This fall, don't forget those mouth guards!

With summer here for just three more full weeks, it's a good time for Dr. Paul Styrt and Dr. Allen Job to remind our patients (especially you athletes out there) to take care of both your mouth and appliances while participating in contact sports (and non-contact sports) these coming fall months. Let's face it, this is a busy time of year sports-wise, whether you're playing soccer in the park or preparing for high school football.

Drs. Styrt and Job want you to know that only by using a mouth guard can athletes with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries this fall. So, the next time you're in for a visit at our convenient San Diego office, we encourage you to ask one of our staff members for a mouth guard, and we will happily provide one!

See you soon!

Three foods that can help your child avoid gum disease

Gum disease, known also as periodontal disease, is far more common in American kids than you may think. Year after year, new studies begin to link the effect gum disease can have on your heart, and today, Dr. Paul Styrt and our staff thought we'd help spread the word! One of the simplest steps to achieving healthier gums can be your diet. We recently found a great article from EatingWell, outlining several options for healthier gums. Included among the suggestions were:

*Raisins

*Green Tea

*Whole Grains (barley, brown rice; buckwheat; oatmeal, popcorn, whole-wheat bread, pasta or crackers)

In addition to these foods being gum-friendly, they happen to be healthy foods in general, and a great option to begin integrating into your child's diet this fall.

We encourage you to read the rest of the article! Have a great rest of the weekend!

Dr. Paul Styrt and team, helping you and your child prepare for kindergarten

With the hot and sultry Dog Days of Summer slowly coming to an end soon, it's time for you and your child to start thinking about school. August is Get Ready for Kindergarten Month for the two million kids who will be entering kindergarten come September.

Dr. Paul Styrt and our staff suggest getting involved in storytime by reading your child books about kindergarten, such as The Night Before Kindergarten or First Day Jitters.

Parenting Magazine also suggests that moms and dads take their child for a walk by their or perhaps taking him or her inside for a quick tour to get them familiarized with the concept of kindergarten. Take a walk around the classroom or peek in the windows and talk about what will be going on once school starts. Also, think about adjusting your child's sleep schedule gradually to the school’s schedule.

At home, make learning fun for your child by teach him or her the names of colors, or shapes and taking them on interesting trips around San Diego and surrounding areas—to the library or grocery store, or to a museum or the beach—and talk with him or her about what they see and think.

Finally, make sure your little one visits Simply Spectacular Smiles before the first day of school. No one wants for your child to have to leave school because of a toothache! Please give us a call at (858) 458-1088 to schedule an appointment!

We hope both you and your child have a happy and stress-free rest of August!

5 reasons to visit Dr. Styrt for a consultation this summer

With the U.S. still in a recession, many folks in San Diego are putting off visiting the orthodontist for a consultation. We hear all the reasons - vacations, chores, emergencies, et cetera. Today, Dr. Styrt and our staff thought we'd give our prospective patients five reasons to visit our office this summer for an orthodontic consultation.

1. Summer is a great time to schedule the longer appointments often times needed to begin Orthodontic treatment. That way, patients will need to miss class a very limited number of times throughout treatment, if at all.

2. A break from school is also a great time to allow yourself to get used to new braces and appliances. That way, you can be ready to show off your new smile accessories on the very first day back without any awkwardness or discomfort.

3. Summer is a great time to join our exciting new patient programs and to experience our fun patient appreciation programs!

4. These next few months are an ideal time to take advantage of our treatment fees, which have been kept at the 2008 rate, but only until next year!

5. The second half of the calendar year is the ideal time to take advantage of any Flexible Spending or Health Savings funds you may have for the current year. In addition, scheduling an Orthodontic evaluation during the summer will give you enough time to plan ahead for any treatment needs for next year, and to plan for open enrollment in October/November for any such plans for next year.

And here's another reason to visit us: did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven? Give us a call at 858-458-1088 to schedule a consultation! Happy Monday!

Oral health Q&A with Dr. Styrt!

It may seem crazy, but there are so many rumors out there about what’s good for your teeth, what’s bad for your teeth, what will make your teeth crooked, what will discolor your teeth, and so on. Below are are answers to some of the most frequent questions Dr. Styrt and our staff always hear from patients. We hope you find this informational! Happy Monday!

Q: Which foods and drinks are actually healthy for my teeth?

A: Fruits and vegetables are good for anyone’s teeth. Milk is especially good for growing children’s teeth, and water and natural fruit juices are healthy drink choices as well.

Q: Can fingernail biting cause damage to my teeth? What about lip biting or biting the ends of pencils?

Yes…it can cause chipping and fractures of the enamel. Lip biting can cause the teeth to move, and biting anything else (pencils, pens, etc.) can cause damage to the teeth and braces.

Q: It’s said that the changing seasons can have an effect on your body and joints. Can the seasons changing also have an effect on the way my mouth feels, especially during orthodontic treatment?

Some people can get more frequent cold sores or canker sores during the Autumn/Winter months.

Q: Can hard candies or hard mints cause damage to my teeth?

Yes…especially if you bite down hard on them!

Q: Now that I’m wearing braces, I miss chewing gum. Can I still chew sugar-free gum with braces on?

We do not recommend gum chewing, as it contributes to sore jaw muscles and TMD symptoms in some patients.

Q: Is a soft toothbrush or a medium toothbrush better for my teeth and gums?

Soft always!

Q: Are spicy or acidic foods bad for my teeth?

Acidic foods can be harmful to the enamel of our teeth if they aren’t brushed off very soon after eating them.

Q: If I play sports and use a mouth guard can constantly biting down on the hard rubber eventually cause my teeth to shift and become crooked?

It could, but only if done repeatedly and for long periods of time. However, the benefit of wearing a mouth guard will out-weigh any negatives!

Q: If my wisdom teeth came in straight, do I still need to get them removed?

Not necessarily. If the third molars erupt into occlusion and can be maintained and kept clean, we normally recommend that they be kept. Unfortunately, this is only the case in less than 10% of all Americans!