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YOUR CHILD JUST finished sixth grade. All their baby teeth have been lost and all the succedaneous teeth (those replacing baby or primary teeth) have erupted into the mouth.

The permanent twelve year molars are nearly completely erupted into the mouth as well in both arches.

This is the perfect age for braces.

Comprehensive orthodontic treatment at age twelve will be a one-time treatment. Your orthodontist may have told you in the past to hold off treatment until all of the permanent teeth are in the mouth, and now at age 12, the time has come to straighten and correct that bite.

If you start your child’s braces at age twelve before seventh grade, there is a good chance that their orthodontic treatment will be completed by high school. Having your braces off by high school would be very nice, especially before the Junior Prom.

So don’t wait another minute. If your child is twelve and needs braces or Invisalign Teen orthodontic treatment, bring them into Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California for a free orthodontic exam. Call us at 925-757-9000. Find us at www.clubbraces.com and visit us at 5201 Deer Valley Road, next to Deer Valley High School. Find out how we can help get that orthodontic treatment started and finished during this time.

Age 12 is perfect age for orthodontic treatment. Thank you for choosing Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

THE TEAM AT GORCZYCA ORTHODONTICS has been preparing for its Annual Advance, a one-day team day devoted to self-improvement and brainstorming about the wonderful year that lies ahead.

Knowing that each of us would be presenting our thoughts before the group, we needed to get prepared, and that included whitening our teeth with Opalescence GO Supreme by Ultradent.

Opalescence GO Can Help Your Smile Shine

Many small businesses, large corporations, and government agencies will be holding similar meetings at the start of the new year. Whether you will be presenting to a group or presenting to patients, when you present, you need to feel your best, look your best, and be your best. This can be accomplished by having straight white teeth.

Brightening Your Smile Can Take As Little As 20 Minutes

On the morning of your presentation, simply take 20 minutes to put in a whitening tray. This can be done in the shower, as you get dressed, or even as you drive in your car to the presentation.

Public speaking isn’t easy. It will take time, thought, and preparation. Whitening your teeth can be part of this preparation and is well worth the confidence and the smile it will give you. It’s easy to whiten your teeth. It’s easy with Opalescence GO by Ultradent.

Ask us about teeth whitening and teeth straightening at Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, CA www.clubbraces.com (925) 757-9000.

Here’s to your beautiful smile!

ARE YOU SETTING WEIGHT LOSS GOALS? GREAT! Just remember to stay healthy — and that includes taking good care of your teeth while dieting!

In order to keep your teeth healthy while in braces, it’s very important to be careful of the foods that you eat. Many of those dangerous foods are things you would never eat on a diet — like sour gummies. However, many healthy diet foods are also bad for your teeth, and braces!

Connections Between Oral Health & Whole Body Health

Our bodies are amazing. Sometimes we forget about the connections between each system. If you’re working to lose weight, be aware of how those diet decisions may affect your teeth. Here are four quick, useful tips:

#1: Be Careful With Juicing & Smoothies

Juicing and drinking smoothies are a recommended part of many diets. They are great ways to consume nutritious fruits and veggies. But remember they can be high in sugar and acids. Also, their strong pigmentation can stain teeth, a major problem if you have braces. Consider using a straw and always rinse your mouth with water when finished.

#2: “Grazing” Can Make Your Mouth A Constant War Zone

Some diets have you snacking less and some have you snacking more! Keep in mind that every time you eat something, your mouth works hard to regain its pH balance—battling acids and washing away debris. You can help by finishing up with a “scrubber” food like celery (chopped or sliced, to make it braces-friendly). And again, rinsing with water is super important.

#3: Some Diet-Friendly Snacks Are Not Tooth Friendly

Some diet-friendly snacks to be careful with include dried fruits that stick to your teeth, nuts, and acidic citrus foods.

#4: Drink Plenty Of Water And Get Enough Vitamins & Minerals

A change in your diet can decrease saliva flow, especially if you’re taking dietary pills or supplements. Drink a lot of water to compensate. Also, vitamins and minerals fuel healthy operations throughout your body. They reinforce tooth enamel and help you resist infection.

Let Us Know If You Have Questions

We’re cheering for you! Good luck with your diet! Let us know if you have any questions about how dieting can affect your smile. Be sure to keep your regular dental cleaning appointments so that any potential problems are identified early.

Thanks for the trust you place in our practice. We appreciate having you as our valued patient.

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Antioch California 94531
(925) 757-9000 www.clubbraces.com

EVERY PERSON IS BORN with their own unique smile. Some smile with all of their teeth, some only show the top row, and some don’t show their teeth at all, and a smile can come in all shapes and sizes and still be genuine. We can also end up with smiles that look a lot like our family members’ smiles even if we have very different faces. How does this happen? What gives our smiles their shapes and makes them shine?

The Structure Of A Smile

Part of the way we smile is of course based on our personalities. Some people laugh easily, while others maintain an unbreakable poker face. Some people’s smiles light up their whole faces, spreading from ear to ear and changing the shape of their eyes. Others are less dramatic, even if their smiles are sincere.

Another component is our genes. We inherit facial features and even the some of the shapes of our facial muscles (which control our expressions) from our parents. We also all have unique teeth, which is why people can be identified by their dental records. Nobody else has teeth shaped and aligned exactly the way yours are!

The Role Of Oral Health

Essentially, our individual smiles are one part personality, one part genetics, and one part oral health and hygiene. The color of our teeth plays a big role in the impression our smiles make, as does the health of our gums.

When we know our teeth and gums look good, it makes it easier to unleash our full smiles because we aren’t worried about how people will react. Taking good care of your teeth and gums by maintaining good oral health habits like brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits will ensure that your smile always looks its best!

Gummy And Toothy Smiles

In some cases, smiles are either very “gummy” or very “toothy.” This can happen because of the way our lips pull back over our teeth and gums, which is perfectly normal. However, some gummy smiles are the result of abnormal eruption of the teeth, leaving an undesirable tooth/gum ratio.

Likewise, some toothy smiles are the result of gum recession, where the jaw bone wears away and the gum tissue draws back, exposing the roots of the teeth. There are many options for patients with gummy or toothy smiles, including same-day laser treatments, surgical lip repositioning, braces, surgical sculpting of the gum tissues, and gum grafting.

What Can We Do For Your Smile?

If your teeth are stopping you from sharing your smile as much as you want to, come see us. Whether the problem is overgrown or receding gums, tooth decay, or misalignment, together we can make a plan to get your smile to what you’ve always wanted it to be!

Make someone’s day by sharing your smile!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.