Monday, March 28, 2011

Protect Your Unborn Baby


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Protecting your baby before birth is a natural instinct; yet, you may not know that your oral health and food choices affect the dental health of your unborn child.

For example, a mother-to-be who has poor oral health can pass on a lifetime of dental disease to her unborn baby.

Dental caries, which causes cavities, is the most common, preventable childhood disease. Caries is an infection that is transmittable from mom to baby, and children typically acquire caries before they are 2-years old.

If you have untreated caries or periodontitis (chronic, oral bacterial infection), you will transmit those bacteria to your newborn baby, so, it is essential that we remove the bacteria before you give birth. Controlling your periodontitis can help prevent the likelihood of a pre-term birth and low birth weight baby.

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Your baby's dental health is at risk even though your baby's teeth have not yet erupted because bacteria-causing bacteria cling to other oral surfaces besides teeth.

Your diet is important. Pregnancy often means craving food. You likely reach for something quicka snack that is sugar-laden which adds more food for your oral bacteria to feast on, thereby, increasing your risk for getting more cavities.
One way to help your newborn's dental health is for you to brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice each day and floss once every day.

Many pregnant women don't seek dental treatment, but having regular checkups during your pregnancy helps protect your newborn against painful caries.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Shine On

Want a Hollywood smile but don’t have a superstar bank account? Here are three ways to quickly get you ready for the paparazzi. 

Stunning smiles in a snap
If your teeth are crooked, stained, chipped, have gaps, or are damaged from grinding, there are several things you can do to improve your smile. However, most remedies involve some pretty aggressive procedures. Now, the same way press-on nails can give you an instant manicure, a Snap-On Smile can instantly give you a movie star smile. In fact, you can choose a celebrity smile as your very own. Want to look like Jessica Simpson, Halle Berry, or George Clooney? You can. Well, your teeth can, anyway.

The Snap-On Smile was invented by Dr. Marc Liechtung as an affordable alternative to veneers. Getting the Snap-On doesn’t require drilling or reshaping your teeth; so, there is no discomfort and no permanent change to your teeth. The appliance is made of a flexible resin that actually snaps onto your teeth in a single piece with no need for adhesive. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth, you’ll decide on the shade and shape you want, and, in just a couple of weeks, you’ll get your new smile. Initially, it will take 24 to 48 hours to get used to speaking and eating with it.

With proper home care, the Snap-On Smile should last three to five years. Since the appliance is removable, you must practice good hygiene. In fact, your oral hygiene should be better than usual. Take the appliance off to clean it and to brush and floss your teeth after every meal or snack. You should start off with soft foods and add harder foods as you get more comfortable. 

This device is for cosmetic enhancement only. To be a good candidate for the Snap-On Smile, you must begin with healthy teeth. And remember, most insurance will not cover cosmetic dentistry. Your dentist will tell you if the Snap-On Smile will get you ready for your close-up.

Diamonds are a grillz best friend 

As a perfect smile becomes the latest must-have fashion accessory, many people are adding sparkle to their grin with jewels. They are literally putting their money where their mouth is by adding diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and gold to their pearly whites.

Inspired by hip-hop artists, celebrity followers are enjoying their own fling with bling. The temporary Grillz or “fronts” snap over your teeth and cost as little as $20 but often soar into the thousands of dollars.

Kiosks, Web sites and jewelry stores have sprung up across America selling this latest fashion trend, but this is definitely a case of “buyer beware.” Your teeth and gums are delicate, and ill-fitting appliances can irritate the gums and damage the tooth enamel. Jewelry store clerks fitting a customer for a Grill probably won’t offer advice about the importance of brushing and flossing. They may also neglect to tell a customer that these are meant to be temporary adornments that should be worn only occasionally, never while eating. According to the American Dental Association, Grillz are also a breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to tooth decay.

If you decide to go for the gold despite the risks, there’s one other thing to consider: fitting you could mean breaking the law. Jewelers and shop clerks might take an impression of your teeth to create your bling, but in some states that’s considered dentistry and requires a license.

Subtle shine 

There is a safer way to get that sparkle in your smile without the potential damage of Grillz. Teeth jewelry is small gems made just for dental use. Each jewel is attached to your teeth with a special light-cured composite and will stay put for several months or several years. It only takes about 20 seconds to attach this little bit of bling and can easily be removed by a dentist when you’re ready to update your fashion statement. 

You can find teeth jewels in dental offices and dental spas. The price depends on your choice of jewel and the dental fees, but this option is usually less expensive than getting a full Grill. And because dental professionals attach them, you can be assured of better care than a jeweler or Web site store can provide.

So, no matter if you’re drawn to a celebrity smile you can snap in, a row of hip-hop dazzle, or just want to add a little sparkle, you have a lot of choice. But, remember, there’s nothing as beautiful as a row of healthy, white teeth.

For more information, you might find the following Web sites useful:
American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry http://www.aacd.com/
American Association of Orthodontics http://www.braces.org
American Society for Dental Aesthetics http://www.asdatoday.com/

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

5 Tips to Turn Back the Clock

How are your New Year's resolutions coming along? If you made a resolution to look younger, there's a way to reverse the years, look better and be healthier without going to the gym or resorting to surgery. Image

There is a lingering myth that a dull smile is caused by aging. Age has nothing to do with the appearance of your teeth, but your lifestyle, habit choices and health do.

It's well documented that someone with a dull smile is perceived to be less attractive, less interesting and unsuccessful. There is no need to be that person if you use these easy tips to turn back the aging clock.Image

1—Diet—Coffee, tea, red wine, colas, berries and grapes, for example, can discolor your teeth. When you consume them, follow up by brushing and flossing.
2—Nicotine—Tobacco products stain and darken your teeth as well as have a detrimental impact on your health. Our advice is to avoid tobacco products, but if you can’t, use rigorous oral care.
3—Oral care—There are many products to help you maintain a beautiful smile, especially whitening toothpaste that contains fluoride. Toothbrush bristles quickly wear out, so remember to buy a new soft-bristle toothbrush every three months. Brush at least twice daily and floss at least once daily.
4—Professional whitening—Our in-office whitening procedure can quickly turn your dull teeth into a brilliant, attractive smile.
5—Dental exams—It's important to have regular bi-yearly check-ups or more often if you are in treatment for a health condition that affects your oral tissues or we are treating you for a dental condition. We can identify even slight changes in your oral health when we see you on a regular basis and can get a head start on protecting your oral and overall health.

With those tips, you can have an ageless winner's smile, and that's no myth.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Does the Tooth Fairy Pay Less for These Teeth?

A child grinding his or her teeth together while sleeping is a sound that can set your nerves on edge. Teeth grinding and clenching is called bruxism and is very common in children, especially 5 to 6 years old. By the age of 12, bruxism usually goes away on its own.

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We're not exactly sure what causes bruxism, and in most cases it doesn't harm your child's teeth. However, there are children who grind so intently that they wear down the edges of their teeth to the extent that we must intervene to save the teeth.

Sometimes, as your child's jawbone and teeth are rapidly growing and changing and primary teeth are erupting, teeth don't match together comfortably, or there is overcrowding, and your child will grind to try to get comfortable.
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The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the hinge that allows the lower jaw to move up and down, can have an issue that will result in tooth grinding. There is also thought to be a psychological factor from stress, fear or anxiety.

If necessary, we can polish the teeth to help them fit together, or we can make a custom nightguard that will stop the tooth wear [bottom photo].
Some signs of bruxism include—
  • a sore jaw or ear in the morning,
  • sore facial muscles, and
  • grinding noises during the night.
If you suspect bruxism, it's best that we examine your child right away to make sure there is no serious damage being done.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.