President’s Day Fun Facts!

Yesterday was Presidents’ Day, a day known for celebrating of both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s combined Birthdays. Presidents’ Day was created in 1971, when President Richard Nixon combined the birthdays of two of our most well-known presidents into one single federal holiday. Presidents’ Day also marks a hard-earned day off from work and school for a lot of our patients at Rayhan and Marvizi DDS.

Here are a few fun facts about our nation’s presidents:

*Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, carried letters, bills and notes in his tall stovepipe hat.

*George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp.

*Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, broke the so-called “20-year curse,” in which every president elected in a year ending in zero died in office.

*Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents, measuring 6’ 4” tall.

*Virginia is the birthplace of more United States presidents than any other state, followed by Ohio and Massachusetts.

*Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his Inauguration and speeches televised.

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!

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!

Love your new smile? Tell the world about it!

Has your experience at Rayhan & Marvizi DDS been GREAT?

Would you like to let others know?

Then we invite you to write a review on our Google Places Page! Do you already have a Google account? Great! Just click "write a review" to leave your message.

Don’t have an account? Sign up for one–it’s easy and takes only a minute or two!

You may also review us on Yelp!

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience! We really appreciate it!

When you need immediate dental care, we’re here for you.

At Rayhan and Marvizi DDS, we know dental emergencies are never convenient or timely. If you are a patient of record, we are committed to your dental health and are more than willing to see you.

We are here to help you, any time, any day, and when your dental health is at risk, we’ll do everything we can to make sure that you’re treated as soon as possible. While dental emergencies are rare, we know they can happen at any moment, and it’s important to know how to take care of your teeth no matter what.

Common dental emergencies include:

• A bitten lip or tongue
• Broken or cracked tooth/teeth
• Broken jaw
• Permanent tooth that has been knocked out
• Object caught between teeth
• Severe toothache

If you have a dental emergency after regular office hours, please give us a call. If you are calling us after hours, please follow the emergency prompts to contact Drs. Rayhan or Marvizi. We proudly serve patients from Los Angeles, Long Beach, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Central L.A., Miracle Mile and all surrounding areas.

We hope you’re all enjoying your summer.

What’s on your mind?

As the summer progresses, our team at Marvizi Cosmetic Dentistry strive to continue writing about important topics related to dentistry and your ongoing treatment at our offices.

To help us continue doing that through the course of the summer, Drs. Rayhan, Marvizi 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 dentistry? What would you like us to focus on our blog or Facebook page in the summer months? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask us for a while? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook page!

We hope you’re having a great week!

Understanding Gum Disease [Video]

Did you know that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults? Below you’ll find a video that our team at Marvizi Cosmetic Dentistry found which explains the three stages of gum disease, what to watch for and some simple preventive techniques.

If you have any more questions about gum disease or how to maintain good oral health, please feel free to give us a call at our convenient offices in Los Angeles or Long Beach.

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone!

Good Breath Gone Bad! From Dr. Marvizi

At Marvizi & Rayhan DDS, we know bad breath can be a real downer, especially when you are out on a date you’ve had a crush on for months! However, bad breath can be prevented!

Bad breath, or as your doctor may call it “halitosis,” is caused by odor-producing bacteria that grows in your mouth. This bacteria gathers on bits of food in your mouth and between your teeth and release sulfur compounds making your breath smell. Some foods, like garlic and onions, may contribute more to bad breath because of oils the food the food releases, and smoking is also a major cause of bad breath.

There are several myths around bad breath. Here are some common myths and the truth behind it all:

Myth #1: Mouthwash will make my breath smell better

Mouthwash will make your breath smell better, but it is only a temporary fix. If you use mouthwash, just know that you will still need to brush and floss when you get the chance as mouthwash alone will not kill all of the bacteria producing germs in your mouth. When choosing a mouthwash, pick an antiseptic with plaque-reducing compounds. Also make sure any dental products you choose comes with the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of approval!

Myth #2: I brush my teeth; I will never have bad breath

Brushing your teeth will save you from having breath, but the truth is most people only brush their teeth for about 30-45 seconds! You need to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day to give your teeth a thorough cleansing. It’s also important to brush your tongue, which is where a majority of odor causing bacteria like to hang out. Lastly, flossing to remove food and plaque between the teeth will also help reduce your chances of having bad breath!

Myth #3: If I don’t smell it, then my breath is fresh

This is a false assumption in every sense of the word! The truth is that the breath you breathe out is not the same breath coming out when you talk to someone. When you breathe you are not using your throat as you do when you are talking; and when you talk more breath moves over the back of your mouth where bacteria is causing bad breath.

#1 TRUTH: Brush your teeth twice a day (for at least 2 minutes), floss at least once and visit your dentist every six months…this way your breath will always be fresh!

Not letting your nerves get the best of you on your date? That’s up to you!

Smile! June is National Smile Month!

Can you believe it’s already June? Today, Dr. Marvizi and our team at Rayhan and Marvizi DDS thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to our Long Beach or L.A. offices!

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks
* Visit us regularly (every 6 months or as recommended by Drs. Marvizi, Rayhan or Lahmani)!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call, ask our team during your next visit or ask us on Facebook!

We support Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Visiting Rayhan and Marvizi DDS on a regular basis will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy as well. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.

As your dentists, Drs. Marvizi, Rayhan and Lahmani are specialists who work to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next appointment. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!