Dr. Farrah wants to know: Are you wearing your mouth guard?

Happy Monday! With fall sports under way for a lot of Dr. Farrah Agahi's patients, we thought today would be a good time to once again remind our young athletes in braces to take care of both their mouth and appliances while participating in sports this fall.

Our staff at Smiles by Farrah Orthodontics will always tell you that you should ALWAYS wear a mouth guard when playing sports, but especially during fall months. Why? September marks the beginning of fall sports such as football, soccer and basketball, which are known to dangerous sports if you're not wearing a mouth guard.

After all, more than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24. Sixty-seven percent of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet 70 percent say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt. Despite the risks, many kids are still not wearing mouth guards and facial protection during games and practices.

Dr. Farrah and our entire staff encourage you to head over to the American Association of Orthodontists' website for a quick primer on the importance of mouth guards and protecting your mouth.

We hope this helps you remember to always wear a mouth guard and other forms of protective gear when participating in fall sports! We encourage you to give us a call at 512-258-6979 if you have any questions! Have a great rest of the week!

Ask Dr. Farrah: Which foods should I avoid during orthodontic treatment?

Great question. There are a variety of foods Dr. Farrah Agahi wants you to avoid while you're wearing braces. Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces. If you’re wearing braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch tend to cause plaque, cavities and even tooth decay.

Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods you should avoid include:
• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
• Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give us a call at 512-258-6979 or ask one of our staff members during your next visit at our convenient Austin office! We also definitely encourage you to check out this helpful article about eating with braces, courtesy of Parenthood.com.

Ask Dr. Farrah: Why the Damon System?

Dr. Farrah Agahi and our dedicated team are pleased to offer our patients The Damon® System at our convenient Austin office. Damon braces allow your teeth to move more comfortably and easily than traditional braces. Thanks to these innovative new braces, achieving your perfect smile will be faster and easier than you ever thought possible.

You're probably saying, "All right, Dr. Farrah. Give me the specifics on how Damon braces are an advantage."

Time-Saving

Damon's innovative technology of self-ligating braces saves you time in orthodontic treatment. The Damon system allows for fewer trips to our office, as well as faster movement of your teeth than with traditional braces. The light forces applied by Damon braces are "biologically compatible" meaning that they work with your body for gentler and quicker tooth movement.

Comfortable

Damon System braces have a unique slide mechanism that allows Dr. Farrah to use far lighter forces to move teeth to their correct positions. That makes your treatment not only shorter, but it is also far more comfortable.

Because of its unique sliding door, the Damon bracket allows us to use high-tech, light-force wires to achieve tooth movement. This means less pressure on your teeth for more comfortable treatment. Not every orthodontist uses Damon self-ligating braces. The reason Dr. Farrah does is simple: it means your experience in uncovering your radiant new smile will be more comfortable and convenient than ever.

To learn more about the Damon System, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Farrah, please give us a call at 512-258-6979. We hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

More happy smiles at Smiles by Farrah Orthodontics!

"I love the office (how it looks), love the staff (very friendly), my kids love the treats (YUM) and I like the Dr and assistants because they are friendly, explain everything in easy terms, and also because the office is so fun!" ~ Kirsten W.

"We like Dr. Agahi and her staff -- everyone is extremely friendly and helpful." ~ Michael G.

"Dr. Farrah and her entire staff is extremely friendly, personable and genuinely concerned about our families welfare. You don't see that level of concern regarding patients families these days." ~ Casandra A.

"She's very friendly and easy to talk to. My daughter feels very comfortable with her." ~ Barbara F.

"I felt that your office was a well oiled machine, very impressed with the amount of technology that is used. I have never been to any doctor's office that was as well organized. Your staff is very friendly and I felt quite comfortable and welcomed in your office. I look forward to the entire orthodontic experience for my daughter, and when it is time my son. I have been telling all of my friends about my experience and how great your office is." ~ Carita F.

Some fun facts about orthodontics, from Dr. Farrah Agahi

At Smiles by Farrah Orthodontics, we know our patients love fun facts - LOVE THEM. After all, who doesn't? Our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists have come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that Dr. Farrah and our staff thought you might like.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.

• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

ATTENTION Dr. Farrah’s Patients....WIN $50!!

If you are a patient of Dr. Farrah's, here is your chance to add a little cash to your pocket! Post your name on our Fan page and have all your friends "LIKE" your comment. Whoever gets the most "LIKES" will be the winner of $50 CASH! Tell all your friends to become a fan of Facebook.com/DrFarrah today!

CONTEST RUNS THE ENTIRE MONTH OF AUGUST ...

***(Winner must be a patient of Dr. Farrah's)***

GOOD LUCK!!

Thanks to Invisalign with Dr. Farrah, mom and dad can have an amazing smile, too!

Hey parents! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you've been neglecting your own? If you've been wishing for your own set of perfect teeth, please give us a call 512-634-8254! Dr. Farrah Agahi is a Certified Invisalign® Provider in Austin and surrounding communities.

Invisalign, which consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth, are to be worn 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 the best part is, is that no one will know it but you!

Please give us a call to set up a complimentary consultation, so you can discuss the specifics of your treatment with Dr. Farrah. We hope you had a great weekend!