Getting braces doesn’t mean giving up the sports you love! Luckily, braces will not keep you from any sport or physical activity. However, the price you pay for a beautiful smile is taking a little extra care of your mouth while undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Play Safe, Play All Season
In general, it is not uncommon for an athlete to experience injuries to the mouth and jaw area. Ever taken a soccer ball to the face? A fixed orthodontic appliance, such as braces, does increase your risk of oral injuries. Common oral injuries include lacerations to the cheeks, lips, and tongue, chipped or broken teeth, TMJ, and root fractures.
Have no fear, you can easily protect your teeth, mouth, and braces while playing sports by investing in a mouthguard. While it is suggested that braces patients invest in an orthodontic model, a basic mouthguard will provide more protection than nothing at all.Read More
You’re in between meals and craving something sweet, but you just started orthodontic treatment and know that many of your favorite foods should now be avoided. Is there anything sweet you can eat? The short answer is yes! Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, and the staff at Greater Houston Orthodonticsare here to explain the truth about sugar and how to satisfy your sweet tooth without damaging your braces.
The Truth About Sugar
Sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay and is off-limits during orthodontic treatment to keep the teeth healthy and strong. Whether you’re in braces or not, it is important to note that candy made of lots of sugar should always be avoided, especially during orthodontic treatment. Failure to do so could mean more dental work after your braces come off.
There is a common misconception that the type of sugar that you consume makes a difference in the overall effect on the teeth. This idea is false – texture and concentration matter immensely. The stickier the candy the more minutes it sits on your teeth the more likely the teeth are to decay or decal off, causing permanent stains. If eating a high sugar content food, the faster they are cleaned off the teeth by saliva, water or a toothbrush, the less risk there is. Once braces are on, sugar has many places to hide and the longer it’s left to sit on the teeth and braces, the more damage it causes.Read More
We are delighted to announce the addition of Dr. Niloufar Azami to the Greater Houston Orthodontics team. She will support our continued efforts to enhance our patients’ experience with expanded appointment availability and flexibility, while maintaining a tradition of superior orthodontic care in our community. Dr. Nilou will primarily treat patients in our Memorial Office at 9412 Gaylord Drive.
We trust that your experience at Greater Houston Orthodontics reflects our goal of delivering the highest standard of care in a friendly, but also technology-forward and efficient environment. Above all, we’re always focused on creating smiles that build self-esteem and confidence.
We’re grateful to have Dr. Nilou joining our team as her personality and philosophy align perfectly with our own. We work to build strong relationships with our patients throughout our time together during treatment. Connecting with people is important to Dr. Nilou as well. She gets to know her patients and their families and takes an active interest in their personal growth for lasting relationships. Dr. Nilou is not only an excellent orthodontist but she also has a strong focus on patient education. She takes care to explain the treatment plan in detail so everyone is comfortable.
Dr. Nilou is passionate about orthodontics because of the comprehensive nature of the specialty. An orthodontist can impact the entire facial aesthetic, so treatment planning needs to consider a holistic view of the patient’s anatomy, taking into consideration factors like jaw growth. At the same time, for Dr. Nilou the connection orthodontics has with the other fields of dentistry keeps things dynamic, and always interesting. Ultimately, Dr. Nilou finds the impact an orthodontist has on the lives of patients to be incredibly rewarding.
With the addition of Dr. Nilou we can do more together to serve you, our patients, who we know will enjoy getting to know her. We look forward to introducing you soon!
You’re in between meals and craving something sweet, but you just started orthodontic treatment and know that many of your favorite foods should now be avoided. Is there anything sweet you can eat? The short answer is yes! Dr. Amir Davoody and the staff at Greater Houston Orthodonticsare here to explain the truth about sugar and how to satisfy your sweet tooth without damaging your braces.
The Truth About Sugar
Sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay and is off-limits during orthodontic treatment to keep the teeth healthy and strong. Whether you’re in braces or not, it is important to note that candy made of lots of sugar should always be avoided, especially during orthodontic treatment. Failure to do so could mean more dental work after your braces come off.
There is a common misconception that the type of sugar that you consume makes a difference in the overall effect on the teeth. This idea is false – texture and concentration matter immensely. The stickier the candy the more minutes it sits on your teeth the more likely the teeth are to decay or decal off, causing permanent stains. If eating a high sugar content food, the faster they are cleaned off the teeth by saliva, water or a toothbrush, the less risk there is. Once braces are on, sugar has many places to hide and the longer it’s left to sit on the teeth and braces, the more damage it causes.Read More
Summer is quickly coming to an end, which for many means prepping the kids for back to school. There’s books, clothes and new backpacks… but is your child’s smile also ready? Soon the focus will shift to first-day photos in new school outfits to post on social media before the bus whisks them away for another year of friends, learning and fun.
As the new school year kicks off, it’s also a great time for your child’s orthodontic journey at Greater Houston Orthodontics to begin. Imagine how fantastic school pictures will be once treatment is complete!
All children should be evaluated for an orthodontic consultation by age seven, according to the American Association of Orthodontists so if your child is a rising second grader or above, it’s the right time to come and see us for a complimentary consultation.
Some additional clues that let you know an orthodontic visit could help include:
Your child smiles without showing teeth
He or she has difficulty flossing because of overcrowding
You notice chewing or speech challenges (it might be the result of a misaligned bite)
Our practice is focused on building confidence not only as a result of orthodontic treatment but also throughout the process. We offer many discreet options including Invisalign clear aligners, clear traditional braces, and lingual braces, which are affixed to the inside of your teeth and are hidden from view.
This school year, while your kids are growing and learning we can work alongside them, helping to build their confidence through a healthier, straighter smile. Once treatment is complete, you’ll be amazed at the difference.
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Dr. Amir Davoody andDr. Rana Mehr lead a friendly, dedicated team that works together to create a positive experience for young patients and their families that’s fun, light hearted, warm and inviting. The doctors and team use the most advanced treatments available today, including Invisalign™, Invisalign™ Teen and lingual braces.
With two convenient locations in the West University/Bellaire area and in Memorial, we are ready to help you start smiling. Please contact ourWest University or ourMemorial office to schedule a complimentary consultation or click below:
Whether you’ve had orthodontic treatment or not, you’ve seen people wearing elastics or rubber bands as part of the process. But do you know what they’re used for? To help give you a better idea of why rubber bands are used with metal or clear braces, we’ll explain what they are, why they’re used, and how to take care of them during treatment.
What are Rubber Bands?
In short, rubber bands are used to help move your teeth along the archwire to aid in tooth movement for your particular treatment plan. There are many different ways to wear rubber bands and how long you wear them is determined by your orthodontist. Orthodontist Dr. Amir Davoody at Greater Houston Orthodontics will instruct you on exactly how to wear your rubber bands and when and how often to change them based on your personalized treatment plan. Since your rubber bands lose their elasticity with use, patients are normally instructed to replace them at least once a day, especially after eating and brushing.Read More
Getting braces doesn’t mean giving up the sports you love! Luckily, braces will not keep you from any sport or physical activity. However, the price you pay for a beautiful smile is taking a little extra care of your mouth while undergoing orthodontic treatment.
