Valentine’s Day and your teeth, from Rayhan and Marvizi DDS

Valentine’s Day is here and there is a lot of candy making the rounds this week. It’s once again time to remind all our patients to be extra careful when choosing those candies and treats!

All those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, but these treats are known to damage teeth, as well as braces if you’re wearing them! Did you know sour candies can be acidic to your teeth, and actually wear down the enamel that protects them? This can cause tooth decay and cavities! Sour and fruity candy, such as Starburst and Skittles, are the worst for your teeth since these candies have a low pH value, which is known to ruin enamel.

We recommend softer treats, such as soft chocolate or peanut butter cups, or melt-in-your-mouth foods. Those who indulge should make sure they brush and floss between teeth, as well as at the gum line.

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Rayhan and Marvizi DDS!

American Heart Month & your cardiovascular health, from Drs. Marvizi and Rayhan

You may remember our post from last week, when we discussed February being National Dental Health Month. But did you know February also marks American Heart Month at Marvizi Cosmetic Dentistry?

It’s a great time of the year to take notice of the health of your heart – cardiovascular disease remains American’s number one killer, claiming more lives than the rest of major causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care.

Visiting our Los Angeles, Long Beach or Bakersfield office regularly can help prevent gum disease or at least catch it in its early stages – a healthy mouth begins with a visit to Rayhan & Marvizi DDS. In observance of Heart Month, it’s also important to know your numbers: blood pressure (less than 120/80), cholesterol (less than 200) and BMI (less than 25). If you have any questions about heart health, or about your ongoing treatment at our office, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Or, you may ask us on Facebook!

February marks National Dental Health Month

It’s almost February, which means it’s almost National Dental Health Month! It’s a great time of the year to renew those resolutions about continuing to practice great dental hygiene at home and by visiting Rayhan and Marvizi DDS. Today, we thought we’d discuss the importance of preventative oral care. While most people are familiar with traditional heart-saving practices such as eating healthy and exercising regularly, lesser-known are the benefits that great oral hygiene provides to one’s cardiovascular health.

Here are a few tips to help you continue those New Year’s resolutions:

*Remember that poor oral hygiene is linked to serious common diseases such as cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia and osteoporosis.

*Brush and floss every day to remove the plaque that can lead to cavities. Flossing daily removes food debris that your toothbrush cannot reach after meals.

*Replace your toothbrush on a regular basis. You should replace your toothbrush every three to four months or after a cold or illness to prevent re-infection. Remember to use a soft toothbrush so you won’t wear off the enamel of your teeth.

*Visit our Los Angeles or Long Beach office regularly. The American Dental Association recommends you visit Drs. Rayhan, Marvizi and Lahmani every six months for regular checkups and cleanings. Fluoride treatments twice a year will help prevent tooth decay.

Each February (and all year long), our team at Rayhan and Marvizi DDS focus on the preventive oral care of our patients. Have you visited our office the past six months? If not, it’s time to give us a call and schedule an appointment!

Ask Drs. Rosita M. Rayhan, Joseph M. Marvizi, Jason Lahmani: If I have braces, do I still need a dental checkup every 6 months?

Thanks for the question! Yes! In fact, it’s even more important that patients receiving orthodontic treatment visit our office regularly. When you’re wearing braces, food may be caught in places that your toothbrush normally can’t reach. This causes bacteria to build up and can lead to cavities, gingivitis and even gum disease. Believe it or not, an estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of gum disease. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care. Our staff at Rayhan and Marvizi DDS will work closely with your orthodontist to make sure that your teeth stay clean and healthy while you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.

If it has been more than six months since your last visit to our Bakersfield, Long Beach, or Los Angeles office, please give us a call!

Rayhan and Marvizi proudly provide complimentary consultations!

At Rayhan and Marvizi DDS, our practice strives to provide a positive experience for you at every visit. From our comfortable and open welcome room to our various choices in sedation, we want each patient to feel relaxed and at home.

One of our commitments is meeting with you to help you explore all or the options available to you or your child. We offer complimentary consultations for those interested in dental treatment. During this time, you'll have time reserved with Drs. Marvizi, Rayhan or Lahmani, who will assess your particular needs as well as discuss treatment options available and answer any questions you may have. We place a high value on making sure you have complete information before beginning your dental treatment.

If you have been thinking about obtaining the dazzling smile you’ve always wanted, we invite you to give us a call at either our Los Angeles, Long Beach or Bakersfield office!

We look forward to working with you, your family and all of your wonderful smiles!

Dreaming of a dazzling smile? We can help!

The fact is, most of us aren’t born with a red carpet smile. And that’s where Drs. Rayhan, Marvizi and our team can help. Of course, orthodontic treatment help make your teeth stay strong, healthy and become perfectly-aligned. But did you know you can get the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted — without braces?

Our team at Rayhan & Marvizi DDS 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. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time at our office getting adjustments.

Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you in for a visit. Please give us a call to set one up! A complimentary consultation at our Los Angeles, Long Beach or Bakersfield can determine if Invisalign is right for you. See you soon!

Are regular checkups really that important? You bet.

Happy New Year! Are you remembering to brush your teeth twice a day, especially after meals? If yes, that’s wonderful. But, don’t forget that it’s also important to visit our offices conveniently located in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Bakersfield every six months in addition to brushing your teeth a couple times a day and flossing. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Drs. Rayhan, Marvizi and Lahmani can:

 

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and early signs of decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth

During an oral exam we will 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 visited our office during the past six months, it’s time to schedule an appointment by giving us a call! Summer is a great time for a quick visit!

This Year, Make a New Year’s Resolution to Smile About!

Let’s face it- when was the last time you managed to keep a New Year’s resolution? We at Rayhan & Marvizi DDS believe the key to sticking to a goal is picking one that is both reasonable and attainable. If you haven’t yet picked a New Year’s resolution, consider setting one that will improve your oral health!
For example, resolve to brush twice and floss once a day. Good oral hygiene only takes a few minutes a day, and can make a big difference in your oral health and overall health too! For more oral health-themed resolutions for you and your family, check out this article.
We would love to see what you come up with, share with us by commenting on this post or on our Facebook page. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2012!

-Happy New Year, from your friends at Rayhan & Marvizi DDS

Beware of those Christmas goodies!

At Rayhan & Marvizi DDS, we know maintaining a healthy diet over the holiday season can prove a difficult task. After all, who can resist the tasty treats of Christmas? With grandma and everybody else offering you candy, chocolate logs or Christmas pudding, you just can’t say “I’ll pass” each time. But trouble lurks: every time you chow down on that chocolate or candy, the bacteria in your mouth have a feast on the sugar—at your expense. The sugar turns into acid, and the acid eats away at the enamel on your teeth. Then, you start getting cavities.

Instead, our friends at the American Dental Association recommend nuts or dried fruit, which are a nice alternative to sugars and have a greater nutritional value—and can satisfy your sweet tooth! Both nuts and fruit are a great source of fiber and act as an appetite suppressant. In addition, nuts are a great source of Vitamin E, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B9, nutrients that contribute to a healthy immune system. Nuts are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked with reducing heart disease and lower blood pressure.

If you must indulge in chocolaty goodness this Christmas or holiday season, remember to brush your teeth after eating sugary treats. Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

Happy Holidays!

Share your winter break plans with us!

Drs. Rosita M. Rayhan, Joseph M. Marvizi, Jason Lahmani and our team at Rayhan and Marvizi DDS want to know: what do your winter plans look like? Do you have any plans for an exciting family vacation? Are you hanging out around town? Catching up on sleep? Spending time with friends? Let us know! Please feel free to share your exciting winter plans and experiences with us here or on our Facebook page! We would like to wish all of our patients and their families a safe and fun holiday season!