Blog

Mother’s Day – Greater Houston Orthodontics wants to shout out a great big, huge, humongous THANK YOU to Moms everywhere. Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 14th this year. So Dads…do not plan any golf that day and kids…do not plan a movie with your friends. Plan on spending the day doing whatever it is that Mom wants to do. Serving her breakfast in bed is always nice but wait until she is awake first. Flowers and homemade cards are also always a big hit so do not forget those.Read More

Easter is not just about egg hunts, candy, Cadbury eggs and chocolate rabbits. For Christians, Easter celebrates the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ. It is a moveable holiday or feast since it does not occur on the same exact day every year. Most Christian churches in the Western part of the globe celebrate Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21st. Thus it usually falls between March 22nd and April 25th each year.

The exact origins for the name of this celebration are complex and there are many theories. Some think it is named after a Teutonic goddess of Spring Eostre. Still others believe it comes from a Latin term hebdomada alba or white week to celebrate the white clothing of those that were baptized during that time.

Although Easter is a religious event, it has also become a commercial holiday with marshmallow chicks, jelly beans and all kinds of chocolate bunnies. Even the White House has an annual Easter egg hunt for hundreds of children in the area. It is also the time for “Mardi Gras” in New Orleans.Read More

Orthodontic retainers … Do you really know how important they are? Okay, so you decided to invest in the straightening of your teeth. Your smile is perfect and you are absolutely delighted with your results from Greater Houston Orthodontics. Now what?

Orthodontic retainers that were made specifically for you are the most important key to you maintaining that new gorgeous smile. Do you have to wear them? YES…If you want to keep your teeth straight and perfect like they are now.Read More

A dental abscess, or tooth abscess, is an accumulation of pus that forms inside the teeth or gums. The abscess typically originates from a bacterial infection, often one that has accumulated in the soft pulp of the tooth.

Bacteria exist in plaque, a by-product of food, saliva and bacteria in the mouth which sticks to the teeth and damages them, as well as the gums. If the plaque is not removed by regular and proper tooth brushing and flossing the bacteria may spread within the soft tissue inside the tooth or gums, eventually resulting in an abscess.Read More

Care for your teeth! Have you ever been frustrated opening a bottle, container, prying open a lid, or ripping open a package with your hands? Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC-TV’s popular “Tonight Show” tried prying open a tube of scar tissue repair gel with disastrous results.

For the 40 year old comedian, what happened next wasn’t funny: when trying to open the gel, Fallon chipped his front tooth, on top of another medical problem, a serious finger injury he suffered a few weeks resulting in trying to open the scar cream. Moral of the Story… Always use the right tool for the job… and your teeth are never the right tool! .Read More

Happy Holidays to all! Tis the Season to stuff those stockings and watch people smile. At Greater Houston Orthodontics we would like to share some stocking stuffer ideas to consider for patients of all ages whether or not they are wearing braces. Instead of candy and sweets that can bend wires and knock off brackets during holiday festivities, give something more suitable to make your season bright.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

1. Colgate Wisps for those on the go. Wisps are disposable mini-toothbrushes with a breath-freshening bead that allows you to have a clean, fresh mouth without water or rinsing.
2. Playing cards and card games
3. Fun pens, markers, and note paper
4. Comic books, puzzle books, or magazines
5. For the ladies – Festive nail polish, or for teens and adults, the latest in jamberry nail or Incoco nail design wraps that are easy to apply, don’t chip easily, and last up to two weeks!
6. Cash or prepaid debit card
7. Movie or concert tickets
8. Scratch off lottery tickets.
9. Super Snow for the kids no matter what age.
10. Gift cards
11. Fun Express Inflatable Reindeer Antler Ring Toss Game
12. Hog Wild Holiday Reindeer Popper
13. For the kids; include a letter from Santa thanking them for avoiding the hard and sticky foods they love so much throughout the year that damage braces and create extra trips to the orthodontist you like to avoid.

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Speech Disorders…Did you know that the alignment of your teeth can affect your speech? One of the first things people notice about you is your smile and how we communicate when talking. If you have issues speaking clearly, orthodontics can help!

Lisping, whistling or slurring, and mispronunciation of words with “s” and “t” are the most common offenders. Proper diagnosis and correction during a patient’s developmental years, by an orthodontist makes it much easier to correct the tooth and/or jaw problems associated with poor speech habits. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children be evaluated by age 7. Read More