If your gums are swollen, painful and irritated, and assume a darker shade of red, then you may be having periodontal disease (gum disease).

Gum disease occurs in two sequential stages: Gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and is exemplified by mild to moderate inflammation and irritation of the gums. If not detected and treated early enough, gingivitis develops into periodontitis - a more serious and painful condition. In a worst-case scenario, periodontitis destroys the entire jaw bone.

So What Causes Gingivitis? 

As mentioned earlier, the leading cause of gingivitis is poor or improper dental care and hygiene. For instance, if you don't brush your teeth regularly, there will be an accumulation of bacteria, mucus and food particles (plaque) on your teeth, which causes decay over time. Additionally, unchecked plaque buildup eventually develops into tartar, which being a heavier compound, sticks to the base of the teeth, hence accelerating the onset of gingivitis. 

Other key causes of gingivitis include tobacco use, untreated diabetes, and hormonal changes during pregnancy. Further, brushing or flossing aggressively may injure your gums, resulting in gingivitis. You can also develop gingivitis from:

• Medications such as Dilantin and some contraceptive pills 

• Poorly aligned teeth 

• Improperly fitted braces and dentures 

• A genetic predisposition to gum disease from your family roots

Signs and Symptoms of Gingivitis

The following are the signs and symptoms that symbolize gingivitis:

• Pain when chewing food

The essence of brushing your teeth is to remove plaque and prevent cavities. Nevertheless, choosing the right toothbrush is pivotal to good dental care. On the face of it, you need to invest in a comfortable toothbrush that can clean your teeth effectively. You can choose to stick to the good, old-fashioned manual toothbrush or try out the new electric brushes available in the market today.

So how do manual toothbrushes stack up against electric versions? Let’s find out.


Benefits of a manual toothbrush

Manual toothbrushes have an excellent record. In any case, people have been using this type of toothbrush for centuries, without any complaints. Here are more benefits associated with the manual version.

• Readily available: Manual toothbrushes are inexpensive and readily available. You can easily find one in your local store or chemist at pocket-friendly prices. Moreover, dentists usually give them away to their clients after a checkup.

• Easily portable: Comparatively, manual toothbrushes are more comfortable to carry when traveling. For this reason, you do not have to worry about your dental hygiene when you are away on vacation.

• Less stressful on gums: A manual toothbrush allows you to feel and control how much pressure you are putting on your teeth and gums.

• Ideal for kids: Manual toothbrushes are ideal for teaching kids how to brush and clean their teeth. Furthermore, they are safe and effective in handling the tender teeth of a child.

Are electric toothbrushes any better?

A less well-known choice for fixing misaligned teeth is lingual braces. They have some advantages over the more popular options providing a better cosmetic solution for patients. They do have some disadvantages as well, though, and we take a look at the considerations which need to be be made before choosing lingual braces.

Lingual Braces. What are they?

With lingual braces you will still have wires and brackets in your mouth as you would expect, the big difference is that these wires can't be seen. Whereas normally, you would expect to see braces attached to the front of the teeth, lingual braces are hidden because they are fitted to the other side of the teeth.

How are Lingual Braces Fitted?

As you might imagine, fitting braces to the backs of teeth is a more difficult job for the orthodontist. There is less room to fit the braces and the placement is more awkward. To overcome these difficulties and provide a better fit, an impression is taken to create customized brackets, perfect for each individual's mouth.

The brackets are attached to the backs of the teeth at the same time, with the use of a tray to cement them in place. Normal braces don't require this level of customization, with standard brackets used and cemented to the teeth one at a time.

The Advantages of Lingual Braces

One of the main downsides to traditional braces is their visual appearance. The lingual option gives all the benefits of the more traditional design but without changing the appearance of the patient's smile.

If when the braces are removed there are any discolored marks left on the tooth enamel, they won't be seen anyway. Also, because the braces are customized to the patient's mouth they will often be more comfortable than braces fixed to the outside of the teeth.

Braces are not only a great way to get an aligned smile that looks great, but help you promote good oral health for the rest of your life.

You may have perceived braces as being for only aesthetic purposes, but that could not be further from the truth! Whether you're a young child, pre-teen, teen, or adult, you can benefit from making an appointment to see if you need braces.

Not everyone does end up needing braces, so it's not a big deal to get a consultation and find out what's going on. Often times your dentist will be able to confirm whether braces are needed or will point it out during a routine dental check up.

Braces are absolutely worth the cost because they are going to give you a fantastic smile and make flossing and general oral care easier and more effective. Crowded teeth and more can often require further treatment in order to make sure that the teeth are aligned or are placed more closely to where they need to be.

Confidence and more can be yours through braces, but the health benefits cannot be stressed enough. They are practical and while you may have to purchase an electric toothbrush in order to try and keep food particles out of your brackets (or can go with something more transparent like Invisalign braces if you're older and want to avoid this type of thing), it's well worth it in the end.

Avoiding getting braces could mean that you have difficulty speaking or eating food, a higher chance of getting cavities or dental decay, inability to clean surfaces, jaw misalignment, bite issues, pain, and more. So if you are recommended braces, it is worth checking out.

Cost Factors of Braces

Do you take good care of your teeth and gums?

When brushing your teeth, this is the perfect time to inspect the teeth and gums to make sure that they are healthy. One of the biggest signs of gum disease is when your gums are bleeding.

We don't mean on a regular basis. We mean that when you've brushed your teeth and rinse out, you may be seeing blood in your sink. You may just think that it's normal or brush it off. Perhaps this is just what happens whenever you brush and floss.

But what you may have initially chalked up to brushing a bit too hard or the bristles of your brush may indicate something much more. Bleeding when you brush can be a sign that there is a bigger issue and that gum disease is present.

Believe it or not, when the gums bleed, this is one of the primary signs that they are dealing with an infection. This infection has the ability to progress and have an extremely negative impact on your oral health and your health overall. That means it is a big deal-- don't keep ignoring it!

The first time that you see blood should be the motivating factor and you should make a dental appointment immediately! The dentist will be able to evaluate what's going on, give recommendations, and even perform treatment dental work if it is required.

Gum Disease Complications

What is gum disease? At its heart, it's an infection that occurs due to bacteria that have been sitting in accumulations of tartar and plaque. This is why good oral hygiene can become so important. What you do or do not do is going to either keep your teeth and gums happy or send them further down a progressive road of infection and decay that could lead to tooth loss and much more.

Sugar may be fun to consume if you're a kid, but it is not that healthy when it comes to your teeth! Your child may have a love of sweet things, but unfortunately, so do bacteria.

Sugar or sucrose is seen by the bacteria as food. It causes tooth decay, because the bacteria make acid in the process and the teeth get etched away by the acid.

How much sugar does your family eat? With meals, drinks, and snacks included, it could be more than the average dentist would recommend.

Check out these dental health tips to find out some top tips for reducing sugar in snacks for children. Getting some ideas to reduce sugar can't hurt!

1. Know Added Sugar Limits

The U.S. FDA recommends that if you're over the age of 3, you get no more over 12.5 teaspoons of added sugar (same as 1 can soda). Adults need to consume no more than 6 teaspoons, and children not over 3 teaspoons. Remember that sweeteners often have other names besides simply 'sugar'. Sugar is put on the list in grams, and one teaspoon is the same as 4 grams of sugar.

2. Juice Has Sugar

Juice seems healthy, but it isn't. It's just a frequent choice to give children for some reason, but water as well as milk are the way to go because they are hydrating and do not come with all of those calories. If your child is under the age of 1, they shouldn't have juice in their diet.

Older kids can have juice, but those six and younger should not exceed 6 ounces a day. Children from ages 7 to 18 shouldn't exceed 8-12 ounces. Juice can assist tooth decay because bacteria get the opportunity to eat and produce teeth-destroying acid.

Taking care of your smile is important, and making sure that your teeth are aligned can help promote a nice smile and good oral health.

As you grow older, you may find yourself wondering whether you are paying enough attention to your dental health and part of that may be whether you have gotten orthodontic treatment in the past or not. Most individuals get braces when they are around the teenage years, but some adults missed out during that time period and still have a smile that is not as aligned as it could be.

You may think that metal braces are your only option, but are they? Some people avoid having work done on their smile because they think that they will have to get traditional braces. However, Invisalign is a practical alternative for any person that wants to straighten their smile and get great results.

Orthodontic Treatment That's Nearly invisible

If you are seeking an alternative to braces that is nearly invisible, Invisalign may be right for you. This product has aligners that are specifically designed to realign the teeth of the person wearing them without being aesthetically obvious.

Crooked teeth can gradually be shifted and gaps can be closed thanks to Invisalign. If your child wants the subtle presence of Invisalign over metal braces, this may be a great option for you. Whether your reasons are professional, social, or both, you may find that you feel more comfortable conversing, working, and even posing for photos using Invisalign.

No Metal, More Comfort

Crooked teeth can affect children's appearance and oral health. Teeth that are not straight can affect speech, make it difficult to brush and floss, and increase the risk of developing problems with their oral health (gum disease, tooth decay).

When it comes to crooked teeth developing, genetics may play a part. It is important that you know what signs you should look out for, taking action if you see anything to go to the dentist. Check out these four ways to help maintain your child's teeth and gums and keep them healthy.

1. Break bad habits.

Toddlers may have a tendency to suck on their thumbs, but breaking this habit is important. Continued sucking could damage front teeth, the gums, and the roof of the mouth, particularly past the age of three. Bottle feeding and sucking pacifiers past a point are also not good for developing teeth.

Research helpful tips for any bad habits your child has, from not wanting to brush to sucking their thumb, so you can break the habit early and reduce the chance of it having a negative impact.

2. Teach them oral hygiene.

Your child needs to care for their oral hygiene. Teaching them how to care for the gums and teeth will keep them healthy now and prepare them for good habits to protect them later. When their first tooth develops, make an appointment for them at the dentist.

The dentist will look at their teeth and confirm that it's all going well or voice concerns. They can also give tips on age appropriate oral hygiene practices and what you should be doing at home. Brush with your kids and make it a fun event. Make sure they know to brush in the morning for two minutes and again at night and be there too! Play music or get them electric brushes to make it more enjoyable.

3. Respond to tooth loss.

If you are a parent, then you are invested in your children's health. Your kids are going to cultivate the habits that you help them learn, so it's very important to give them attention and guidance.

For oral health, it's necessary for adults to be hands on with teaching their kids the required information about how to properly brush and floss and how to prevent cavities. It is key to instruct them on everything when it comes to dental health.

Today we're talking about how adults can teach kids about oral health as well as when the best times to brush are. Consistent and proper care is the key to good oral health, after all.

When Is the Best Time for Kids to Brush?

The American Dental Association says that adults and children should be brushing their teeth on a twice-daily basis in an attempt to get rid of bacteria and plaque. The best times to brush are the morning and the evening for adults and kids. Following a morning and then evening brushing routine will be the most effective way to get acids and sugars out of the mouth that would be attacking the enamel and causing tooth decay.

When it comes to the morning, brush your teeth after breakfast. When it comes to night time, brush before going to bed. If you can brush at these times and make sure that your child or children keep this schedule as well, then your brushing schedule is already where it needs to be. Account for form to be sure that your kids are getting effective results (enough toothpaste, brushing properly or long enough, changing quadrants).

Teaching Brushing Habits to Kids

Our very own Lulu was the Easter bunny this year for the iSmiles Corona team! She didn't want to wear a bunny outfit and we couldn't blame her, being that it was so hot outside. In any case, our neighbors in Corona surely appreciated the Easter baskets we prepared for them.

The iSmiles Orthodontics team in Corona had a wonderful time helping our awesome office manager, Lulu, celebrate another year getting older. We had a wonderful lunch at Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen, which is conveniently located right down the street from our offices in Corona. Happy Birthday, Lulu!

Joel loves us so much, he can't stop recommending our services to his family and friends. Now look at him. He's rolling in Gift Cards! Spend those wisely on some soccer gear and video games, Joel, and thank you!

Dr Brandon is so grateful to all the patients and parents who have taken the time to get a gift for his new baby at home, Ellie. Thank you so much, Angela, for your gift. Let's hope there's plenty of sleep in that gift bag for Dr Brandon.

We love patients like Wyatt! Look at him as he proudly shows off his gift cards for referring his friends. If you were there, you would see him doing a dab with Dr. Brandon. Way to go Wyatt!

Our entire Irvine Orthodontics office is so proud of Yen, who is our stellar patient that has not only graduated high school but also graduated from our retainer program.

Our Irvine orthodontics office manager, Anita, honors her son's military service by wearing his military dog tags as well as one of his t-shirts commemorating one of his operations. We salute his courage as well as all the countless troops that have served our great country on Veterans Day.

We were so busy this year that we actually didn't have time to come up with themed costumes. We're sad about that but happy that we get to still spend so much time with our awesome patients. This is a quick gallery of our phenomenal orthodontic team in Irvine. The first picture is simply to remind everyone to take care of their teeth during this holiday season. We hope everyone out there has a fun-filled and safe Halloween evening! Don't eat too much candy and sweets!

We know we post a lot of pictures of us having fun and smiling with patients so we decided to post a gallery of us hard at work. Not only is this a gallery of us working hard in the Corona Orthodontics office, we're in the midst of a ton of Halloween decorations AND it's also a Saturday. Yes, we work Saturdays. Please be sure to make an appointment and we'll gladly see you on a Saturday. We even got some really good pictures of Dr Brandon in action, wearing his pink Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirt. There's just so much going on in these pictures.

Oh, you didn't know? We had the Star Wars crew invade our Irvine Orthodontics office last year including a fairly tall Yoda, a very stern Princess Amidala, Princess Leia, a Jedi, and two female Darth Vaders. Can't believe that there wasn't a Boba Fett or a Darth Maul. Still, you can see that our office loves Halloween and loves dressing up. We're still not sure what this year's theme will be. If anyone has any great ideas, please feel free to send them on over.

Every year, we try to come up with a theme for the office. In 2014, Dr Brandon and the whole team in the Irvine office dressed up as items you should avoid when you have braces. Dr Brandon dressed up as Sugar Daddy (that's his nickname in the office, by the way), and then there was Jolly Rancher, M & M's, Tootsie Rolls, Candy Corn, Diet Coke, and an apple. The apple is what threw everyone off. Check out these assortment of fun pictures that were take that day at the office. Can't wait to see what we'll come up with this year.

Thanks to our awesomely stupendous office manager, our Corona office is completely decked out and ready for Halloween! There are many reasons why we love Halloween. #1, October is National Orthodontic Health Month and obviously, Halloween is in the month of October. #2, Halloween's official color is orange and it also happens to be iSmiles' official color, too! #3, we love dressing up! Every year, we come up with a theme for the whole office. Wonder what it will be this year? Guess you'll have to stay tuned to find out. In the mean time, enjoy all these pictures of our Halloween decorations in our Corona office. And don't eat too much candy!

Dr. Brandon is super excited about his brand new, customized iSmiles Surfboard created by Vartanian Surfboards! He can't wait to take this baby out to the Orange County beaches and show all the other orthodontists in the OC what he's got. Maybe you can catch a sighting of Dr Brandon on the waves this summer. If you are looking for a surfing expert with friendly service, please see James Vartanian in Costa Mesa.

We are so proud to announce that Dr Brandon was named a 2016 Top Dentist Practitioner for Orange County by Orange Coast Magazine! The selection process was difficult as the magazine asked dentists in Orange County to name the practitioners who they would choose to treat their own family members. Dr Brandon made the exclusive list and is honored to be selected by his peers in the dental community of Orange County.

Here is the verbiage from the article:
From the moment patients call the offices of Dr Brandon Hoang, they are treated with the utmost respect. "When they come in, they are greeted and welcomed by all members of the team," says Dr Hoang. "Also, parents are always invited into the treatment area. Ultimately we want to give patients the best experience possible."

Known as "Dr Brandon," he offers specialized care in child and adult orthodontics, including braces, dentofacial orthopedics, Invisalign, retainers, and mouth guards. A University of of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine graduate who completed an orthodontic residency at Tufts University, he works with pedodontist Dr David Ly. "We believe that if it benefits our patients, it will benefit our practice," says Dr Hoang. "The best orthodontic office is the one having the most fun. So every month, we find something to celebrate."

It always means so much to us when we see what a difference we make in our community as well as in the youth of our community. While sponsoring the Irvine Junior Games again this year, it was such a pleasant surprise to see one of our very own patients, Saveena, come up to the microphone to sing the national anthem during the opening ceremonies. Seeing her confidently smile and beautifully sing the national anthem has truly inspired us to continue doing what we do. Please feel free to watch the video of her performance below. Great job, Saveena! The entire iSmiles team is so very proud of you!

We love all of our patients and have witnessed the countless, dedicated parents who take the time to make sure their kids get the orthodontic care they deserve. Well, it's time for the Fathers out there to get special treatment as well! We have a specially designed Invisalign special just for the Dads!
Call us at (949) 551-4540 to book your free consultation which includes a 15 minute Outcome Simulator using our state-of-the-art iTero machine. We'll scan your teeth and then show you what they will look like after treatment. We're confident you'll be pleased with what you'll see. Book your first treatment before Father's Day (June 19th) and you'll enjoy $500 off your entire treatment. Call us now to get started.

Come join the iSmiles team and the rest of Irvine city Saturday, May 14, 2016, for the Irvine Junior Games Expo and Athlete check-in! We'll be there from 10am till 3pm giving out fabulous prizes, hugs, and most importantly, smiles! It will be held at the Irvine Stadium located behind Irvine High School. Funds raised by the Irvine Junior Games support before and after school child care at 24 IUSD elementary schools. Let's support the community together! We'd love to see you.

We love all of our patients and have witnessed the countless, dedicated parents who take the time to make sure their kids get the orthodontic care they deserve. Well, it's time for the Mothers to get special treatment as well! We have a specially designed Invisalign special just for the Moms.

Call us at (949) 551-4540 to book your free consultation which includes a 15 minute Outcome Simulator using our state-of-the-art iTero machine. We'll scan your teeth and then show you what they will look like after treatment. We're confident you'll be pleased with what you'll see. Book your first treatment before Mother's Day (May 8th) and you'll enjoy $500 off your entire treatment. Call us now to get started. No need to show proof that you're a mom.

Even though Dr Brandon was never really good at baseball, he and the iSmiles team still proudly supports the Irvine Ranch Little League! Opening Day is this Saturday, February 27th! Come on out and visit us! The iSmiles team will be out there in full force with our tent and giveaways.

Opening Day is from 8am until 12 noon at the Las Lomas Community Park. Drop on by and say hello. We'd love to see you!

We don't blog often but when we do, it's usually about Halloween, our favorite holiday! Why? Because we get to dress up (not like we don't already dress up throughout the year). And, the main color of Halloween is orange, which also happens to be our favorite color and the color of our company! So we've been a witches/mummy theme, a zombie theme, and a foods you can't eat while having braces theme. So what's our theme this year? Guess you'll have to stay tuned and find out for yourselves!

We've received a lot of great entries for our Valentine's Poetry Contest this year so far. But it turns out, everyone on the iSmiles team wrote their own poems as well. First person to submit and correctly match all 7 poems to their matching 7 poets will win an iBeats headphone! It's that simple. If you want a glimpse into our team, check out our Irvine team's information on our website. That will definitely figure out which poet wrote which poem. Deadline is Valentine's Day, February 14th! Now go get to it!