Montano Orthodontics Around the Web

If you've ever visited us at Montano Smile, you already know that Dr. Montano and the rest of the team love connecting with their patients. We love the ability to communicate with all of you online too! Besides our web site and our blog, Montano Smile is on many other networks too!

* Share a video with us, or watch one of ours on Youtube

* Become a "fan" of Montano Orthodontics on Facebook

* View and comment on our photos on MySpace

See you around the web!

Smile for Life with Montano Orthodontics!

Montano Orthodontics is pleased to announce, Smile for a Lifetime Foundation’s (S4L) Kern County Regional Chapter has chosen
8 more candidates for the year, making a total of 13 news smiles
being created this year thus far! Congratulations to Ashley Moreno
and Elyssa Thompson. Both recipients received their braces this
month.

Ridgeview High School student Ashley Moreno receives her braces.
Ashley is a talented young lady who loves to sing but is embarrassed
to because of her teeth. She has shared on several occasions
that she does not like her smile, so she chooses not to as often as
she would like. Since Ashley has been chosen she has told us she
believes that "this opportunity will really affect my up-coming years
in high school and help me with my self-confidence." Her mother
says "she feels blessed to know there are those who can help give
children a greater confidence in themselves." With the help of S4L
and Montano Orthodontics, Ashley will glean a smile as beautiful as
the rest of her.

Elyssa Thompson a 10 year old Valley Oaks Charter School student
earns a Smile for a Lifetime scholarship. Elyssa stays busy with
Awanas, Bobby Sox softball, and playing the violin. Her counselor
and Resource teacher have noticed Elyssa changing from a confident
and outgoing individual to someone who retreats from speaking.
They have also noticed that when she does speak she covers
her mouth with her hand. Elyssa says she hides her mouth because
of her "Buck teeth." Her mother told us, "my daughters confidence
is going to explode now that she has been chosen. It's such a miracle,
like someone was watching over her." Soon Elyssa will be able
to talk and smile without hiding all she
wants with the help of S4L and Montano Orthodontics!

Everybody’s Brushing with Dr. Montano!

We at Montano Orthodontics found a fun video on brushing your teeth. Take a look below and tell us what you think!



--Montano Orthodontics

How To Stay Young & Healthy from Dr. Montano

Whether you’re 5 or 50, your health depends on your awareness of what’s good for you. But in a world filled with fad diets, blaring advertisements, and unintelligible ingredient lists, we at Montano Orthodontics know it can be difficult to determine exactly what is good for you – and what’s not.

For straightforward guidance on how to live a long, healthy life, we recommend Brush Your Teeth! And Other Simple Ways to Stay Young and Healthy by Dr. David Ostreicher. The book sums up good health in six fundamental principles: hygiene, diet, attitude, exercise, sleep and personal safety.

Drawing on nearly three decades of experience as an orthodontist and professor of health and nutrition, Dr. Ostreicher definitively answers age-old debates, like the best way to prevent colds and flu (your mom was right: wash your hands). He provides straight talk on a variety of diet choices including salt, fats, carbs and organic food, and he documents the importance of regular sleep, stress reduction and positive thinking to your overall health. His suggestions throughout are simple, clear, and inexpensive.

Dr. Ostreicher advocates a back-to-basics, common-sense approach to staying young and healthy. We at Montano Orthodontics couldn’t agree more, and we’d like to repeat the title of his book as our favorite piece of advice: don’t forget to Brush Your Teeth!

Bottled Water May Be Behind Tooth Troubles, Dr. Montano explains

We at Montano Orthodontics want you to know that as more families turn to bottled water and away from the tap, they may be missing out on one important ingredient that most brands of bottled water fail to include: fluoride!

As of 2005, bottled water is second only to soft drinks as the most popular drink in the United States, beating out milk, juice, and – more significantly – tap water. Between 2001 and 2006, the amount of bottled water sold in the U.S. rose an average of 10% per year. And many dental health specialists point to bottled water’s increased popularity as the culprit behind rising rates of cavities.

Because fluoride helps strengthen teeth, it is an important component of maintaining good oral health. The benefits of fluoride were noticed in the early part of the twentieth century, when researchers found communities with low levels of tooth decay. It turned out that these towns had measurable levels (around 1 part per million) of fluoride in their drinking water.

Beginning in the 1940s, communities have fluoridated their water supplies, and dentists have seen a significant decline in cavities ever since. The American Dental Association endorses both community water fluoridation and the use of fluoride-containing products as a safe means of preventing tooth decay. Between tap water and toothpaste, most of us get sufficient amounts of fluoride.

But if your family avoids fluoridated tap water in favor of ever-more-popular bottled water, you could be missing out on the levels of fluoride necessary to make a difference in your oral health.

If bottled water is your water of choice, check the label to make sure that your brand contains fluoride. As of a 2006 decision, the FDA allows bottled water containing .6 to 1.0 milligrams per liter of fluoride to carry a label stating that fluoridated water may reduce the risk of dental cavities or tooth decay. The ADA has backed this decision.

Of course, simply drinking fluoridated water is not a magic ticket to perfect teeth. To keep your choppers in tip-top shape, it’s important to brush and floss daily and avoid sugary sweets, in addition to maintaining your fluoride intake and visiting us at Montano Orthodontics regularly.

More Patient Reviews for Montano Orthodontics

We posted a few patient reviews a few months back about Montano Orthodontics. Since then, we have received many more, and we wanted to share our favorites with you!



All the staff at Montano Orthodontics are so friendly and nice. I have been impressed, too, with the work done to my teeth. It's amazing to me what Montano Orthodontics was able to do with teeth. I will be bring my 12 year old soon too ~ Margaret A.

Skilled and experienced. Very personable and willing to laugh. Explains treatment options in easy-to-understand manner. ~ Linda M.

I like the fact that Dr. Montano always tries to make you smile and feel comfortable about the the process. He has a wonderful personality and puts his patients at ease. He also discusses the plan that he has for you and thoroughly explains the process so that you understand what will be happening. This is what separates him from the rest of the orthodontists. He wants you to understand what is going to take place and his goal that he has in giving his patients the smile that we desire. ~ Renee R.

Dr. Montano is genuinely interested in his patients care, this is evident in the concern he shows to each of his patients (young and not so young)and the response he receives in return. His down to earth, easy to talk to manner combined with his thorough expertise, and follow through makes him number one choice. It's like the advertisement for V8 juice, I hit my head and say ,"I should have gone to Montano first!" ~ Rebecca H.

Cardiodontics: The Heart Mouth Connection from Montano Orthodontics

If you have been told you have periodontal disease (also known as gum disease or periodontitis), you're not alone. An estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of the disease! Periodontal diseases range from simple gum inflammation to serious disease that results in major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. In the worst cases, teeth are lost.

Gum disease is a threat to your oral health. Research is also pointing to health effects of periodontal diseases that go well beyond your mouth. So we at Montano Orthodontics want to let you know some interesting facts and ways to treat the disease.

What is Periodontal Disease?

"Perio" means around, and "dontal" refers to teeth. Periodontal disease is an infection of the structures around the teeth, including the gums and the bones that hold the teeth. The earliest stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis – an infection of the gums. In more severe forms of the disease, all of the tissues are involved, including the bone. Bacteria that live and reproduce on the teeth and gums cause periodontal disease.

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Symptoms may include the following:
--redness or bleeding of gums while brushing teeth or using dental floss
--halitosis, or bad breath
--gum recession, resulting in apparent lengthening of teeth
--"pockets" between the teeth and gums indicating that the bone which holds the teeth in the mouth is dissolving
--loose teeth
Gum inflammation and bone destruction are largely painless. Hence, people may wrongly assume that painless bleeding after teeth cleaning is insignificant, although this may be a symptom of progressing periodontitis. If your hands bled when you washed them, you would be concerned. Yet, many people think it's normal if their gums bleed when they brush or floss.

Periodontal Disease Affects Your Health

Periodontal disease is a putrid, festering infection of the mouth. Bacteria and inflammatory particles can enter the bloodstream through ulcerated and bleeding gums and travel to the heart and other organs. In recent years, gum disease has been linked to a number of health problems. Researchers are studying possible connections between gum disease and:
--Heart disease: Gum disease may increase the risk of heart disease. Gum disease also is believed to worsen existing heart disease.
--Stroke: Gum disease may increase the risk of the type of stroke caused by blocked arteries
--Diabetes: People with diabetes and periodontal disease may be more likely to have trouble controlling their blood sugar than diabetics with healthy gums.
--Premature births: A woman who has gum diseases during pregnancy may be more likely deliver her baby too early and the infant may be more likely to be of low birth weight.

Combating Periodontal Disease

--See your dentist! See your dentist every six months for a checkup! Regular professional cleanings and checkups make you feel good, look good, and could be a lifesaver!
--Brush and floss daily. Take your time and do it right!
--Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash. Daily use of an anti-bacterial mouthwash helps to disinfect the teeth and gums, and reduces the number of bacteria.
--Straighten your teeth. Crowded teeth are nearly impossible to keep clean. Orthodontic treatment can greatly reduce inflammation and periodontal disease.

--Montano Orthodontics