Spring Cleaning: Your Oral Health To-Do List

The time has already changed with daylight savings and we're progressively seeing change in the weather as it gets warmer and warmer, and this all because it's SPRING!

When spring comes around the flowers bloom and everyone get the urge to clean. Spring cleaning helps you clean and remove clutter as you enter a new season. As you get your home nice and clean let's also focus on cleaning up your oral health habits. It's not easy to maintain consistent good oral health. That's because in the invisible but serious battle against gum disease and tooth decay, there's no neutral ground. You're either fighting it offensively, or your losing. The moment after you brush and floss, those native oral bacteria are repopulating their favorite playground, your mouth. This is why it's important that develop good habits and stick to a regular routine. To guide you we've composed a to-do list for you.

Oral Health Spring Cleaning To-Do List:

• Make a dentist appointment
• Buy new toothbrushes, you may even want to try an electronic toothbrush
• Make sure you're using toothpaste that fits your oral needs, toothpaste with fluoride is what we suggest
• Refill your mouthwash
• Restock on wax floss
• Remove unhealthy foods from your diet

Staying on top of your oral health is important all year long. We want all of our patients to have healthy teeth and gums, healthy teeth and gums makes for a great treatment process.

You Can't Put an Age Limit on Beautiful Smiles

Don't let age stop you from having the straight teeth you've always dreamed of. Braces aren't just for kids anymore. Parents are still making regular trips to the orthodontist's office, but these days more and more are leaving their kids in the waiting room.

Sad, but true…over time our bodies start to wear out, including our teeth. As you age, your teeth break down. Unfortunately, it's one of the most visible signs of aging. As teeth wear, the lower and the upper jaw move closer together. Shortening of your teeth causes your lips to change, creases to form on the sides of your nose and mouth, a deep crease develops between your chin and lower lip and jowls develop on the sides of your jaw. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can also contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay and abnormal wear of the tooth enamel.

Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem. Numerous technological advances have made braces less noticeable, less painful and even less time-consuming.

As America's baby boomers have become more health conscious, they're rejecting the notion that loosing teeth and dentures are a routine part of growing older. These days people are exercising more and eating healthier and braces are another way of demonstrating that you care about yourself and your overall health.

Don’t believe us? Still think you’re too old for braces? There are many adult celebrities who have been seen on your favorite red carpet rocking brace faced smiles.

Faye Dunaway - Age 61 

Tom Cruise - Age 40

Faith Hill - Age 45  

When people think of braces the assumption is that treatment is specifically for children and young adults. However, you can perfect your smile at any age. If you are consider adult treatment don't wait, give us a call today!

Making the Clear Choice with the Top Provider

You've just been told by your general dentist that you have some teeth that need to be straightened and you need to visit an orthodontist. Well, you’ll be glad to know you have lots of options!  A retainer? Traditional metal braces? Invisalign?.. Never fear, we can answer all your questions.  In today's blog let’s discuss the option of Invisalign.

The Invisalign System straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It's virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you're straightening your teeth.

Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth, using custom-made aligners created for you and only you. These aligners are smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible. And wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements Dr. Wentz has planned out for you.

Invisalign is made to fit your lifestyle:

• Clear, virtually invisible aligners
• Removable, so will not get in the way of your activities
• Easy to remove to eat, brush, and floss
• Graduate to a new set of aligners about every two weeks
• Easy to monitor your progress with regular appointments
• Effective for a wide range of smiles.

Only licensed dental professionals who have been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign. Wentz Orthodontics is an Elite Top 1% Provider for Invisalign.  This means that Wentz Orthodontics is part of the top 1% of all North American Invisalign providers and are among the most experienced. We have worked hard to provide our patients with the best Invisalign care for adults and teens, allowing us to become the only office in the south plains region to have the Top 1% provider designation.

We are blessed to have received such an honorable accolade from Invisalign. Our experience and treatment methods set us apart from others in our region. For years we have provided our community with exceptional Invisalign care. Instead of the old-fashioned impression, we are able to use cutting edge technology like the iTero digital scanning system to create a 3-D digital computerized image, allowing us to offer a faster and more comfortable experience resulting in more precise fitting Invisalign aligners.

iTero Digital Scanning System

While there are some general dentists who can provide Invisalign services, it is  encouraged that you have an experienced orthodontist provide you with Invisalign care. Orthodontists and dentists specialize in different things, but we do work as a team for you and your oral health. While Dr. Wentz works diligently to perfect your smile, please continue to visit your dentist every 6 months!

Invisalign is not intended for children and is not appropriate for every adult. An orthodontist can determine if this treatment is an effective option for you. To see if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you've always wanted, contact us to make an appointment today. You may be surprised how fast and affordable your treatment can be!

The Power of Music

Music can be found everywhere, from your car radio to the melodies made by the sounds of nature. But did you know there are benefits associated with hearing your favorite tunes.

Can you still remember your favorite childhood songs? Years can past by yet once you hear the beat of your favorite song you can instantly remember the words. This is one of the effects of music. Many researchers have confirmed the positive effects music can have on your overall health and day to day lives.

Here are 3 Positive Affects of Music:(source: Huffington Post)

Music can reduce stress- In stressful situation music can help calm nerves. For example, many people feel anxiety while visiting dentist or orthodontist but listening to music during treatment can you relax. "Research has shown that listening to music -- at least music with a slow tempo and low pitch, without lyrics or loud instrumentation -- can calm people down, even during highly stressful or painful events."

Music helps aid in memorization- Many people just music to stimulate memory. For instance students often play music while studying. "Music enjoyment elicits dopamine release, and dopamine release has been tied to motivation, which in turn is implicated in learning and memory."

Music gives you an energy boost for physical activity- According to sports researchers Peter Terry and Costas Karageorghis, “Music has the capacity to capture attention, lift spirits, generate emotion, change or regulate mood, evoke memories, increase work output, reduce inhibitions and encourage rhythmic movement -- all of which have potential applications in sport and exercise.”

Knowing what positive affects music can have on the mind and body, we want to give you a chance to reap the benefits live! Enter to win 4 tickets to see country music star Brad Paisey live in concert Saturday, March 7th.

For more information about this contest give us a call today, contest ends March 5th so hurry and enter! 

How Old is Your Toothbrush?

The toothbrush is your number one oral hygiene accessory.  Toothbrushes help keep your teeth and mouth clean, but how long should you a keep a toothbrush?

It is recommended that ever 3 to 4 months you switch out that old toothbrush for a new fresh one. Replacing your toothbrush is essential since they are constantly being exposed to germs and bacteria. If you notice the bristles of your tooth brush have become worn out that is a sign that you need a new toothbrush. Those of you who wear braces should change their toothbrushes frequently because braces break down and fracture bristles and the toothbrushes lose their effectiveness.


3 Reasons to Change Out Your Old Toothbrush:

1. Bacteria - Your toothbrush is a tool for removing bacteria from your teeth, but it doesn’t actually kill bacteria. Some of the bacteria from your teeth stay on your toothbrush after you are done brushing.

2. Bristles - Like any tool, a toothbrush wears down. Worn bristles are tough on your enamel and can wear it away over time. Not only that… an old, worn toothbrush can be up to 95 percent less effective at removing plaque.

3. Illness - Always change your toothbrush after you’ve been sick, even if it’s not “technically” time to switch out your toothbrush. The germs and bacteria your toothbrush has been exposed to can be harmful to your health once your feeling better.

Having a toothbrush that is in good shapes means good oral hygiene. It is helpful to keep a pack of toothbrushes available in your household at all times for easy replacement. So mark those calendars for every 3 to 4 months and it’s out with the old and in with the new.

Selfie Ready Smiles

No matter what your age is admit it, you have taken a selfie or two. And with selfies and instant photo sharing being as popular as it is these days, a camera-ready smile is a great thing to have. Thankfully, you don’t need to be a celebrity or genetically blessed to flash a stunning smile. You just need practice. Sounds crazy, right? Practicing to smile like you would practice a sport or cooking a recipe may seem silly, but as they say...practice makes perfect.

Smiling naturally may not come as easy for some people as it does for others. But just like with anything we do in life, the more we practice, the easier it gets.

3 Helpful Tips for a Photographic Smile

1. GET IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR - Take time to practice your smile in front of a mirror. See how it looks when you hold your shoulders back and strike a natural, unforced smile. Play around with turning your head and finding your best angle. Figure out which smile you like best, then practice, practice, practice 'til you get right. Remember how great that smile feels so that you'll be able to replicate it without looking in a mirror.

2. SMILE WITH YOUR EYES - A genuine smile will naturally draw in the eyes. And a natural smile is not something you can fake. The eyes are essential for a genuine, warm smile. When you are practicing your smile in the mirror, focus on your eyes and which muscles are working and how.

3. MAINTAIN GOOD ORAL HYGIENE - One thing that can cause you to fear flashing your pearly whites, is when they might not be that pearly. Be sure to brush your teeth after each meal and carry floss with you...just in case. We all know that good oral hygiene is important...but the fact is, a healthy mouth will make you feel more confident about your smile.

Now get on out there and SMILE!
Smiling raises your spirits and makes other people happy. Your smile is a  very powerful expression.

For those of you who have been considering improving your smile, but are feeling uneasy about the thought of braces, consider this...Invisible Braces.

If all you need is a little cosmetic improvement for a great smile and you'd prefer not to have braces, the nearly invisible Invisalign may be the treatment for you. A quick evaluation at our office will tell if you are a candidate for this convenient treatment and, if so, you can have a dazzling smile in just a few months.

It's National Children's Dental Health Month!

February is National Children's Health Month!

National Children’s Dental Health Month is sponsored by the ADA (American Dental Association) which promotes creating lifelong healthy habits starting at an early age. Developing good habits early will more likely lead to that child being able to look forward to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. It is very important that parents know that a balanced diet, limiting snacks, brushing and flossing are key to healthy teeth and avoiding cavities. Along with healthy habits, regular dental appointments will help you keep your child on track.

This year's NCDHM campaign slogan "Defeat Monster Mouth" is displayed on the eye-catching children's posters that feature the McGrinn Twins, Flossy and Buck, along with their best friends and next-door neighbors, Den and Gen Smiley and K-9 the dog.  They are fighting to defeat Plaqster the Monster for good oral health.

For more information about National Children’s Dental Health Month please visit Ada.org.

Remember, 7 is the perfect age for an evaluation. 7 years old may sound too early to be thinking about orthodontic treatment, but it proven that early treatment is important for ensuring positive treatment results. 7 isn’t just a number Dr. Wentz came up with, it is the age recommended by the American Association of Orthodontist.

An early examination does not mean immediate treatment is necessary. After your initial examination we may just need to monitor your child periodically to see how teeth and jaw continue to develop. If your child is not ready for treatment he/she will entered into the Wentz Thumbs Up Club. The Wentz Thumbs Up Club provides a way for our office to communicate with each patient’s family about everything going on in our office.

Have any questions about early intervention or want to bring your child in for a consultation? Give us a call today.

National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) began as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 3, 1941. The American Dental Association held the first national observance of Children’s Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. The single day observance became a week-long event in 1955. In 1981, the program was extended to a month-long observance known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month. Since 1941, the observance has grown from a two-city event into a nationwide program. NCDHM messages reach thousands of people in communities across the country and at numerous armed services bases. Local observances often include displays of posters provided by the ADA, coloring and essay contests, health fairs, free dental screenings, museum exhibits, classroom presentations by dentists and other members of the dental team, and dental office tours.
Source: ADA.org