Smile Inc. Dr. Claudia Hernandez

07/31/2026

We had a great time renewing our CPR certification. Thank you to CPR Uptown for a fantastic session.

07/04/2026

Wishing you all a wonderful 4th of July weekend.🇺🇸🇺🇸

05/14/2026

Last week Smile Inc. was proud to share its passion with future leaders at Patricia S. Garza Elementary's Career Day, inspiring young minds.

05/14/2026

The team at Smile Inc. enjoyed attending the 2026 City of Weslaco Employee Fair and appreciated the chance to showcase our services.

05/04/2026

04/05/2026

Happy Easter!

02/15/2026

The mouth is connected to everything.
A February 4 study in mice showed that common oral bacteria don't stay local. They migrate and actively contribute to tumor development elsewhere in the body. Dental health is whole-body health.
Source: Cancer Research

02/13/2026

Late-night smartphone scrolling is not just a sleep problem — it may also influence your oral environment.

Blue light emitted from phones and tablets suppresses melatonin production, a hormone regulated by the circadian rhythm and normally released at night.

Multiple chronobiology studies confirm that evening exposure to short-wavelength light significantly reduces nocturnal melatonin secretion and delays biological night onset.

Melatonin is not only a sleep hormone. It is also detected in saliva and is involved in:

• Regulation of circadian rhythm in oral tissues
• Antioxidant defense within the oral cavity
• Modulation of inflammatory responses
• Potential influence on oral microbial balance

When circadian rhythm is disrupted:

• Salivary flow patterns can change
• Salivary buffering capacity may decrease
• Night-time oral clearance becomes less efficient
• Acidogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans may gain a metabolic advantage

At night, saliva naturally decreases. If melatonin is suppressed and sleep timing is delayed, the oral environment may remain acidic for longer periods — particularly if late-night snacking or sugary drinks are involved. This combination increases demineralization risk.

Recent literature in sleep and chronobiology research suggests that circadian disruption is an emerging behavioral risk factor for dental caries, especially in children and adolescents with irregular sleep schedules.

This does not mean smartphones directly “cause” cavities.

But chronic late-night blue-light exposure + delayed sleep + nocturnal snacking creates a biological environment more favorable to caries development.

Clinical takeaway:
• Avoid screen exposure at least 60–90 minutes before sleep
• Complete oral hygiene before bedtime
• Eliminate late-night sugar intake
• Maintain consistent sleep timing

Your body clock regulates more than sleep. It also influences saliva — and saliva protects your teeth.

01/24/2026

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