Dr. Honig wants to know: Are there teeth grinders in your house?

Grind, grind, grind ... grind. If you live with a teeth grinder, especially a night grinder, you may be familiar with this unpleasant sound. Other symptoms of teeth grinding (also called “bruxism”) include:

• Sensitivity in the teeth
• Tightness or pain in the jaw
• Dull headaches, earaches, or facial pain
• Chipped, worn down, or loose teeth

People frequently grind their teeth in response to stress, so taking measures to reduce or eliminate stress can help solve the problem, says Dr. Honig. Here are some things you can try to stop grinding:

• Cut back on caffeine and alcohol
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration
• Relax right before bedtime with a warm bath or shower
• Help your jaw learn to relax by quitting any chewing habits (pens, pencils, gum)
• When clenching or grinding happens during the day, place your tongue between your teeth to serve as a reminder to avoid the habit

Also, breathing exercises are a must. Daily physical activity, tai chi and yoga can all make a big difference in preventing teeth grinding.

If grinding goes untreated, it can lead to chipped teeth, worn enamel, chronic pain, or even TMJ, a painful jaw disorder. If the teeth-grinder in your house can’t stop, schedule an appointment to see us by giving us a call. Then, Dr. Honig can help determine the cause of the problem and possibly even prescribe a custom mouthpiece to help break the habit.

Hope this helps! Enjoy the rest of your week!

As Dr. Honig: When should my child visit your office?

Many parents assume they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth to come in and see Dr. Honig, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that every child receive an initial orthodontic examination as early as age seven. The timing of orthodontic treatment is extremely important and greatly affects the treatment result. Since no two patients are alike, there is not a specific age that is best to begin orthodontic treatment at Gordon C. Honig, DMD.

For more information, or if your child is nearing age 7, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Dr. Honig and team want to know: What are you up to in January?

The New Year is here, and, believe it or not, we’re only a couple of months away from spring! Dr. Honig and our team thought we'd ask: What are you doing in January? Any big mid-winter break plans? Anything exciting going on in your life?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or call our offices and ask how! Have a great rest of the week!

Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient? Dr. Honig has the answer

Part of what makes it work Invisalign treatment work is that it's customizable for just about anyone, says Dr. Honig. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next Dr. Honig and our team use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Honig is a certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, give us a call.