Even if you brush and floss daily, it is still important to see us at Bluebonnet Dental Care every 6 months, or as recommended. Why?

• We can detect and treat tooth and gum problems that you may have never felt or noticed.
• Even thorough daily oral care may not be enough to prevent cavities and oral decay.
• Frequent visits can allow us to treat a problem early to prevent future complications.

If you are overdue for an appointment with us, please give us a call today!

-- Dr. Pooneh Najafi & Team

Dr. Pooneh Najafi and our team at Bluebonnet Dental Care want to know: what do your winter plans look like? Do you have any plans for an exciting family vacation? Are you hanging out around town? Catching up on sleep? Spending time with friends? Let us know!

Please feel free to share your exciting winter plans and experiences with us here or on our Facebook page! We would like to wish all of our patients and their families a safe and fun holiday season!

At Bluebonnet Dental Care, Dr. Pooneh Najafi and her friendly staff personally promise to take excellent care of you and deliver results that contribute to a healthy and beautiful smile.

And speaking of smiling, in a poll conducted by Glamour Magazine earlier this year, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?”

Well, 44 percent of folks out there chose teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of one’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

Take the next step toward a healthier, brighter smile; please contact our Fort Worth dental office and schedule an appointment. We offer convenient early morning hours, and we are open on Friday!

Please feel free to contact our Fort Worth dental office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Najafi today. We look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve optimum oral health!

With the start of the busy holiday season right around the corner, Dr. Pooneh Najafi and our staff wanted to stop for a moment to say how thankful we are to have you in our dental family. We realize that our practice thrives because of great patients like you. We are the lucky ones because we not only help keep you and your smile healthy, but we also have the pleasure of knowing you and your loved ones.

As always, if you know anyone we can help, just let us know. We promise to give them the same quality 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.

Whenever you have a follow-up question for Dr. Pooneh Najafi or our team, or if you’d simply like to drop us a quick line, we’d love to hear from you! We love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our interactive Facebook fan page.

Please visit Bluebonnet Dental Care on the following networks:

When your child needs urgent dental treatment, Dr. Pooneh Najafi and our team at Bluebonnet Dental Care stand ready to help. Please keep our emergency number available and convenient. Here are some helpful answers to some recent patient questions.

Q: What should I do if my child’s baby tooth is knocked out?

A: Contact Bluebonnet Dental Care as soon as possible.

Q: What should I do if my child’s permanent tooth is knocked out?

A: Find the tooth and rinse it gently in milk or saliva. (Do not scrub it or clean it with soap — use just water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk, saliva, or water. Get to our office immediately. (Call the emergency number if it’s after hours.) The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.

Q: What if a tooth is chipped or fractured?

A: Contact Bluebonnet Dental Care immediately. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it with you when you visit Dr. Najafi.

Q: What about a severe blow to the head or jaw fracture?

A: Go immediately to the emergency room of your local hospital. A blow to the head can be life threatening.

Q: What if my child has a toothache?

A: Call us and visit Bluebonnet Dental Care promptly. To comfort your child, rinse the mouth with water. Apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. Do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area.

Q: Can dental injuries be prevented?

A: Of course! First, reduce oral injury in sports by wearing mouth guards. Custom mouth guards fabricated by your dentist provide the best protection. Second, always use a car seat for young children. Require seat belts for everyone else in the car. Third, child-proof your home to prevent falls, electrical injuries, and choking on small objects. Fourth, protect your child from unnecessary toothaches with regular dental visits to our office.

Contact our Fort Worth dental office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Najafi. She loves what she does and enjoys every day watching her patients grow and smile as they visit our office.

Happy Monday! Our entire team at Bluebonnet Dental Care would like to give those patients with flex spend, health savings, or insurance benefits a friendly end of the year reminder that it’s about that time to schedule your dental visit so you can optimize your benefits!

Now is the time to reserve you appointment with us. Space is limited and we get VERY busy around the holidays, so don’t wait to give us a call! Have a wonderful rest of the week!

At Bluebonnet Dental Care, we know that gingivitis, which is the early stage of periodontal disease, can be difficult to recognize if you're not a trained dentist. Many people don't recognize the warning signs - bleeding and swollen gums - as a precursor to periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. This month, a national campaign is under way to raise awareness about gum health and periodontal disease, and we wanted to help do our part to spread the word!

Dr. Pooneh Najafi and our team will tell you early recognition and taking action are the most important steps to health gums, and ultimately a health body, too! Studies are published every year linking oral health, including the gums, to the health of other areas of the body, such as your heart. One of the most important steps to improving the care of your gums is recognizing the warning signs for gum disease.

Our staff knows these can include:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent halitosis, or bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position

If you happen to notice any of these signs, please schedule an appointment at our convenient offices by calling us as soon as possible. Dr. Najafi and our team can take proactive steps to prevent gingivitis and gum disease, while showing you how to improve gum care in your daily oral hygiene habits.

At Bluebonnet Dental Care, we know your smile is important. And we know you want to keep it sparkling and looking its very best. Recently, we came across an article that suggests at least 20 things can ruin that perfect smile you have.

These include:

- Sports drinks
- Bottled water
- Tobacco
- Wine
- Soft drinks
- Citrus and acidic foods

Dr. Pooneh Najafi and our team encourage you to read the rest of the article and ask us here on our blog or during your next visit to our convenient Fort Worth office. For more tips or for general questions about your ongoing dental treatment, we invite you to ask us during your next visit! We also invite you to ask us on Facebook!

Happy Monday! Everyone loves fun facts and dental tips. Fun, fun, fun! Dr. Najafi and our staff at Bluebonnet Dental Care came across these dental fun facts last week and thought you might enjoy!

• The second most common disease in the United States is cavities. The first is the common cold.
• There are almost 9,000 accidental pockings and piercings with toothpicks per year.
• X-rays may be an effective tool in preventing strokes.
• A child will have 20 baby teeth by the time he or she is 2 years old. Through childhood, kids gradually lose baby teeth and grow 32 permanent teeth, including wisdom teeth.
• According to consumer reports, dentists are among the 5 most trusted professionals in the United States.
• Approximately $2 billion a year is spent on dental products like toothpastes, mouthwashes and dental floss.
• The average American spends about 38 days brushing teeth over his or her lifetime.
• Kids in North America spend half a billion dollars per year on chewing gum.
• Approximately 94 percent of Americans say they brush nightly while only 81 percent say they brush first thing in the morning.
• Grand Rapids, MI was the first American city to fluoridate its water.
• Earliest record of a toothbrush was found in Chinese literature about 1600 AD
• The natural bristles of early toothbrushes were taken from the necks and shoulders of swine, especially pigs living in colder climates like Siberia and China.

Lastly, has it been at least six months since your last checkup with Dr. Najafi? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to give us a call!

At Bluebonnet Dental Care, we know most folks enjoy a hot-brewed coffee or tea in the morning, followed by a cola (or more coffee) in the afternoon. But what many don’t know is that both coffee and tea are especially tough on your teeth, because tannic acid (the substance that makes the dark color) etches into the pits and grooves of tooth enamel, and can stain your pearly whites brown.

So, if you can't give up that morning cup o’joe, what can you do? Dr. Pooneh Najafi and team suggest rinsing with a glass of water after every cup. If you enjoy iced coffee or tea, drink your beverage with a straw so that tannins don’t make contact with your front upper and lower teeth. Even if you’re not a big coffee drinker, we encourage you to swish and swallow some water at the end of each meal. Water, after all, helps neutralize acids left in your mouth after eating and also reduces cavity-causing bacteria.

Dr. Najafi and our staff also invite you to visit our convenient Fort Worth office for whitening options. We can help bleach your teeth with proven and professional products. To learn more about whitening options at our office, please visit our website, ask us on Facebook or give us a call!

With summer in full force, our staff at Bluebonnet Dental Care thought today would be a great time to remind all our young athletes to take care of their mouth while participating in sports – especially contact sports – this summer.

Sports dentistry is the prevention and treatment of dental injuries and related oral diseases, as well as the sharing of information and equipment designed to help protect the teeth, mouth, jaw, and face of athletes of all ages. Injuries to the teeth and mouth are common among athletes, especially during summer months. It's important to protect your smile while playing sports for aesthetics as well as your health.

Common dental injuries in sports include:

• Knocked out tooth/teeth
• Chipped tooth/teeth
• Displaced teeth

One of the best, and most convenient, ways to prevent injury to your teeth and mouth while playing sports is to wear a mouthguard. There are several types of mouthguards to choose from, and Dr. Pooneh Najafi can help you choose the best one for your particular needs.

Only by using a mouth guard can people avoid serious sports injuries. The next time you’re in for a visit with Dr. Najafi at our Fort Worth office, we encourage you to ask us for a mouth guard!

Don’t put off your visit Dr. Najafi’s office any longer! As we’ve shared in previous blog posts, oral health issues have been increasingly linked to other health concerns, such as heart disease. Cardiovascular disease remains American's number one killer, claiming more lives than the rest of major causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Believe it or not, an estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of gum disease. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care.

Studies are also beginning to suggest that patients, especially those with periodontal disease, are believed to have an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke. Since most patients are not regularly visiting a heart specialist, their regular visits to Bluebonnet Dental Care can help detect early warning signs of heart issues, prevent gum disease or at least catch it in its early stages. We’d also like you to know your numbers: blood pressure (less than 120/80), cholesterol (less than 200) and BMI (less than 25).

Additionally, if it’s been more than six months since your last visit to our Fort Worth office, please give us a call! Summer makes for a great time to check in with us!

At Bluebonnet Dental Care, we value the relationships we’ve developed with our patients in Fort Worth and surrounding communities over the years. Even if you visit our office on a regular basis, did you know you can always connect with Dr. Najafi and team on Facebook?

By “Liking” us on Facebook, you will receive regular news, updates and announcements from our office – all through your news feed!

Besides our Facebook page, we have our own YouTube channel, where we hope to post happy patient testimonials soon!

See you on Facebook!

Dr. Najafi & the Bluebonnet Dental Care team

"Always great! I always have a pleasant if not fun experience when I go to Dr. Pooneh Najafi and her fantastic hygienist Lisa for my regular cleaning and check-up! Everyone there is wonderful and I feel very well taken care of."

"I would highly recommend Dr. Najafi and her staff. As someone who has had many terrible experiences at the dentist in the past, I had neglected my dental health for the past 8 years. My daughter became a patient of Dr. Najafi's and when I met the staff and realized how friendly & caring they were, I decided to become a patient myself ... This staff has done a lot towards easing my fear of the dentist. If you want a great experience - give Bluebonnet Dental a visit!"

"Great dentist with a woman's touch Dr. Najafi is not your run-of-the-mill dentist! Professional yet personable with a woman's touch. I recommend her to anyone looking for a great dentist to see for years to come. Her motto is patients for life and she means it. she is the best!"

"Dr. Najafi is super nice and very Dr. Najafi is super nice and very professional. I highly recommend this Dental group!!"‎

We hope you’re having a great week and a great summer so far! If you are planning on traveling with family this summer or think you might not be able to make it to your scheduled appointment with Dr. Najafi, please let us know ahead of time so that we may be able to accommodate you, as well as schedule another patient at that appointment time.

Also, we ask that you give us a call and and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed! Please call us with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so we may be able to reach you. Thank you! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Happy Friday! Dr. Pooneh Najafi and our team want to know: Are you brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing? If the answer is yes, we think that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important to visit our Fort Worth office every six months, in addition to brushing your teeth a couple times a day and flossing. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Dr. Najafi and our team can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt

• Detect cavities and early signs of decay

• Treat oral health problems early

• Show you how to properly brush or floss

During an oral exam we will usually check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to our office in the last six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment! Summer makes for a great time for a quick visit!

At Bluebonnet Dental Care, we know bad breath can be a real downer, especially when you are out on a date you’ve had a crush on for months or at an important social function! However, bad breath can be prevented!

Bad breath, or as Dr. Najafi may call it “halitosis,” is caused by odor-producing bacteria that grows in your mouth. This bacteria gathers on bits of food in your mouth and between your teeth and release sulfur compounds making your breath smell. Some foods, like garlic and onions, may contribute more to bad breath because of oils the food the food releases, and smoking is also a major cause of bad breath.

There are several myths around bad breath. Here are some common myths and the truth behind it all:

Myth #1: Mouthwash will make my breath smell better

Mouthwash will make your breath smell better, but it is only a temporary fix. If you use mouthwash, just know that you will still need to brush and floss when you get the chance as mouthwash alone will not kill all of the bacteria producing germs in your mouth. When choosing a mouthwash, pick an antiseptic with plaque-reducing compounds. Also make sure any dental products you choose comes with the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of approval!

Myth #2: I brush my teeth; I will never have bad breath

Brushing your teeth will save you from having breath, but the truth is most people only brush their teeth for about 30-45 seconds! You need to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day to give your teeth a thorough cleansing. It’s also important to brush your tongue, which is where a majority of odor causing bacteria like to hang out. Lastly, flossing to remove food and plaque between the teeth will also help reduce your chances of having bad breath!

Myth #3: If I don’t smell it, then my breath is fresh

This is a false assumption in every sense of the word! The truth is that the breath you breathe out is not the same breath coming out when you talk to someone. When you breathe you are not using your throat as you do when you are talking; and when you talk more breath moves over the back of your mouth where bacteria is causing bad breath.

#1 TRUTH: Brush your teeth twice a day (for at least 2 minutes), floss at least once and visit our Fort Worth office every six months…this way your breath will always be fresh!

Not letting your nerves get the best of you on your date or during your social function? That’s up to you!