Talking cavities with Dr. Paul Styrt

Our team at Simply Spectacular Smiles read an interesting article this morning pertaining to cavities and how bacteria spreads from parents to children, and thought we'd share the news with you, our phenomenal patients and parents.

According to the MSNBC article, Streptococcus mutans, or MS, is a bacterium that can pass from person to person through the transfer of saliva, and is the main culprit. Bacteria has been known to spread through blowing on babies' foods, sharing household utensils and even kissing your little one. In fact, a 2008 pediatric dentistry study showed “strong evidence demonstrated that mothers are a primary source of MS colonization of their children; a few investigations showed other potential sources … notably fathers.”

Our staff knows tooth decay is caused by a combination of factors, including the transfer of infectious saliva, genetics, oral hygiene, and feeding practices, such as letting your baby constantly suck on a sippy cup full of juice or milk or other sugar-laden liquids.

Dr. Paul Styrt would like for you to read the article and learn a bit more about the transmission of bacteria and how it might impact your child. If you have any questions about bacteria or your treatment at Simply Spectacular Smiles, please feel free to give us a call!

Ask Drs. Styrt and Job: Am I too old for orthodontic treatment?

Of course not.

Recently, we came across an article that reported adults getting braces has jumped 24 percent from just 14 years ago! In fact, did you know one of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over the age of 21?

In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or that promotion, adults are choosing to invest—rather wisely—in orthodontics. While orthodontics are often associated with teenagers, adult orthodontics and braces at our San Diego office can achieve amazing results for adult patients. With treatments such as Invisalign, patients can have their teeth straightened less noticeably. Orthodontic treatment at Simply Spectacular Smiles can be successful at any age, and our dedicated staff knows that adults especially appreciate the benefits of a gorgeous smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Drs. Styrt and Job would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, from Simply Spectacular Smiles!

Whether Irish or not, millions of people around the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day with parades, toasts, and "the wearing of the green." Here are some fun facts about St. Patrick's Day, from Dr. Paul Styrt and our great team. Enjoy!

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history.

• The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”

• Some American towns have “Irish” names. They include: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio.

• St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated in America in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. Approximately 34 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has about 4.1 million people.

• Despite what you may have heard, St. Patrick never banished snakes from Ireland. In fact, no snakes exist or ever existed there. Ireland is surrounded by icy ocean waters, much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.

Dr. Styrt knows how to reward his patients!

At Simply Spectacular Smiles, we love to have fun, and we enjoy rewarding our fantastic patients from time to time. Some favorite contests and events that Drs. Styrt and Job have done in the past include taking our patients to Padres games, monthly drawings for beautiful baskets filled with wonderful goodies, iPod and digital camera giveaways and gift certificates.

As if visiting our office wasn't fun enough!

Ask Drs. Styrt and Job: When should my child come in for a visit?

At Simply Spectacular Smiles, we think a child's first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable and positive. The more you and your child know about the first visit, the better you will feel. Children are not born with a fear of the dentist, but they can fear the unknown. At Simply Spectacular Smiles, Drs. Styrt and Job and our team make a practice of using pleasant, non-frightening, simple words to describe your child's first dental visit and treatment. We want you and your child to feel at ease from the moment you walk through the door.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, or AAPD, children should visit the dentist by their first birthday. It is important that your child's newly-erupted teeth (erupting at 6-12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning. Your child's first tooth erupts between ages 6-12 months and the remainder of their 20 primary or "baby" teeth typically erupt by age 3.

If you have any questions about pediatric dentistry, or about your treatment with Drs. Job or Styrt, please visit the "Pediatric Dentistry" page on our web site, or feel free to give us a call!