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.