Our Blog

Long days in the sun’s rays offer you lots of options for outdoor activities. Beach time? Vacation? Open-air concerts? Baseball, biking, board sports? No matter what plans you have for these sunny days in McAllen, we have some tips to keep your smile beaming.

Use Sunscreen

Sunscreen is good for all ages and skin tones, and it’s also designed to protect your smile. Lip tissue is thin and delicate, and can easily be damaged by the ultraviolet rays which cause skin cancer and premature aging. 

If your regular sunscreen isn’t suitable for your lips, there are many protective lip balms designed especially for your smile.

• Make sure you get the proper level of protection. Dermatologists recommend lip balms with a minimum SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30.
• Reapply at least every two hours, and sooner if your lips get wet or if you’re eating or drinking.

Protect Your Smile with a Mouthguard

Mouthguards help protect your teeth from damage caused by impact, whether from hard surfaces or hard elbows! Any time there’s a chance of a fall or a collision, a mouthguard is a good idea. Use your guard for:

• Biking, in-line skating, skateboarding, or any activity where an unexpected fall is possible 
• Contact or low-contact sports like baseball, basketball, and soccer, where bodies collide with equipment or other bodies

If you play organized sports, you might already own a mouthguard. If not, talk to Dr. Joel Martinez, Dr. Christopher Martinez, and Dr. Vanessa Martinez about over-the-counter options or a custom-fitted model. And if you wear braces, no need to stay indoors! There are mouthguards designed to protect your teeth, cheeks, lips, and braces. Ask the team at Joel Martinez, DDS for recommendations.

Hydrate

On hot days, our brains help regulate our body temperature. How? By sending the signal to start sweating! Some heat is transferred from our bodies to evaporate perspiration, which helps cool the skin. But that cooling perspiration comes at a cost—the water we lose through sweat can lead to dehydration. 

Water is essential for our health, and especially when it’s scorching outside. Drinking water throughout the day is healthier than drinking lots of water at one time, and your doctor can let you know the right amount of water for your body, since we’re not all built the same. A bottle of water doesn’t contain artificial ingredients, caffeine, or sugars, so it’s a great, healthy outdoor companion. 

More? Water is also great for your smile!

• Water washes food particles and bacteria away from teeth and gums for fresher breath and a healthier mouth.
• Most communities add fluoride to their water, and fluoride strengthens tooth enamel to help you fight cavities. If your local water supply isn’t fluoridated, talk to your dentist about other treatments which can provide fluoride’s cavity protection.
• Hydrating helps prevent dry mouth. Normal saliva production doesn’t just keep the mouth moist for eating and speaking—it also protects our teeth and gums as it washes away food particles and helps counteract excess acidity in the mouth.

Summer’s a Great Time for Dental Care

It’s easy to get distracted with summer activities and vacations—after all, they’re designed to be distracting! But don’t let your well-deserved fun in the sun distract you from your regular dental care. 

• If you haven’t started orthodontic treatment, summer is a terrific time to begin. You’ll have several weeks to get used to your braces or aligners before school starts in the fall.
• If you’re going on vacation, let Dr. Joel Martinez, Dr. Christopher Martinez, and Dr. Vanessa Martinez know. It’s necessary to keep adjustments to your braces or aligners on schedule so you can enjoy your beautiful smile as soon as you possibly can. Don’t delay your progress by missing appointments.
• Wear your appliances or bands as directed. If you don’t put in the hours with your aligners or your bands, you’ll be spending more time in treatment than you need to.
• Regular dental exams catch small problems before they become larger ones, and cleanings make sure your smile is bright all summer long. If you’re overdue for a visit to your dentist, make room in your schedule for a checkup.

Summer can be a time to relax, renew, and recharge. While you’re enjoying those extra hours of sun, take care of your oral health for a beaming smile which will look great on you any time of year!

If you’re brushing your teeth twice a day during your orthodontic treatment, Dr. Joel Martinez, Dr. Christopher Martinez, and Dr. Vanessa Martinez and our team think that’s wonderful! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist every six months, or as recommended, in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing. (And visiting Joel Martinez, DDS for regular adjustments, of course.)

Dental checkups are crucial for maintaining good oral health. Your general dentist can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of tooth decay, as well as catch and treat oral health problems early. During an oral exam, your dentist can also check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing.

If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, let us know during your next adjustment visit and we will provide a few great references in the McAllen area!

There's something special about customizing the elastics on your braces to fit your unique personality. Once you embrace your braces (no pun intended) you'll realize how many color options and combinations there are to choose from. Although you'll have a fantastic smile afterward, you won't have this level of customizability once your braces come off, that's for sure!

Adding flair to your braces isn't what all patients are looking to do (like those opting for clear aligners or ceramic braces), but it's part of the fun of traditional metal braces! Many of our patients ask Dr. Joel Martinez, Dr. Christopher Martinez, and Dr. Vanessa Martinez to have their elastics match the colors of their favorite sports teams or their school, but how about changing your elastics to match holiday colors?

Here are some options to consider:

• Valentine’s Day – Red and pink
• Easter – Pink, blue, and violet
• Halloween – Orange and black
• Christmas – Red, green, and white
• Saint Patrick’s Day – Green and white

There are a few colors that some people choose to avoid. But if you’re trying to make your teeth stand out in a crowd, the following suggestions need not apply!

• Brown or Green – can be mistaken for food being stuck in your teeth
• Black – might look like a rotten tooth if someone isn't looking hard enough
• White – Some patients think it will make their teeth look whiter, but in fact it can make your teeth appear yellower than they actually are. White elastics can also stain easily.
• Yellow – accentuates the yellowness of your enamel

Since changing the color of your elastics has no effect on the actual orthodontic treatment process, the idea is to have fun and add a personal touch. So, next time you get your elastics changed at our McAllen office, why not wear your braces boldly and opt for something festive?

If you’re thinking about investing in braces, there are a few things you should take into consideration. It’s normal for adult teeth to come in crooked, which is why braces are a common solution for teens and adults who desire a beautiful smile.

Your dentist may recommend orthodontic treatment if crooked teeth begin to affect your or your child’s oral health. But many factors go into whether braces would be right for you or your child, or not.

Modern orthodontic treatments offer numerous options for the typical issues people face, such as crooked teeth or jaw alignment problems. Malocclusion, otherwise known as having a bad bite, is common in patients with crooked teeth.

Braces can be worn for a short period of time to correct uneven jaw alignment, which may be the cause of an underbite or overbite in patients. A retainer is worn afterward to keep the newly straightened teeth in place.

Now that one in five braces wearers is an adult, grownups have a variety of braces options. Braces are typically left on for at least one year to straighten teeth effectively. Options can include regular metal braces, clear braces, or Invisalign® aligners.

If you’re an adult and would prefer a discreet treatment, clear braces or Invisalign retainers are your best options. Dr. Joel Martinez, Dr. Christopher Martinez, and Dr. Vanessa Martinez will be able to provide you with a recommended best route of treatment depending on what you’re trying to accomplish and what your budget is. Before getting braces, it’s worth learning about all the methods of treatment available at Joel Martinez, DDS.

Be sure to contact your insurance company before your appointment to see if orthodontic treatments are covered; otherwise, you may want to plan to pay for out-of-pocket costs. If you have questions regarding the types of treatment we provide for our patients, call our McAllen office for more information.