Celebrating National Children’s Dental Health Month

February, which is just around the corner, marks National Children's Dental Health Month, and Dr. Martin and team thought we’d promote good oral hygiene among our patients with a few tips and tricks, courtesy of the American Dental Association.

• Teeth brushing techniques: It takes only two minutes to properly brush using short, gentle strokes and devoting extra attention to the gumline, areas around fillings and hard-to-reach areas such as the back teeth.

• Flossing: hold the floss snugly between thumbs and index finger and insert it between each of the teeth, making sure to go beneath the gumline and curving the floss around the base of each tooth.

• Snack wisely: choose healthy snacks such as cheese, fruits and vegetables and avoid crunchy, sticky, chewy candies that can stick to the teeth. If you eat these snacks, be sure to brush after doing so.

• Carbonated or sugary drinks: these drinks create acids that can damage the teeth when mixed with saliva, so they should be avoided altogether. If you’re going to drink one of these beverages, don’t sip on it throughout the day. Rather, drink it and then brush your teeth.

• Regular dental visits: in addition to visiting our Pleasant Hill, CA office during your orthodontic treatment, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months.

National Dental Health Month aims to increase awareness about the importance of our patients' oral health. If you have any questions about keeping your mouth healthy, or about your treatment with Dr. Martin, please feel free to give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

The benefits of a beautiful smile, from Dr. Martin & team

At the office of Dr. Jennifer Martin, we know having an attractive smile puts a spring in your step—or two—as well as increases your self-confidence, no matter if you’re 14 or in your late forties.

Smiling not only makes people happy and puts them in a good mood, doing it often can even help you live longer, according to previous studies!

If you’ve been hiding your smile because you have crooked teeth or gaps between your teeth, it’s time to consider orthodontic treatment at Dr. Martin's office. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn how quickly and efficiently today’s most advanced correction techniques can straighten your smile!

Don’t hide your smile any longer—give us a call today to schedule yours or your child’s complimentary orthodontic consultation. See you soon!

Ask Dr. Martin: Why are retainers so important, anyway?

If you recently completed treatment at Dr. Jennifer Martin's office, our entire staff would like to congratulate you again! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Martin will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Martin is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for an entire lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment, please visit our website for instructions or give us a call at 925-676-8485!

See you soon!

Happy Birthday from Dr. Martin & team!

Congrats and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all of the following patients of Dr. Martin's who are celebrating birthdays this week!!!

William C.
Joey H.
Julia V.
Mackie B.
Michael K.
Matthew D.
Liam L.
Michelle L.
Charlie W.
Chelsea E.
Fiorina M.
Taninh C.
Zachery G.
Sam L.
Gino M.
Colin M.
Brianna P.
Kaelin B.
Adriannah H.
Joe P.
Brian V.

Ask Dr. Martin: What can I expect during my son's first visit?

Thank you for the question. At your first visit to our office, Dr. Jennifer Martin will perform an oral examination to assess your orthodontic needs. We will discuss the orthodontic problems, make recommendations and discuss the next steps to pursuing orthodontic treatment with you.

If treatment is indicated at this time, orthodontic or diagnostic records will be gathered by Dr. Martin and team. Complete diagnostic records typically include a medical/dental history, clinical examination, plaster study models of the teeth taken at our office, and photos of the patient’s face and teeth, and x-rays taken at a dental x-ray lab. This information is used to develop a custom treatment plan for each patient. These records are also helpful in tracking the progress of treatment as the teeth move under orthodontic care. If no treatment is indicated at this time for your child, he or she will be put on recall until it is the optimum time for treatment.

Now, for the consultation ...

After Dr. Martin has evaluated your records, we discuss your treatment with you in detail, including the cost for your particular case. A second-generation orthodontist, Dr. Jennifer Martin is dedicated to the practice of orthodontics, and looks forward to sharing her knowledge, experience, and skills. Dr. Martin is deeply involved in the community; she knows and understands her patients, and strives to provide a unique, custom-tailored experience for each individual she treats. Dr. Martin and her team are proud to welcome you and your family, and look forwarding to working with you.

Happy Birthdays at Dr. Martin's office!

Congrats and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all of the following patients of Dr. Martin's who are celebrating birthdays this week!!!

Katie E.
Eric F.
Joseph H.
Payton J.
Kaitlyn J.
Cheyenne L.
Isabel N.
Jeffrey Y.
Jack D.
Isabel G.
Lois B.
Amanda D.
Madeline H.
Paul M.
William M.
Anna P.
Katelynn C.
Sasha K.
Madison S.
McKenzie A.
Nicholas B.
Olivia G.
Sean G.
Maya O.
Noelle H.
Christine Q.
Alina T.
Matthew B.
Zoe B.

September is Self-Improvement Month!

These days, Americans everywhere are putting greater emphasis on health, fitness and self-improvement, and more people are seeking orthodontic treatment to improve their smile. September happens to be Self-Improvement Month, and our team at the orthodontic office of Dr. Jennifer Martin know that orthodontic treatment is an investment in self-improvement that will reap benefits for a lifetime. And, recent advances in orthodontia, such as Invisalign and more effective brackets and wires, now make orthodontic treatment more palatable for many interested in obtaining that beautiful smile.

Not only does orthodontic treatment give you that beautiful smile, it can also benefit your dental and general health. If teeth are poorly aligned, removing plaque and tartar by brushing and flossing alone may be difficult. A poor bite may result in fractured or excessively worn tooth surfaces, and the extra stress caused by a poor bite may even result in problems with your jaw joints.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Martin would love to have you visit for a complimentary consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

Back to school with Dr. Martin

At the office of Dr. Jennifer Martin, we know a new school year brings a lot of stress for many kids. New classes, new teachers, new friends and new academic challenges can be overwhelming! That’s why we thought we’d provide a few steps for our patients to enjoy their time in school and succeed this upcoming school year!

• Get plenty of sleep every night. Eight hours is recommended.
• Eat a healthy breakfast as it’s the most important meal of the day.
• Pack a healthy lunch or make healthy choices when selecting your school lunch. Try to avoid the vending machine and limit your intake of junk food.
• Stay on top of your homework and reading assignments.
• Stay active. Limit the time in front of the TV or playing video games. Instead, try to get outside to get some exercise—go for a walk or ride your bike.
• Ask for help. When you are having a hard time understanding a concept, ask your teacher or your peers for guidance.
• Always have a positive attitude and a smile on your face!

We hope everyone has a productive and fun school year!

Does Dr. Martin have your current contact info?

We hope you’re off to a great summer so far! If you are planning on traveling with family this summer or think you might not be able to make it to your scheduled adjustment appointment at our Pleasant Hills office, please let us know ahead of time so that we may be able to accommodate you, as well as schedule another patient with Dr. Jennifer Martin at that appointment time.

Also, we ask that you give us a call and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed! Please call us with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so we may be able to reach you. Thank you! Enjoy the rest of your week!