitol contain fewer calories and carbohydrates than regular sugars. Look for products marketed as "no sugar added."
Of course, your best strategy is to minimize snacking and eat regular meals; brush at least twice each day with fluoride toothpaste, and floss at least once each day. In a pinch, chew a piece of xylitol or other sugar-free gum after the snack.

Enjoy the holidays. Eat, drink, but be wary of constant indulgence. Pace yourself. That's good advice for any time of year.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

e-Cigarettes Are Not Smoke and Mirrors

E-cigarettes look like a smoke and mirrors party trick, but they are a serious nicotine delivery system.

An electronic cigarette uses liquid nicotine dissolved in propylene glycol (an ingredient in antifreeze) instead of tobacco. A small heating device vaporizes the liquid mixture. The "smoker" inhales the vapor. When exhaled, the vapor looks like cigarette smoke, but it quickly dissipates like the steam from a teakettle of boiling water.


The FDA reports that early tests show e-cigarettes contain cancer-causing components. One participant in a university medical school's research reported that liquid nicotine caused a burning sensation at the site of some dental work.

There are too many unknowns about e-cigarettes. 

We know that liquid nicotine prescribed for smoking cessation has risks for pregnant women, anyone taking medications or who has allergies, as well as anyone with a medical condition such as asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. We simply do not yet know if the same is true about the liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes.

Because e-cigarettes have not been thoroughly tested, several countries have banned their sale, and the World Health Organization has objected to false claims that their organization approves and endorses e-cigarettes.

Until we have reliable data about health and safety issues, we recommend that our patients be safe and not use e-cigarettes.

If you use e-cigarettes, it's extremely important to see us twice each year so we can perform an oral cancer exam, check for decay and periodontal disease because we know they increase in people who use nicotine. Also, please tell us that you use e-cigarettes so we can adjust your treatments accordingly.


Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Straighten Teeth Without Braces

Research shows that people with attractive smiles are more self-confident and judged to be more successful and happier. But if your teeth are crooked, crowded or have gaps, you may not feel you have a lot to smile about.

You can have a beautiful smile without braces!


Traditional braces use wires and bands affixed to your teeth. Aligners, however, are a series of nearly invisible, removable trays that are custom-fitted to your needs. They work somewhat differently than braces, but, in many cases, they achieve a beautiful result.

Aligners are especially beneficial to adults who shy away from traditional braces because their appearance can be a distraction in business settings and inhibit social encounters, for instance.
In the past, patients with only minor tooth misalignments were candidates for aligners.

Today's aligners are suitable for a shallow or deep overbite, if your teeth show excessive wear from clenching or grinding, you have porcelain or gold restorations, or your teeth are crowded together.

It is difficult to maintain an effective oral homecare routine with traditional braces. Braces promote gingivitis (swollen, red gums) and periodontitis (chronic infection that causes tooth loss) because plaque cannot be effectively removed. An aligner doesn't interfere with brushing and flossing because it is taken out of the mouth.

Aligners are removed for short periods of time while eating, brushing and flossing.

If you have been reluctant to improve your smile because of the stigma of wearing traditional braces, give us a call. Let's see if you are a candidate!

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

The Sweet Way to Avoid Decay

Xylitol: It's got a funny name, but it's sugar sweet with a lot fewer calories.

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is found in plants like corn, lettuce, raspberries, cauliflower, strawberries, pears, mushrooms, and even birch trees.


When you eat foods that contain simple carbohydrates, like table sugar, decay-causing bacteria feed on the sugar and produce an acid that attaches to a tooth's surface, weakens the enamel and eventually causes decay. But decay-causing bacteria can't digest xylitol. Without a food source, the bacteria die.
Children are born without any cavity-causing bacteria. Where do they get it? From you!

The caries bacterium is passed from the primary caregiver to the child through sharing food and kisses. So, when a new mom chews sugarless, xylitol gum or eats xylitol mints, for example, the bad bacteria eventually die and cannot be passed to baby. Studies indicate that if you use xylitol products for at least two years, beginning shortly after baby is born, your child can be protected from decay for as long as six years.
For xylitol to be effective, you need to get five exposures every day. Taking a boat load of xylitol all at once doesn't give you much effect. It's important to spread it out throughout the day. Xylitol gum contains about one gram of xylitol. Chew one piece of gum after each meal and brush with xylitol toothpaste twice a day to get recommended amount: Strive for Five.


Products that contain xylitol include mouthwashes, lozenges, tablets, toothpastes, cough products, nutraceuticals (food extracts that have medicinal qualities), syrup, candies, cookies, gels and pacifiers. Xylitol also comes in a granular form so you can sweeten beverages and even cook with it.

Xylitol is convenient—pop a stick of gum or a mint in your mouth—and away you go.

Ask us about xylitol products during your next office visit, or if it's time to schedule your hygiene check-up, just give us a call.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

The Secret in Your Mouth

In just a few years, if your dentist asks you to spit, it may be the first step in saving your life. Saliva is a miraculous fluid that helps protect your oral tissues and your body.


Right now scientists are developing saliva tests that can help diagnose systemic diseases before any other sign is visible. The list includes breast, oral, and ovarian cancers; type 2 diabetes; Alzheimer's disease; and rheumatoid arthritis.


A saliva test is non-invasive and safe. It just takes a quick swab of the inside of your cheek. And it's a lot more comfortable than a blood test.


Today, saliva testing is available that can help us better treat periodontal disease. This is the condition that, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. In fact, perio disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in people over 35. It has also been connected to heart disease, stroke, pancreatic cancer, premature births and a host of other serious conditions.

Usually, all periodontal disease is treated in the same way. But with the advent of DNA testing through saliva, we can now see which bacteria are causing your disease and develop a treatment program specifically for your needs. For example, some perio bacteria can be treated with antibiotics while other kinds won't respond to antibiotics at all.

Your dentist and hygienist have been trying to tell you for years that if you take care of your teeth and gums, your whole body will be much healthier. Thanks to saliva testing, it won't be long before dentists will be able to help diagnose whole body diseases in their earliest of stages. And that's nothing to spit at.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Fresh Breath and False Claims

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified three companies that one of their mouthwashes makes false claims about its ability to remove plaque or kill the bacteria that cause gingivitis (gum disease) and periodontitis, the chronic, advanced stage of gingivitis.


The products are CVS Complete Care Anticavity Mouthwash, Listerine Total Care Anticavity Mouthwash and Walgreen Mouth Rinse Full Action.

According to the FDA, two of the mouthwashes list sodium fluoride as the active ingredient. Sodium fluoride fights cavities because it remineralizes and hardens tooth enamel that is softened when you eat acidic foods. There is no proven evidence that it has any other benefits.
The third mouthwash lists sodium fluoride and another compound as active ingredients. The company claims that, when combined, the two ingredients prevent gum disease and periodontitis. However, there is no proven evidence that their alleged claim is true, either.


Regular brushing removes plaque and fights gum disease. However, if your gum disease has progressed to periodontitis, we must approach your oral care differently. We can only treat periodontitis, not cure it.

Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater; be an informed consumer.
Just because these mouthwashes have misleading claims does not mean that you shouldn't use them. They effectively fight cavities and should remain a part of your oral care at home.
If you are concerned or curious about any oral care product, just ask us. We will be happy to explain product ingredients and answer your questions.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Chills, Fever, Heart Attack

Don't let flu season be heart attack season. Studies are showing that if you get the flu and you have periodontal disease, the additional inflammation can cause even more harm to your body.

First, studies are linking periodontal disease (perio), a chronic bacterial inflammation, to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pancreatic cancer and pneumonia.


According to the American Academy of Periodontology, perio bacteria enter your bloodstream and travel to your heart. They can also be inhaled into the lungs (within one minute, according to research). The bacteria attach to plaque clumps that accumulate on your artery walls. Some studies suggest that there is a correlation between perio bacteria and the protein that creates blood clots. When a clot dislodges, it can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Second, the flu is also associated with inflammation. Flu makes your heart race. Your heart works harder when it strains to obtain enough oxygen, which can dislodge plaque clumps.

If you have perio and the flu, the combined effects from both inflammations put tremendous stress on your body.


We can't predict if you will get the flu, but we can keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you have perio, it is critical that we get it under control as quickly as possible. We use a special cleaning technique that can include medications to control the perio inflammation.

Unfortunately, once you have perio, you will always have it. There is no cure; we can only treat and manage it.

Home oral care is important when you have perio. Brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice each day and floss once daily. Follow up with regular hygiene exams. If you have perio, we might need to schedule more frequent therapy appointments.

Healthy teeth and gums do your body good.


Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

When your plate is full

If you were dining in a restaurant and the waitperson kept putting more food on your plate, you would likely say you were full. Does it not make sense to do the same when your being—your emotions, intellect, and spirit—is on overload? Know when your plate is full and you will be much happier.

In today's fast pace, few encouraging words are given in the workplace for a balanced and thoughtful life, in which one has clear priorities of family, physical, spiritual, and mental health. A common attitude has become "the more stress you can handle the better." Compliments are given to those who look haggard while saying, "Boy, what a rough day! I had twelve hours of nonstop work."

Eight common signs of having too full a plate are:

1. People close to you suggest you slow down.
2. There are no more people close to you.
3. The mere thought of working less brings on anxiety.
4. Rather than relaxing on vacation you bring along "just a little" work or have a long list of things to do or sights to see. Or, you begin to feel anxious on returning from a holiday.
5. You spend less and less time doing activities that are important to you.
6. Little, insignificant things easily annoy you.
7. Your body reacts with frequent illness.
8. You die young.

It is possible that you live a life so constantly full of stress that you have become acclimated to it. Even when your plate is full you may continue to take on more. In fact, you may be so used to stress that when it is not there it feels like something is wrong.

You may believe that you have no choice other than to live with your current level of stress.

Think again. Your stress can be reduced. Begin by:

Knowing when your plate is full and responding accordingly!

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.
www.softdental.com

Be Oral Healthy with Herbs

Medicinal herbs have been used for thousands of years. However, herbal remedies can have an adverse effect on dental treatments and healing.

Herbal doesn't mean that it's safe.


For example, if you take ginger, ginko or garlic supplements, you could experience abnormal bleeding at the treatment site, such as major oral surgery or a tooth extraction. Prolonged bleeding also slows down the healing process.
When taken with traditional medicines, an herbal supplement can cancel out or heighten the effect of a traditional medicine. If you use astralagus, dong quai or sag along with a prescribed high blood pressure medication, you could experience an extreme dizzy spell (dangerously low blood pressure) when you stand up out of the exam chair.

Unfortunately, statistics show that about 70 percent of patients do not include herbal supplements in their medical histories because they are unaware of their potential dangers, or they don't think it's important.



It is crucial that we always have a current list of all prescribed and over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements you take because we may have to adjust our procedures to protect your health.






The table lists a few of the herbal supplements that can be problematic during dental treatments and procedures.

Astralagus Chamomile Dong quai Evening primrose Fenugreek Feverfew

Garlic Ginger Ginko Grape seed Horse chestnut Kava

Motherworth Red clover Sag Turmeric Valerian Willow

At your next visit, please bring a current list of all medications and supplements with you. Keeping you healthy and safe is our top priority.
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.
Houston dentist
www.softdental.com