Jaclyn N Smith DDS PC

12/13/2025

Happy 7th Work Anniversary to Debra Wick and Elizabeth Wenske! Thank you both for your hard work and dedication to our Patients and the Team! You both have a passion to make a difference in someone life! 🦷❤️

12/08/2025

🎄Presents packed full of necessities and goodies for two residents at HNRC! 🎁
Don’t forget to stop by the French Simpson Memorial Library to get an ornament on the tree to make a special someone happy this Christmas!

12/05/2025

We have had these discussions with a few moms! Definitely need to try to get rid of the pacifier and finger sucking by 2.

Thumb-Sucking and pacifier use are natural soothing habits in infancy. However, when the habit continues for too long, it can place constant pressure on developing teeth and jaws. This may negatively affect the bite and change how the teeth and jaw grow, especially if the habit continues beyond age 3. In some cases, bone changes can begin as early as 18 months.

Common Dental Problems Caused by Prolonged Thumb-Sucking or Pacifier Use

🔹 Protruding front teeth
Constant sucking pressure can push the upper front teeth outward. This may make it difficult for children to close their lips comfortably, contribute to speech challenges, and increase the risk of trauma to the front teeth.

🔹 Open bite
If the upper and lower front teeth do not overlap properly, a gap remains when your child bites down. An open bite can interfere with normal swallowing patterns and speech development.

🔹 Crossbite
Excessive sucking can cause the upper teeth to sit inside the lower teeth. If not corrected early, a crossbite can shift the jaw to one side, leading to asymmetrical jaw growth and long-term dental issues.

How to Help Your Child Break the Habit

Most children naturally stop thumb-sucking or pacifier use between ages 2 and 4. If the habit continues, try these supportive strategies:

1. Bitter Taste Nail Solutions
These specially designed products taste unpleasant and discourage children from putting their fingers in their mouths.

2. Bandages or Finger Wraps
Gently wrap your child’s finger(s) at bedtime to reduce nighttime thumb-sucking.

3. Modify the Pacifier
For children aged 3–4 who still rely on a pacifier, cutting the tip removes its suction effect, making it less satisfying to use.

4. Consult a Dentist
If home strategies are unsuccessful, seek guidance from your dentist. Depending on your child’s needs, they may recommend gentle orthodontic appliances to help stop the habit and guide healthy jaw development.

12/01/2025

Wow! We are feeling love today! Thank you to Gulf Coast Periodontics for Crumble! If y’all see us moving faster today, it’s because we are on a sugar high!😂

12/01/2025

Thank you to Victoria Endodontics for our sweet treats today! They are almost too cute to eat! 🦷🎄🎅🏼⛄️

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for all our patients! May you enjoy your time with family and friends!🦃🍂🍁

11/14/2025

Guess what? We finally have an enamel repair treatment in the US! No one wants to be numbed and drilled on! Curodont promotes the natural rebuilding of tooth enamel over a 6 month period when applied to a cavity within enamel(the outer layer of tooth structure)! Call us for an exam and X-rays to see if we can help remineralize your teeth! Perfect for those spots that show up when in braces or after the brackets are removed!
361-798-2766

11/10/2025

The bacteria found in people with gum disease and tooth decay is also causing lots of other underlying issues! Don’t put your oral health cleaning and checkups off!

A new 21-year study from the University of South Carolina has found that people with both gum disease and tooth decay face an 86% higher risk of stroke compared to those with healthy mouths — even after accounting for smoking, diabetes, and other cardiovascular factors.

Researchers followed nearly 6,000 adults over two decades and discovered that chronic oral inflammation and bacterial infection may trigger changes in blood vessels and increase the likelihood of clots — a key cause of ischemic strokes. Poor oral health doesn’t just harm teeth; it may silently strain the brain and heart.

The study also revealed that individuals who visited the dentist regularly were 81% less likely to have both gum disease and cavities, and 29% less likely to have gum disease alone. Routine scaling, professional cleanings, and early treatment of cavities could play a major role in reducing stroke risk.

🔬 Source:
🔍 doi:10.1212/WN9.0000000000000036.

10/31/2025

We are celebrating Buck Eve at the office!
Buck Blind
Buck Teeth
Buck Lure
Buck stops here (corn)
Trophy Buck
Buck Hunter

10/22/2025

HOW ACIDIC IS YOUR MOUTH? AND FOR HOW LONG IS THE TRUE QUESTION?
It takes your saliva 30-40 minutes to buffer the acidity to get your mouth back to neutral! If you have dry mouth, it takes a lot longer. So whether you are eating acidic foods or carbohydrates/sugars that bacteria feed on to produce an acid, you must know when to neutralize vs feed it! So sipping on drinks other than water may have your teeth bathing in ACID!! Your teeth will breakdown in minutes! WATER IS THE KEY!
Many of us love to sip on tea, coffee, fountain drinks or snack throughout the day or night! Forming good habits is hard. Try to drink the sugary or acidic drinks with your meals, rinsing with water afterwards and drinking water the rest of the time to help!

10/21/2025

Cam was showing off his soccer game day shirt today! I hope our lime green team had a fantastic fun filled fall season! ⚽️

10/10/2025

Dentistry has come a long ways! Just check out this equipment from years ago displayed in Charlotte, NC at the Dentsply Sirona Educational Building!
Computers and the digital world can be challenging at times. However, they have made dentistry quicker and more comfortable! Have you experienced our digital 3D x-rays and digital intraoral scans?