Drs. Magness, giving thanks this holiday season

All of us at Memorial Smiles extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We appreciate the opportunity to work together with you in the creation of your ideal smile and look forward to the day when your treatment is completed and you join our family of beautiful smiles, which we create daily at our Houston office. It's a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat, especially with those braces!

Hey Dr. Magness, when should I replace my toothbrush?

Fall is here, and with it the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Marc Magness will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing

• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen

• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster

• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

Hope this tip helps! Feel free to call us at 713-468-9669 if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Connect with Dr. Magness & Memorial Smiles on Facebook!

At Memorial Smiles, we value the relationships we have developed with our patients in Houston and surrounding communities. Even if you only see us for your appointment on a regular basis, did you know that you can now connect with Drs. Marc and Bonham Magness & staff on our Facebook page?

There, we share office news, announcements and updates, so we encourage you to check us out! By Liking our page, you will receive updates from our office automatically in your news feed!

See you on Facebook and have a great rest of the week,

- Dr. Magness

Ask Dr. Magness: What's the deal with all that Halloween candy?

As Halloween looms, Dr. Magness and our staff at Memorial Smiles know a lot parents are worried about their kids going overboard on candies this weekend.

For those undergoing orthodontic treatment, you do need to be careful of the types of candies you consume this weekend. We encourage you to watch the video above about which candies you should avoid, but feel free to ask us if you have any questions about what is and isn't braces-friendly!

We hope everyone has a fun, safe and scary Halloween!

Thanks to Invisalign at Memorial Smiles, parents can have a great smile, too!

Attention parents! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you've been neglecting your own? If you've been thinking about having your own set of perfect teeth lately, our staff at Memorial Smiles can help! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth: Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you! Drs. Marc and Bonham Magness are Certified Invisalign® Providers here in Houston.

Please give us a call at 713-468-9669 to set up a consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

Have a great week!

The common cold is back, from Memorial Smiles

It's fall, and the cold season is once again upon us. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, says that a common cold usually includes sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and coughing. Symptoms can last for up to two weeks, according to the CDC.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, Dr. Marc Magness and team give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our Houston office at all times, as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces. For the protection of other patients and our staff, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

And remember to constantly wash your hands and avoid contact with those who are ill! Have a great rest of the weekend!

Dr. Magness and Memorial Smiles support National Orthodontic Health Month!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and we wanted to remind our patients in braces to be careful when they bite into their treats. Remember, caramels, taffy, nuts, bubble gum, popcorn kernels and suckers are some of the foods you should be avoiding this Halloween Season! Indulging in these foods can break your braces and lengthen your treatment time!

Of course, Halloween doesn’t have to be completely treat-less. Plain chocolate candy should be fine, as long as you remember to brush afterward! But, what's better than candy? Braces-friendly treats! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists put a great deal of effort into creating some delicious recipes you can enjoy this Halloween season! Enjoy!

- Dr. Magness and team