Giving thanks this holiday season

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season just around the corner, Dr. Skibell and our entire team wanted to stop for a moment and extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

As always, if you know anyone we can help, just let us know. We promise to give them the same quality orthodontic care that we have given you. We hope that this Thanksgiving and holiday season brings fond memories. Thank you for being part of our family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ask Dr. Skibell: Can germs really live on my toothbrush?

Great question! Fall is upon us, and with it comes the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. David Skibell will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing

• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen

• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster

• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Dr. Skibell wants to know: what's on your fall reading list?

This week marks National Young Reader's Week, and during this time, it’s more important than ever to remind your child to read on a regular basis. After all, reading helps kids develop the mind, expands a child’s knowledge base, activates his or her flow of ideas and boosts their confidence. Plus, reading is fun!

Tell us: is your child reading a book this fall? If so, what's on his or hers reading list?

If you're out of ideas for great fall reads, we encourage you to ask Dr. David Skibell or our team for suggestions, and we would be happy to provide a few great titles. You may also ask a local librarian here in Houston for some suggestions or check out various fall books for kids and teens that we found today, thanks to Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading everybody!

Hey Dr. Skibell! What's Invisalign, and is it right for me? [Video]

We've blogged about Invisalign before, but today thought we'd share a helpful video for those who are intrigued by the idea of straightening their teeth without using traditional metal braces. The Invisalign system at the office of Dr. David Skibell is a state-of-the-art system of clear, removable aligners that we proudly offer to adults and teens at our convenient Houston office. We have plenty of resources on our website to check out about Invisalign, or give our office a call at (713) 782-4566 for a consultation to learn if this revolutionary new treatment option is right for you!

Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in our office getting adjustments. Dr. Skibell is a Certified Invisalign® Provider in Houston.

Questions? Ask us on Facebook or give us a call!

What's on your mind? Tell Dr. Skibell!

By now, you’re probably familiar with the drill: Every week, our creative staff at Dr. Skibell's office write about topics related to orthodontic care and your health, including innovative orthodontic treatments offered at our convenient Houston office.

This week, though, we thought we’d ask our remarkable patients: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the exciting field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog going forward? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Skibell but haven’t found the time? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

Give us your best shot, and our team will try to answer any questions you may have! Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Ask Dr. Skibell: Why are straight teeth so important?

Some people wonder why Dr. David Skibell and our team work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly-aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Dr. Skibell's office can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque, the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and, they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation at our convenient office in Houston. Dr. Skibell can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Questions? Give us a call at (713) 782-4566 or ask us on Facebook!

Dr. Skibell and team, helping dispel myths about orthodontics

Trust us when we say Dr. David Skibell and our staff know there are quite a few myths about orthodontics (and orthodontists) floating around these days. But before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists set the record straight (no pun intended) and have provided some information that sheds some light on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here at the office of Dr. David L. Skibell, feel free to give us a call at (713) 782-4566.

Happy Monday!