Parsley and Other Ways To Brighten Your Smile from Vickie Greenberg Orthodontics

At Greenberg Orthodontics we see lots of patients concerned about their bad breath. So we want to educate you about what you can do to really keep your chompers clean and breath minty fresh!

Naturally, good oral hygiene is the first set. With proper brushing and regular dental checkups you can keep bad breath (halitosis) in check.

Certain foods, medications, smoking, sinus issues, or even gum disease cause most bad breath. If the stink lingers for longer than 24 hours, you should see us at Greenberg Orthodontics. It might be something more serious, like dehydration, zinc deficiency, diabetes, liver failure, kidney failure, or even certain kinds of cancers!

In the meantime, here are some home remedies to keep you smiling bright from Greenberg Orthodontics.

--Spice Up Your Life
Snack on some cloves, fennel, or anise after each particularly odorous snack.
--Don’t forget the tongue
Lots of people brush their teeth regularly, but leave the tongue alone. One of the main causes of bad breath is food and plaque residue on the surface of your tongue. So give it a nice gentle brush-over too!
--Watch your drinking habits
The worst options are coffee, wine, whiskey, and beer.
--Frequent brushing
Carry a toothbrush with you so brushing after each meal is convenient and refreshing! Trust us, you’ll love the way it makes you feel. If you can’t brush, still swish around a couple sips of water to remove any lingering food.
--Make your own Gargle
Gargling with a home mixture of sage, calendula, and myrrh gum extracts four times a day should ward off that bad breath potential.
--Parsley’s there for a reason
Finish your parsley after you finish your dinner and you’ll find a refreshing breath enhancer. Hate the texture? Throw a couple sprigs in a blender to sip after each meal.
--Sugarless Gum
Always a good idea to carry some mints or sugarless gum for that quick spruce up before you meet the boss.
--Don’t cut that cheese
The stronger the cheese, the stinkier your breath can become. Think about blue cheese and Roquefort? They really get the party started in your mouth and it’s hard to make them leave!

Dr. Greenberg Gives Tips On Caring For Your Toothbrush

At Greenberg Orthodontics, we are always thinking about your teeth. We started thinking about how important it is to brush your teeth and thought we would share these very important dental hygiene tips.

You know your toothbrush is a vital tool for the proper care of your teeth – but do you know the best way to take care of your toothbrush? Following are some guidelines for toothbrush care:

--One toothbrush should have one owner.

If you share your toothbrush, you could also be sharing bodily fluids and bacteria, increasing your risk of infection.

--Toothbrushes need privacy, too.

For the same reason, when storing brushes, make sure they are placed in such a way that they can't touch each other.

--Give your toothbrush some space.

Keep your brush in a clean, well-ventilated spot and make sure it has time to dry in between uses. Keeping your toothbrush in a closed, moist space regularly can encourage the growth of germs.

--Showering is good for your toothbrush.

Before and after each use, rinse your toothbrush under running water to eliminate excess toothpaste and other residue. Rub your fingers along the bristles – but only after washing your hands; no use substituting one set of germs for another. When you're finished, shake out the brush to accelerate drying.

--Let your toothbrush indulge in a nice bath.

You may be able to reduce the amount of bacteria on your brush by soaking it in anti-bacterial mouthwash after each use.

--Don't get too attached to your toothbrush.

Swap your old toothbrush for a new one at least as often as every three to four months. Keep an eye out for frayed bristles and replace sooner if necessary. The more worn the bristles, the less effective brushing is. Of course, if you've been sick with the flu, a cold, or a mouth infection, say goodbye to your toothbrush and move on to a new, germ-free one immediately.

--Beware of too-good-to-be-true toothbrush-cleaning products.

Some products profess to being designed to "sanitize" your toothbrush. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), there is no conclusive evidence that these products provide any particular benefit to your health. The ADA also encourages consumers to be wary of products claiming to "sterilize" your toothbrush, as there is currently no data to support such claims.

--Don't trust Aunt Minnie's toothbrush-cleaning advice.

Although they certainly mean well, and they're clearly creative, your friends and relatives with home-cooked ideas about cleaning toothbrushes may not be the safest sources of information. Dishwashers, microwaves, and boiling water are no substitute for simply buying a new brush – and in fact could damage your brush, rendering it less effective.

Remember – what's good for the toothbrush is good for the teeth!

Have any more questions about proper brushing etiquette? Give us a call at Greenberg Orthodontics, we always love to chat with you about your teeth!

Nifty "Eggs"periment from Dr. Vickie Greenberg

Summer is near. If the little ones aren’t going to camp, you may run out of ideas to keep them occupied. Why not use a fun and simple science experiment to focus their attention for a while? At Greenberg Orthodontics, we found one that includes a lesson about why it’s important to brush teeth to make plaque go away.

Gather the items you will need for this experiment:

* 1 hard-boiled egg with the shell on
* 12 ounces of Coke, Pepsi or other dark-colored cola
* 1 container large enough to hold the cola and egg
* 1 plastic bowl
* 1 toothbrush
* 1 drop of fluoride toothpaste
* Clean-up supplies

Explain to your child that plaque is a sticky layer of germs that collects on her teeth. If she doesn’t brush, plaque can cause serious problems for her teeth, for example holes in the teeth (cavities) or swollen gums (gingivitis). Tell her that you are going to do an experiment to see how plaque coats her teeth, and why brushing twice a day is important for healthy teeth and gums.

Conduct the experiment:

1. Make the comparison between the white color of the egg and the white color of your child's teeth.

2. Place the egg into the container and pour the cola over it, so that it completely covers the egg.

3. Let the egg sit in the cola for 24 hours.

4. Remove the egg from the cola. The egg will be stained and yellowish.
5. Explain to your child that the colored layer that has appeared on top of the eggshell is just like the layer of plaque that occurs on her teeth.

6. Place the egg in the plastic bowl and give your child the toothbrush with the drop of toothpaste on it.

7. Let her brush the "plaque" off of the egg. The yellowish film will disappear, exposing the white eggshell. Explain that the same thing happens when she brushes her teeth.

Enjoy from Greenberg Orthodontics!

Gummy Tummy -- Dr. Vickie Greenberg

We know the rumors going around – mostly among young people – that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing from Greenberg Orthodontics!

How Can I Help My Child Quit Thumb-Sucking? Dr. Greenberg Explains

Last week we talked about thumb-sucking, understanding why it is comforting to your child and when you should be concerned about it. Should you need to help your child end his habit, follow these guidelines from Dr. Greenberg:

1. Always be supportive and positive. Instead of punishing your child for thumb-sucking, give praise when he doesn't suck.

2. Put a band-aid on his thumb or a sock over his hand at night. Let him know that this is not a punishment, just a way to help him remember to avoid sucking.

3. Start a progress chart and let him put a sticker up every day that he doesn't suck his thumb. If he makes it through a week without sucking, he gets to choose a prize (trip to the zoo, new set of blocks, etc.) Making your child an active participant in his treatment will increase his willingness to break the habit.

4. If you notice your child sucking when he's anxious, work on alleviating his anxiety rather than focusing on the thumb-sucking.

5. Take note of the times your child tends to suck (long car rides, while watching movies) and create diversions during these occasions.

6. Explain clearly what might happen to his teeth if he keeps sucking his thumb.

Whatever your method, always remember that your child needs your support and understanding during the process of breaking the thumb-sucking habit. In case you're a parent who wasn't a thumb-sucker and you have a child who is, Shel Silverstein provides a bit of insight in a classic poem from his book Where the Sidewalk Ends:

Thumbs

Oh, the thumb-sucker's thumb
May look wrinkled and wet
And withered, and white as the snow,
But the taste of a thumb
Is the sweetest taste yet
(As only we thumb-suckers know).

Have any more questions? Contact us at Greenberg Orthodontics, we'd love to chat with you.

Things to Know About Invisalign

I came across this video online and realized that it's just what people considering Invisalign need to see. There are many things online promoting Invisalign (including myself and this blog), but people rarely get the see a clear cut, unbiased, point of view from someone who actually has chosen to straighten their teeth with Invisalign. As an orthodontist in LA, I get quite a lot of requests for Invisalign. I always let my patients know about the stages of Invislign as well as how one might first react to it. But, to hear it from someone else, checkout this video of a patient who has been wearing her aligners for 10 minutes:

Dog Braces... Really? This LA Orthodontist Opinion

You may have heard something about it in the news lately, or maybe you've always wondered why it hasn't happened yet... or maybe, just maybe, something this weird never crossed your mind... but it's true, there are now animal orthodontists! As an orthodontist in the Los Angeles area, I very much understand the need for a beautiful smile. That's why I became an orthodontist, to make people smile both inside and out. Helping someone achieve perfect teeth is a joy for me and I'm grateful to be a part of such an exciting field. Would I put braces on a dog? That's an interesting question. Apparently, dog braces are all the rage these days. With the choice of having a dog get its teeth pulled vs. a less painful solution like braces, I would say that braces seem much more humane. Still, I'd love to see a picture of a dog in braces and see that proud owner walking around with them. Aesthetically, I think braces on a dog would be hysterical. As one of the leading pet orthodontists says:

"We really don't do it for any kind of aesthetic reason, like we do in people," said Huff, the animal dentist at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital. "Marley has a lower canine tooth that's growing into the roof of his mouth."

When it does become something for aesthetics, I'm sure they'll choose Invisalign! What do you think?

Getting Braces in Los Angeles (LA) - Your LA and Pasadena Orthodontist

Before you choose an orthodontist in LA and Pasadena, it is important to learn more about life with braces. Dr. Greenberg is the choice orthodontist in LA and Pasadena for orthodontic and braces treatment that 10 out of 10 patients recommend!

Eating with Braces

What can you eat? Let's talk about what you shouldn't eat! If you've been wanting to drop a few pounds, the first week wearing braces is just your chance! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods to Avoid

• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
  
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
  
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
  
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
  
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
  
• Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

General Soreness

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how!

Loosening of Teeth

This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don't worry! It's normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new – corrected – positions.

Loose Wire or Band

Don't be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (back of spoon or the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the appliances. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office.

Care of Appliances

To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time.

Brushing

It's more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment.

Athletics

If you play sports, it's important that you consult us for special precautions. A protective mouthguard is advised for playing contact sports. In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, phone at once for an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.

The Orthodontist 10 out of 10 Patients Recommend - Your LA and Pasadena Invisalign Orthodontist!

I Now have 37 Reviews on Insider Pages!

Here's just a few reviews from my Los Angeles and Pasadena orthodontic patients:

Not such a bad experience

Orthodontics in Los Angeles (LA) and Pasadena, CA

By jesus t.

I would recommend Dr. Greenberg because right here in her office everyone treats you nice and you feel at home. My experience was a good one. At first I thought getting braces was going to be a horrible thing but here at Dr. Greenberg's office they helped me a lot throughout the whole treatment.

Extraordinary
LA and Pasadena Extraordinary Orthodontist

By Deborah M.

Dr. Greenberg and her staff are excellent in creating the perfect smile. This office is very accommodating and flexible in arranging appointments and payment options. Dr. Greenberg and her staff are very knowledgeable, provide easy to understand answers, and great educational materials. I am very, very, satisfied with my treatment and my great new smile. I highly recommend her services.

Great experience!

Top Orthodontic Care Serving Pasadena, LA, and Altadena, CA

By Anand K.

The process of orthodontia through Vickie Greenberg Orthodontics was simple and largely painless. I am quite pleased with the service and hospitality of the staff and of the doctor herself. All in all, it was a wonderful experience - although I can't say I would enjoy doing the process again (though if I had to, I would come back here)!

The Treatment was excelent!

Excelent Orthodontic Care in LA and Pasadena, CA

By Ashley S.

I am very happy and satisfied with my results. It was definitely worth the time. I did not think that just with two years and a half my teeth could change so much. I am no longer ashamed to smile as big as I can and show my teeth!

My new wonderful smile!

The LA Orthodontist that will make you smile! Invisalign Orthodontist in Los Angeles and Pasadena, CA

By Christy M.

I cannot believe the amazing transformation of my teeth over the past couple of years! All of the staff here are so nice and caring that I was actually excited to come to my appointments! When I first started coming here, I was a little hesitant because I was only about 13 and was scared of what they would do to my teeth. Then I met Dr. Greenberg and she was so nice to me about it and assured me that everything would be fine. She's always had such a joyful spirit and I trusted her because she knows exactly what she's doing! Due to the excellent service here, my teeth are just as perfect as I wanted them to be. I can't stop smiling!

Thanks to my wonderful patients!! You make my work an exceptional experience and I am happy to serve you!

Damon Braces in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Altadena & Surrounding - Your LA Orthodontist

For braces in the greater Los Angeles Metro area, we are pleased to offer our patients new Damon™ System braces and treatment techniques.

Damon System braces allow your teeth to move more comfortably and easily than
traditional braces. Thanks to these innovative new braces, achieving your perfect
smile will be faster and easier than you ever thought possible.


Elastic ligatures create friction and require more force and more frequent adjustments.

Damon braces allow freedom of movement, resulting in faster results with gentler
forces.

Better Results In Less Time
With the new Damon System braces, we can achieve terrific results and finish
your treatment faster. Depending on your case, this may mean a savings of many
months. After analyzing your specific needs, we will be able to provide you with
a treatment plan that will have you smiling soon!

Simplified Procedures
Damon System braces are very precise and effective. With this system, we can
reduce the need for many of the time consuming and complicated procedures that
are used with traditional braces.

Fewer Visits to the Office
Because Damon System braces work more efficiently, fewer adjustments are required.
As a result, your appointments will be faster and less in number.

Greater Comfort
Due to the unique design of our new braces system, we can move your teeth into
their correct positions with much less discomfort than traditional braces. Also,
Damon System braces are small, very comfortable, and easy to keep clean.

Learn more about Damon™ System braces on their web site at www.damonbraces.com.