Whether you are a prominent sports figure like San Antonio Spurs player Manu Ginobili, one of the top ten actors in the world like Tom Cruise, or a "diva" like Gwen Stefani…braces are cool at any age.  Read this article recently posted on celebrities wearing braces who are in the public eye every day.  If they can do it… so can you.

Invisalign is a great option if you don't want others to notice you are going through orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth.  Unfortunately, not every orthodontic problem can be treated with invisible braces.  Some orthodontic problems can only be corrected with traditional braces, whether clear ceramic brackets or metal brackets.  No matter what your orthodontic problem, Dr. Stephen Yao can help you choose your best orthodontic treatment option to create the beautiful smile you deserve.

Leave us a comment and tell us how you feel about wearing braces at any age….

According to the American Dental Association, most kids stop sucking their thumbs on their own by the ages of 2 – 4 with little if any damage as a result. The habit no longer serves its purpose, so they stop. However, children who vigorously suck their thumbs and continue to do so beyond age four risk causing damage that will require orthodontic treatment to correct. The thumb or fingers can exert unwanted pressures upon teeth, bone, and soft tissues in the mouth causing problems with positioning of teeth and growth of the jaws.

The most obvious consequences of a persistent thumb or finger habit are:

• Pushing the upper front teeth (incisors) out and the lower incisors in… resulting in the "Bucky Beaver" smile.
• Preventing the front teeth from erupting all the way together causing an openbite.
• Stopping the lower jaw from developing normally, resulting in a recessive or "weak" chin.
• Narrowing of the soft tissue in the palate of the mouth, resulting in a crossbite.

If a child doesn't eventually stop sucking their thumbs on their own, an orthodontist can install appliances that take away the pleasing sensation children get when sucking their thumbs. However, before I recommend placement of an orthodontic appliance, I always encourage a child to stop the habit on their own.

Here are five tips Dr. Stephen Yao offers parents to proactively encourage their child to stop a damaging finger habit after the age of 5. Remember, in many cases, it is just as difficult for a child to stop sucking their thumb or finger as it is for an adult to stop smoking cigarettes. Be supportive and understanding.

• 1. Explain to your child the damage their habit is causing to their mouth and teeth. Kids today are smarter than you think. They like being treated like an adult. Pictures of buck teeth and openbites go a long way helping drive home the point.
• 2. Develop a program with your child's input to stop the habit. Let them be proactive in determining the best way to correct their own problem. They are more likely to cooperate if they have a choice in the process. Suggest aids like, wearing a sock to bed at night when they fall asleep as a reminder or sitting on their hands while driving in a car or watching TV. With some children, there is a blanket or stuffed animal that goes hand in hand with the habit. It is difficult to stop one, without removing the other. I know it sounds like a double whammy… but it is often what is needed to be successful.
• 3. Set up a calendar to track progress with a reward system at the end of every week offering small rewards. There is nothing wrong with bribing your child to stop a habit that is adverse to their dental health. With older children, offer a large reward after the habit has stopped for at least 4-6 weeks. Make the reward well worth the hard work and emotional stress it takes to stop a persistent habit.
• 4. If you notice your child relapsing, work on alleviating what is causing the stress and anxiety which causes the reaction, rather than the habit itself.
• 5. Children always respond more favorably to positive praise vs negative criticism. Instead of reminding them to stop the habit, praise them when they are proactively decreasing or eliminating the habit.

Even though the habit stopped at an early age, orthodontic treatment still may be indicated due damage prior to stopping the habit.  As a parent, it is now your turn to be proactive when it comes to your child's long term dental health. Have your child checked by an orthodontist by age 7 to determine if early orthodontic treatment is indicated to correct a skeletal growth problem caused by a thumb or finger habit by age seven.

The Kings Firecrackers are an amazing performance jump rope team from the Kings Local School District in Ohio and was rated the #1 halftime touring team in 2009.

The team is made up of talented 4th-8th graders and their foot work, skill and cardio-conditioning will take your breath away! They perform at venues across the country under the coaching of Lynn Kelley.You will not be surprised to learn that they have graced performances such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a Presidential Inauguration and an appearance on The David Letterman Show.

We are constantly amazed everyday with the accomplishments of kids today and especially in our practice here in San Jose area.  Many of our patients excel in different areas of interest. The Kings Firecrackers are a great example of what can happen with dedicated hard work, a fun environment, and inspirational coaching. Go KINGS!

Let us know what you think about this amazing young team and their accomplishments. Leave a comment below. If you have an accomplishment you would like to share on our Blog or Facebook, contact Toni at either of our two locations.  She would love to hear from you.

How can you tell if you have bad breath?

• What is the cause of bad breath
• Is there any way to prevent it? 

Bad breath, or halitosis, is a term used to describe the noticeable bad odors exhaled when breathing. It is difficult to notice yourself, and embarrassing if you experience other people’s reactions. They may back away slightly when you start to speak or change expressions when the two of you are standing and talking face to face. If you are lucky, a friend or family member will let you know if you have bad breath before you are offensive to others.    

For those of you not wearing braces, the video below shows you exactly how to keep your breathe fresh on a daily basis. Bad smell can come from bacteria in the mouth or poor health. It has a significant personal and social impact if you are offending others. In fact, people who have a fear of halitosis, called halitophobia, often contact their dentist to find ways to combat halitosis.

There are many causes of bad breath

• Eating foods with strong odors such as garlic or onions are the biggest offenders
• Poor oral hygiene if you don’t brush and floss regularly. Food particles that remain in between the teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue can cause bacterial growth
• Health problems like gum disease, yeast infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, diabetes, postnasal drip, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems.

Tips to prevent bad breath

• Brush after every meal to remove plaque and food debris from the mouth
• Dental Floss between your teeth every day
• Replace your toothbrush every two to three months, or sooner, if you see the bristles wear out. This often happens with patients wearing braces.
• Eat a healthy breakfast. Eating a variety of fruits can cleanse your tongue as you chew and help prevent the accumulation of odor-causing bacteria before you start your day
• For adults…stop smoking or chewing tobacco-based products. This includes cigars of course. The only remedy for this is to “kick the habit.”
• Dehydration – drinking lots of water washes away loose bacteria on your teeth, gums, and tongue… just like a shower or bath.

Many products today help to effectively treat bad mouth. Mouthwash, gum, or breath mints are helpful but only mask a problem caused by bacteria, dental disease, or a medical problem.

If you discover you have bad breath, research your daily habits to determine what may be causing the problem and adjust your routine accordingly.  You may just need to improve your oral hygiene or pick and choose when you eat foods you love that offend others.

If the problem persists, let us know.  We will be happy to help you determine what is causing the problem.  Let us know if you have any questions about bad breath.  Leave a comment below.

Whatever the cause, take positive steps to combat bad breath!

The flu bug ran rampant in 2009 and is still infecting many in 2010 throughout country. Cold and flu season usually starts in the fall.  However, in 2009 it started much earlier.  The first documented cases of the flu were reported in late summer.

Dr. Stephen Yao and the Braces For Pretty Faces orthodontic team are taking extra precautions to help curb the spread of germs and asking patients and parents to help.For the protection of all patients and our staff, we continue to stress the importance of rescheduling patient appointments if you have any type of medical symptoms or illness that can infect others.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, we spend a great deal of time and attention on sanitation and sterilization in both San Jose, CA locations.  We follow all guidelines for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces to protect our patients and their families.

Maintaining and protecting your home environment is also important during flu season. You may never have thought about it, but bacteria breeds on your toothbrush. Here are a few tips to follow to help protect you and your family at home with your oral hygiene:
• Wash your hands before and after brushing and flossing your teeth. 
• Allow the brush to air dry out on the counter after each use.  Oxygen kills bacteria found on toothbrushes.
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace toothbrush after every cold or flu or every 2-3 months when bristles appear worn.

Hope this helps and give us a call if you have any questions! Stay healthy!  Let us know if you have any suggestions on how to protect each other during cold and flu season.  Leave a comment below.

Dr Yao and the Braces For Pretty Faces Team want to dispel an urban legend about chewing gum: if you swallow a wad of gum, it does not sit in your stomach for seven years. In most cases, actually, not even seven days. Chewing gum, although not meant to be swallowed, passes harmlessly through the digestive system and is excreted in the same manner as everything else we eat.

There is some truth to the myth, however: chewing gum is not digested. It contains resins, sometimes natural and sometimes synthetic, which our bodies cannot break down. Gum is simply passed along our digestive tract.

In rare cases, excessive amounts of swallowed gum can lead to constipation and intestinal blockage in young children. But parents need not be alarmed. Young children are not more susceptible to complications involving swallowed gum; young children are simply the only people who might swallow enough gum to cause digestive problems. Kids often forget or may not understand that gum is for chewing and not swallowing.

Simply put, an individual must swallow multiple pieces of gum in a very short period of time or swallow one great big wad of chewing gum to create a potential digestive risk. At one time or another, every kid puts five or six pieces of gum in their mouth to achieve an ultra-dense, cheek-bulging wad, especially with bubble gum if they want to blow big bubbles. If they swallowed that particular wad of gum, well, that could pose a problem. The truth, however, is the occasional swallowed piece of chewing gum is going to have no effect on the body.

Now that we have established the truth about swallowing gum, let’s talk a little about what kind of gum is right for your kids. Is gum really bad for a child’s teeth? Does chewing sugary gum lead directly to cavities? This depends a lot on the volume of gum and the brushing habits of the child.

What happens when we chew gum is the sugars are broken down by the saliva and absorbed or swallowed. What are left on the teeth are acidic byproducts—these eat away at tooth enamel and create cavities.

Dr Yao wants to assure you that chewing gum will not have much effect on overall dental health as long as the chewer practices good oral hygiene and brushes three times a day. Chewing several pieces of sugary gum every day without brushing properly will certainly accelerate tooth decay and cause cavities.  However, from an orthodontic point of view, chewing gum can damage the brackets and wires we place to move your teeth during treatment which is why we ask our patients not to chew gum while wearing braces. 

So if your kids aren't wearing braces, does that mean you should only allow them to chew sugar-free gum? This is where the debate gets personal. Some health professionals suggest sugar-free gum is not any healthier than regular gum because of its synthetic sweeteners. The Internet is flooded with literature about aspartame (the chemical sweetener used in NutraSweet and Equal), saccharine (Sweet’N’Low, Carefree gum), and also sucralose (the artificial sweetener in Splenda). Study the facts and decide for yourself what is best for you and your family.

Share with us any stories you might have about swallowing gum.  Leave a comment below.