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AS YOU KNOW, HERE at Gorczyca Orthodontics, we’re honored to have you as our valued patient! Our goal is ALWAYS remarkable, one-to-one patient care... Thanks to our amazing team members!

Today, we’d like to tell you a little bit about one of the awesome people who helps make this possible: Patti!

A Little About Patti

Patti was born in Mexico City. It was very crowded there. She and her family decided to move to California when she was 19 years old. She and her family moved to East Contra Costa County ten years ago.

Patti always wanted to be a dental assistant. Recently, her dream came true when she joined Gorczyca Orthodontics. Dr. Gorczyca interviewed her smiling face, felt her tender heart, and enthusiasm for orthodontics and hired her on the spot!

We recently put Patti in the hot seat and asked her some questions so you can get to know her better...

When you’re not here working, what are your favorite things to do?

Patti is very involved with her church. She also has four grown children and a husband. She has also been running her own housecleaning business for seven years.

Patti also loves to dance. Her favorite dance is Salsa! She and her husband go dancing once a month!

When you first started working here, what were your first impressions of the office and the team? Have those impressions changed?

Patti's first impression of Gorczyca Orthodontics was F-U-N! with a capitol F! She loves how we treat our patients. We are all so excited about orthodontic treatment.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

Patti's favorite thing about her job at Gorczyca Orthodontics is that we have the opportunity to learn something new everyday, whether it is a new orthodontic procedure or technology, something new from the patient, or something new about our community or referring offices. There is never a dull moment at Gorczyca Orthodontics.

Why We Love Having Patti On Our Team

Patti is the office's cleanliness expert. Clean is her middle name. Gorczyca Orthodontics has never been so clean as it is now with Patti. We have shiny windows and window paynes, shiny mirror, shiny sinks, and uncluttered counter-tops.

Patti is also Gorczyca Orthodontics Lab Diva! Her overlay retainers are superb and her impression and study models are beautiful. There's nothing like a job well done. Thank you Patti for joining our team at Gorczyca Orthodontics!

We’re So Happy To Have Patti As A Member Of Our Team!

As one of our valued patients, if you have your own question for Patti, please ask in the comments section below! Also, you can always send us a message on Facebook anytime.

We look forward to seeing you at your next visit! Thanks for the trust you place in our practice.

IF YOU HAVE BRACES, you still need to floss. Flossing is important in the prevention of cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease—especially while wearing braces.

Tips For Flossing With Braces

To help you floss with braces, here are some helpful tips:

1. Use enough floss! The amount of floss should be equal to the length from your fingers to you elbow.
2. Thread floss between your wire and the contact of two teeth with your fingers or use a floss threader.
3. Wind floss around one finger of one hand and one finger of your other hand.
4. Waxed floss is less likely to tear. Oral B Glide floss is our favorite.

Help Youngsters Out!

If you or the little ones in your life who don’t wear braces are having trouble flossing, consider Crest Glide Floss Picks.

We Want To Help Keep Your Smile Bright

We at Gorczyca Orthodontics hope that these flossing tips were helpful and keep you excited about flossing and maintaining excellent oral hygiene. If you have questions about your teeth or oral hygiene, visit us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000.

Thanks for flossing and letting us be part of your beautiful smile.

Top image by Flickr user Alan Light used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

WHY ARE CERTAIN CANDIES so bad for our teeth? One reason is all that sugar, of course. We know that. Here’s something you may not think about as often... Many popular treats include the descriptors tart, tangy, and sour. It seems the more bitter, the better.

Trouble is, our teeth are paying the price for this sour trend and we continue to see the damage.

Acid Erodes Our Teeth

A pH scale shows where substances are on a spectrum from base to acidic. 14–12 is really base, and 2–0 is really acidic.

A nice, neutral pH level of 7 is ideal for your mouth. When you eat acidic foods the pH level lowers. This can create a hostile, enamel-eroding environment for your teeth. No sugar (or plaque) is necessarily needed for an “acid attack” to be damaging.

Let’s Break It Down

Our tooth enamel can start to erode at a pH level of 4. Spree, a relatively mild sour candy, has a pH level of 3, Sour Skittles 2.2, and WarHeads Spray 1.6. That’s pretty shocking when you consider battery acid has a pH level of 1.0.

The Sad Signs Of Erosion

The acid in sour candy can really take a toll on our teeth and may even cause:

• Sensitivity
• Translucence at the biting edge of your teeth
• Increased cavities due to weakened enamel

Be Smart

Chewing sugarless gum stimulates saliva flow for cleansing. Swishing water around in your mouth can also help. Still, the smartest thing you can do is to stop eating tart candies, or eat them very sparingly. They’re treats, not snacks.

If you have braces you need to be extra careful. Not only can candy damage your appliance, it can be hard to remove around the brackets and may increase the chance of decay. You’re better off avoiding it.

If you’re experiencing signs of acid erosion, ask us about it. We can help.

Thanks for being our valued patient! We hope you and your smile are doing well!

IT’S IMPORTANT TO EAT RIGHT to maintain the oral health of your teeth and gums. This is especially true during braces.

Eating Right Helps Fend Off Plaque, Gingivitis, And Periodontal Disease

A healthy diet will maintain healthy tooth enamel and prevent the formation of plaque, white spot lesions, and tooth decay. Eating the right nutritious foods will produce strong and healthy gums, and will help prevent gingivitis and gum disease.

Foods to avoid to maintain tooth and gum health include acidic drinks with lemon, soda, and candy. These can damage and erode your enamel making you prone to tooth sensitivity, decalcification, and cavities. Potato chips and cookies can contribute to tooth plaque. Be sure to brush and floss at least twice per day to prevent the unwanted dental effects of these and other foods.

“Super-Smile” Foods That May Surprise You

Healthy and nutritious foods for teeth and gums include those rich in calcium and vitamin D. Here is a list of foods considered extremely healthy for your teeth:

1. Salmon- increases calcium absorption
2. Broccoli- reduces acid erosion
3. Onions- reduce bacteria
4. Celery- massages gums, cleans teeth, produces saliva
5. Apples- prevent plaque
6. Kiwi- vitamin C rich to increase collegen for gums
7. Paprika- high concentration of Vitamin C for gums
8. Jello- collagen for healthy gums
9. Carrots- prevent plaque
10. Quinoa- contains vitamins and minerals
11. Shiitaki Mushrooms- prevent mouth bacterial growth
12. Sesame Seeds- clear plaque and supply calcium
13. Milk- rich in calcium and vitamin D for strong bones and teeth

Check Out These Awesome Recipe Books

For healthy and brace friendly recipes, check out the cook books by Pamela Waterman.

If you would like to learn more about healthy and nutritious foods and recipes you can enjoy during braces, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, CA. You can find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000.

We wish you happy and healthy cooking and delicious foods during your braces. Eat right for a gorgeous smile.