#ortho

Sep 13, 2019
5 min

Answers to Common Questions About Orthodontics (Part 3)

As with any new situation, if you or your child are planning to get braces you probably have a lot of questions. In the past few orthodontic blogs we have answered some common questions about orthodontic treatments, and about the rubber bands that some people need to wear with their braces. In this article, we are going to provide answers to a few more questions such as whether you can play sports or certain musical instruments with braces, if your braces will set off metal d

113 views

Sep 3, 2019
5 min

How Sharing Germs Impacts Your Dental Health

We all know that germs can spread a cold or flu and that it is important to wash your hands to reduce your exposure. However, did you know that cavities, gum disease, and other infections are also spread through saliva? Saliva does provide quite a bit of protection. It flushes germs away and contains antibodies, antimicrobial proteins, enzymes, and normal mouth flora (good bacteria) that help protect you and decrease the risk of sharing germs. However, it is not able to elim

190 views

Aug 27, 2019
5 min

Answers to Common Questions About Orthodontics (Part 2) – All About the Rubber Bands

A common element of orthodontic treatment for many people is the rubber bands, also called elastics. In our last orthodontic article, we discussed answers to some common questions about orthodontics and in this article, we are going to focus on questions about rubber bands. Why do I need rubber bands with my braces? While creating your orthodontic treatment plan, we carefully map the movement of your teeth. The movement is achieved by using tiny, constant amounts of force whi

3,131 views

Aug 20, 2019
5 min

Extraordinary Animals in the Jungles of India

India is an incredibly interesting place. Home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, it may conjure images of ancient temples, monkeys, and energetic, crowded cities. India is also the land of The Jungle Book, with many jungles full of tigers, elephants, snakes, and birds. The second most populated country in the world, India is home to over 1.3 billion people! A man in India, Vijay Kumar, has 37 teeth and holds the record for the human with the most teeth. The world’s

4,439 views

Aug 13, 2019
5 min

Answers to Common Questions About Orthodontics (Part 1)

If you’ve ever considered orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, you probably have questions. Some can only be answered by an Orthodontist, because every person is unique, and their treatment will vary. However, we would like to provide answers to some common orthodontic questions. What are my treatment options? Metal braces, which use metal brackets and wires, are the most common orthodontic treatment. Standard metal braces are much smaller than they were a few de

130 views

Aug 6, 2019
6 min

Incredible Animals in the Jungle of New Guinea

There are phenomenal jungles all over the world. Most people have heard of the rainforests in South America and India, but there are many more that have their own unique characteristics and animals. One of these little-known jungles is on the island of New Guinea. New Guinea is the world’s second-largest island, situated a bit north of Australia. Politically, it is split into two parts. The western half is composed of Papua and West Papua, which are provinces of Indonesia, an

1,495 views

Jul 23, 2019
7 min

Jungle Roots Guide to Fun Family Activities in Phoenix

Family outings are a wonderful way to enjoy each others company, but it can also be a challenge to find fun things to do without destroying your budget. To spark some ideas, we have compiled this list of things to do near Phoenix. Click on the links to find additional details and directions. We are not affiliated with any of these places and don’t receive anything when you click a link; we just want to help you have a great time together! We hope you find something interestin

241 views

Jul 16, 2019
7 min

11 Unusual Animals of Tarzan’s African Jungle

Although Africa is well known for the Sahara Desert, nearly a quarter of the African continent is covered by rainforests. These jungles are not as well know or protected as the Amazon, but what we do know is fascinating. The largest jungle in Africa is the Congo Basin, which is the second-largest rainforest in the world and is thought to be the setting for Tarzan. Africa also has many other, smaller rainforests. Altogether, Africa’s rainforests cover as much land as the Amazo

17,204 views

Jul 9, 2019
4 min

Tips for Traveling with Braces

It’s that wonderful time of the year, summer break! For many, that means it is time to travel, whether you go to grandma’s house, the beach, on a mission trip, camping, or overseas. If you have braces, it’s helpful to plan ahead so everything goes smoothly and your treatment stays on track. Here are some helpful tips for traveling with braces. A visit to your orthodontist is something to consider even before you start to pack. If you are due for a checkup or adjustment it is

185 views

Jul 2, 2019
5 min

12 Fascinating Animals of the Amazon Jungle

The Amazon Jungle is one of the last unexplored places on Earth, and new species are discovered in it every day. The Jungle covers 40% of South America and spreads across nine different countries. It holds an estimated 390 billion different trees and over 4,000 miles of rivers, which are home to thousands of species of plants, animals, fish, and insects. Although many species in the Amazon Rainforest have not been identified yet, the creatures that we do know about are pretty

6,622 views

Jun 25, 2019
5 min

Can Orthodontics Cure Sleep Apnea?

You may think that it’s not a big deal when someone in your family snores, but snoring can point to a larger problem, obstructive sleep...

490 views

May 14, 2019
5 min

Why Do Braces Hurt?

Will braces hurt the whole time you have them on? Why do they hurt? How bad is the pain? Is there anything that will stop it?

1,421 views

May 7, 2019
5 min

What you need to know about Infective Endocarditis

Infective Endocarditis. This sounds like a frightening disease, and it definitely is. In fact, it can kill you. Fortunately, one of the most common causes is easily prevented. How can you protect yourself from this deadly disease? By simply keeping your mouth healthy! What is Infective Endocarditis? It is an infection of the endocardium, which is the membrane that lines the inside of the heart, protecting it. As you can imagine, an infection on the tissue that is supposed to

3,546 views

Apr 23, 2019
6 min

DO I REALLY NEED TO SPEND MONEY ON A MOUTH GUARD?

Each year, nearly 5 million teeth are knocked out, with many of these incidents happening during participation in sporting events. In fact, the Journal of the American Dental Association reports that 13-39% of all dental injuries are sports related. However, participating in sports is an important part of many people’s lives, and there are many benefits to it. Getting involved in a sport helps maintain health, foster friendships, and generally improve your quality of life, wh

222 views

Apr 16, 2019
5 min

Do I Need Antibiotics Before a Dental Procedure?

Sometimes a dentist will recommend taking antibiotics before a dental procedure. Is this necessary? When and why would you need to do this? There are two reasons that your dentist will recommend antibiotics before treatment. The first is to treat an existing infection and the second reason is to decrease the chance of infection. When you have a tooth infection, a pocket of pus will form near the infected tooth and is sometimes called an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth is

198 views

Apr 9, 2019
5 min

ADULT BRACES: Is it too late for me to have a beautiful smile?

When you think of braces, most people think of a teenager smiling broadly, showing brightly colored brackets. While teenagers and adolescents make up nearly 75% of patients with braces, the popularity of braces among adults is growing. In fact, in 2014, the American Association of Orthodontists reported that nearly 1.5 million adults had braces. Some orthodontists even report that their adult clientele had jumped from 10% of their practice to a whopping 50% in the last 10 yea

127 views

Apr 2, 2019
5 min

PERIODONTAL DISEASE: Why should you be worried?

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a widespread problem in the United States and can have a terrible impact on your health. It has been linked to serious health conditions, including heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that “47.2% of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease.” This is a huge number and, unfortunately, children are also susceptible. However, gum disease can be treated and, even better, c

516 views

Mar 28, 2019
6 min

HOW DO BRACES WORK? WHY SHOULD I CARE?

If you are considering braces for yourself or your child, all the information about options, length of treatment, and finances can seem so overwhelming that you may easily forget to consider an important factor, how does this even work? For the most part, we take for granted the fact that braces do work. However, the science behind how braces move your teeth is both interesting and helpful to know if you are considering them. Going into your appointment with an understanding

466 views

Mar 19, 2019
5 min

How Can I Help My Young Child Avoid Cavities? Can Bottles or Breastfeeding Cause Them?

Tooth decay in infants or toddlers is so prevalent that, according to the CDC, cavities are the most common chronic disease among children and adolescents. In young children, tooth decay is called early childhood caries (ECC), and the cause is important to know so you can be proactive in preventing it. No parent wants to take their toddler to the dentist to get fillings, but how can cavities be prevented? Is it true that bottle or breastfeeding can cause cavities? To answer t

188 views

Mar 12, 2019
6 min

Orthodontic Treatment: What are my options? What do I need to know?

Your dentist recommended that you or your child get braces or other orthodontic treatment, so where do you go from here? If you are new to orthodontics, the sheer number of treatment options may be mind-boggling. Questions abound. Is there a difference in results between bracket braces and invisible braces? Will my child need rubber bands? What do rubber band even do? Why might my child need headgear? We have compiled a handy guide to the differences in standard orthodontic t

100 views