Smile wider, live longer, from Dr. Ray Partovy

Dr. Partovy has some good news to report! People with big, happy smiles may actually out-live those who don’t, according to a new study conducted at Wayne State University in Michigan.

Drs. Partovy and Baum knew that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they used information from the Baseball Register to look at photos of 230 players who began their baseball careers prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (wide smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were then compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through last year.

The researchers then took into account other factors associated with longevity, such as body mass index, or BMI, career length and college attendance. They found that players who weren't smiling died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old!

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you tried perfecting your smile by visiting Ray Partovy DDS lately? If not, give us a call today!

Dr. Partovy, your Marina Del Rey and Tarzana Lumineers provider

Are your teeth chipped or stained? Would you like to improve your smile permanently, without any painful processes? Dr. Ray Partovy is pleased to offer Lumineers as an alternative to traditional porcelain veneers.

Lumineers are available through experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Partovy, who has been creating beautiful natural looking smiles for patients in Marina Del Rey, Tarzana and surrounding communities for years. Veneers provide a way to conceal stains, chips, discoloration and misaligned teeth, by covering your actual teeth with a permanent layer of tooth-colored material. Because Lumineers are as thin as contact lenses, their application requires little to no tooth reduction, and no anesthetic is necessary.

Lumineers are bonded to your teeth and set in place by Dr. Partovy with a curing light. Because the process is less invasive than with traditional veneers, Lumineers patients under Dr. Partovy's care find that they immediately enjoy their new smiles without any post-procedure discomfort or sensitivity.

Take control of your smile and give us a call to ask whether Lumineers are a good choice for you.

Wishing you a safe and happy St. Patrick's Day, from our team at Ray Partovy DDS

Dr. Partovy wants to know: Did you remember to wear green when you stepped out the door this morning? Whether Irish or not, millions of people in the U.S. and around the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day with toasts, parades and "the wearing of the green." Here are some fun facts about St. Patty’s Day Drs. Partovy and Baum know you will enjoy:

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17th because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history.

• The name “leprechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which simply means “shoemaker.”

• Some American towns have Irish names. They include: Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio and Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia.

• Despite what you may have heard, St. Patrick never banished snakes from Ireland. In fact, no snakes exist or ever existed in Ireland. Ireland is surrounded by icy ocean waters, much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.

• St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated in Boston, in 1737. Approximately 34 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

5 tips to avoid plaque, from Dr. Partovy

Dr. Ray Partovy knows nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth, much less hearing the word 'plaque.' Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Let’s start with not brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is not flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, avoiding a trip to visit Dr. Partovy's office is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting your dentist at least twice a year, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your teeth.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you have braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick that candy up, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be. If you have any questions, please give us a call or schedule an appointment!

March is National Nutrition Month! From Dr. Partovy

Remember February, which was also known as American Heart Month? Well, March has arrived, and that can only mean one thing: it's National Nutrition Month®. Every March, Dr. Ray Partovy and thousands of dentists and hygienists celebrate National Nutrition Month. This March, Dr. Partovy and our team want you to think diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve periodontal health.

Small changes really can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your diet:

• Focus on fruits and veggies: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Look locally: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in your area.

• Make calories count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• Test your taste buds: Expand your horizons. Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new health favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

• Trick yourself with treats: If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you want a snack in the afternoon, have some trail mix or nuts.

We hope this helps! Give Dr. Partovy a call if you have any questions!