Shiny and New

It isn't surprising that Lindsay Lohan is all over the news this week, but one of the hot topics regarding this Hollywood starlet is the dramatic change that her teeth have undergone in the past couple of weeks. Lindsay tweeted with the picture below that she had gotten a Zoom! teeth whitening treatment and thanked her dentist for her pearly whites.

There has been a lot of skepticism regarding whether or not Lindsay had more work done than just teeth whitening. Some doctors have suggested that she may have gotten crowns or veneers. I am not going to discredit what anyone has contended or opined, but here is what I am going to say: The Zoom! Teeth Whitening System, a service that we offer at Aesthetic Orthodontics, delivers amazing whitening results. That being said, Zoom! bleaching does not have the capability of changing the structure or the shape of a tooth. It is meant only to deliver a whiter smile.

Orthodontic treatment is similar. With braces, I create straight beautiful smiles, aligned jaws, and comfortable bites for my patients, but orthodontic treatment will not dramatically change the shape of their teeth.

Regardless of the cause of Lindsay Lohan's dental dilemmas,the best advice I can give to avoid issues like discoloration and tooth decay is to live a healthy lifestyle. Eat a well-balanced diet, exercise, and avoid drugs, chemicals, and foods that can cause dental erosion.

Halloween Can Make Mouths Scary

Muah ha ha ha ha! It's that evil time of year again. A time when oral bacteria feeds on all of the sugar we consume turning our otherwise happy mouths into scary fright zones of plaque-forming ghouls and gobblins.

Now, I always recommend patients completely avoid foods like candy and soda, and use caution when eating hard, crunchy or sticky foods because they can damage orthodontic appliances and braces, bend wires, require extra visits for repairs and even set back treatment time. However, I realize that kids are going to eat candy during and long after Halloween (and I know the adults are sneaking pieces out of the candy bowl too). Because we are kicking off this two-month holiday season with a candy fest, it makes it that much more important that we are all taking good care of our teeth and still trying to eat a healthy well-balanced diet.

So, all of you candy cravers and chocoholics, make sure you are brushing and flossing at least twice a day. When you indulge in a lot of sweets, try to brush right after doing so. If you don't have a toothbrush readily available, rinse your mouth with water a few times. For those of you in treatment, avoid those sticky foods like caramel apples, fruit chews, and licorice - make sure you have extra wax on hand in case anything starts poking you.

As always, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, especially raw veggies. If you are worried about crunchy fruits and veggies, slice them really thin or blend them into a delicious smoothie. Take a multi-vitamin everyday to ensure you get the Calcium and Vitamin D that you need to maintain strong, healthy teeth and bones. Eat some protein and fiber at every meal. That will keep you feeling fuller so you don't turn right to the candy and sweets.

Parents,if you are having difficulties getting your child to brush his/her teeth, create an incentive calendar. For not missing any brushes during the week, reward him with a trip to the park or an hour playing video games. Make a schedule so that it becomes a healthy habit.

Remember, you only get one set of adult teeth, so take care of them, or you may end up looking like this guy:

Orthodontic Art Gallery

Have you had a chance to visit Aesthetic Orthodontics' Los Angeles office? If you have not, then you are missing out on one of the largest collections of orthodontic art in the country. I know that the idea of having a dental and orthodontic art collection may sound a little loony, but the greatest thing is...it is! Most of the pieces are Looney Tunes
themed and they keep our office fun and lively. Your favorite characters are on display acting as orthodontists, adorning braces, wearing head gear, and even experimenting with rubberbands. When you are in for your next appointment or just driving by the office, come on in and view our impressive art gallery. We'd love to show you around!