Are you wearing your mouth guard?

Spring sports are just around the corner, and our staff, including Drs. Abari and Will, would like to remind our young athletes in treatment to take care of both your mouth and appliances while participating in contact sports (and non-contact sports) as well this spring. Our team at Abari Orthodontics/Oral Surgery will tell you that only by using a mouth guard can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. And don't forget to ask us for a mouth guard - we will provide a mouth guard for anyone in active treatment!

If you have further questions or are ready to schedule your consultation, just give us a call at our San Dimas or Diamond Bar office.

Ask Dr. Abari: Who needs orthodontic treatment, anyway?

While orthodontic treatment can improve smiles at any age, there is usually a best age to begin treatment at Abari Orthodontics/Oral Surgery in order to achieve maximum improvement with the minimum amount of time and expense. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child’s first visit to an orthodontist take place by age seven or earlier if a problem is detected. Early interceptive, or phase-one treatment can guide facial growth, prevent crowding of permanent teeth, correct crossbites, overbites and underbites, control harmful oral habits and even reduce the length of comprehensive treatment.

As for adults, more and more of them are deciding - wisely - to straighten their teeth. In fact, the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent in the last 15 years! In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, we see more and more adults are undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Teenagers as well as adults also benefit from the skill of Dr. Abari and Dr. Will's orthodontic treatment. You won't be able to stop smiling! Contact one of our orthodontic offices in San Dimas or Diamond Bar for your free initial evaluation.

More than just a day off from school

Today, our country celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was a thinker, leader and civil rights champion. In the 1950s and ’60s, Dr. King recognized the need to bring about social justice, and worked tirelessly to instill tolerance in our nation, strengthen America’s communities and move the nation forward. This weekend, tens of thousands of people of all ages and races in southern California and across the United States spent their time building, giving and renovating our communities to help celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. Did you have the day off? If so, did you participate in any service- or community-building projects?

We’d love to know about your activities and events this MLK Jr. Day. If you have any video or pictures you’d like to share, please pass them along! If you’re not sure how, give us a call!

Drs. Abari and Will and our entire team at Abari Orthodontics/Oral Surgery are proud of all our patients, families and colleagues who continue to make a difference in our community!

Gummy Tummy?

At Abari Orthodontics/Oral Surgery, we know the rumors going around that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will 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!

Give us a call at our convenient San Dimas or Diamond Bar office if you have any questions!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing from our entire staff!

We have winners!

Congrats to Eloy and Tanya, two of our recent contest winners!Eloy won our Monthly contest, winning four AMC movie tickets! Enjoy it Eloy!

Tanya won our quarterly appointment slip contest, winning 2 amusement park tickets of her choice. Have lots of fun, Tanya!

What is your New Year's Resolution?

Let’s face it, when was the last time you managed to keep a New Year’s resolution? Our staff at Abari Orthodontics/Oral Surgery believe the key to sticking to a goal is picking one that is both reasonable and attainable. If you haven’t yet picked a New Year’s resolution, consider setting one that will improve your oral health during your orthodontic treatment!

For example, resolve to brush twice and floss once a day. Good oral hygiene only takes a few minutes a day, and can make a big difference in your oral health and overall health too after you’re done with braces! For more oral health-themed resolutions for you and your family, check out this article.

We would love to see what you come up with, share with us by commenting on this post or on our Facebook page. Whatever your New Year’s resolution, we wish you the very best for 2011!