Dr. Magness & team want to know: What’s on your mind?

As the summer progresses, our team at Magness Orthodontics strive to continue writing about important topics related to orthodontics and your treatment at our Houston office.

To help us continue doing that through the course of the summer, Dr. Magness and team would like to ask you, our readers: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing and exciting field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog in the summer months? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Magness for a while? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

Ask Dr. Magness: “I’m 31 – am I too old for orthodontic treatment?”

Great question, and you are absolutely not "too old" for braces! At Magness Orthodontics, nobody is “too old” for braces! In fact, we read a fascinating statistic recently: adults getting braces has actually jumped 24 percent since 1996! Also, one of every five patients in orthodontic treatment nowadays is over the age of 21. Of course, braces help make your teeth stay strong, healthy and become perfectly-aligned. But we’d like you to know orthodontic treatment with Dr. Magness can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

In fact, we are proud to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign, which uses a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you're wearing. So, you can smile more during treatment as well as after.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation at our Houston office. Please give us a call to set one up and have a wonderful rest of the week!

You and dairy, from Dr. Magness

Our team at Memorial Smiles want to know: is dairy a part of your diet? If not, it probably ought to be. A 2008 study from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) has found that regular consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, can lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease (also known as gum disease).

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth that affects the gums and jaw. Gum disease results in a loss of teeth and bone, and has been connected in studies to certain cases of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and, of course, osteoporosis.

Results of the study showed that adults who consume at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day are less at risk for gum disease. Drs. Magness and our team will tell you that eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Next time you reach for a quick snack, choose some cheese, or a glass of milk, and remember with each bite, and every sip you are preserving your teeth for a lifetime of smiles and good oral health!

For more information about dairy and oral health, please give us a call at 713-468-9669.

Patriotic Fun Facts with Magness Orthodontics!

Today, Houston orthodontist Dr. Marc Magness and our staff at Memorial Smiles will celebrate our country's 235th birthday. Because we know our patients LOVE fun facts, here are some fun facts about Independence Day we knew you'd enjoy! Enjoy the rest of the week everyone, and have a GREAT Fourth of July!

- Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

- The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation, which meant that people didn't want to be taxed by a government that did not represent them.

- In 1941, Congress declared 4th of July a federal legal holiday. It is one of the few federal holidays that have not been moved to the nearest Friday or Monday.

- The stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all colonies were equal.

- America's mascot, the bald eagle, can achieve speeds of up to 200 miles per hour when making a predatory dive. During a normal flight, bald eagles can travel up to 30 miles per hour.

- Someone who specializes in the history of flags is called a vexillologist.

- The word ‘patriotism’ comes from the Latin patria, which means ‘homeland’ or ‘fatherland.’

- According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans consume over 150 million hot dogs during their Independence Day festivities.

- Speaking of food, there's a 1-in-6 chance the beef on your backyard grill came from our great state of Texas. The Lone Star State is America's leader in the production of cattle and calves.