Snickerdoodle Cookies, from the Reed Orthodontics Cookie Cookbook

Your votes counted! This week, Dr. Reed and our team are excited to feature a recipe that our patients requested on our Facebook page. Snickerdoodle Cookies are obviously already a favorite of our patients! We would like to thank Alyssa K. for sharing this recipe with Reed Orthodontics. Please feel free to share your favorite recipes here or on our Facebook page. We always look forward to receiving your feedback!

Snickerdoodle Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. cream of tarter
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions
Mix sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
Mix rest of ingredients. Roll into balls. Roll in cinnamon/sugar. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies, from the Reed Orthodontics Cookie Cookbook

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies are a family favorite, a delicious treat that will satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth. The Reed Orthodontics recipe of the week comes from Janet M., and it comes from our Cookie Cookbook. We would love to hear your feedback about these tasty cookies here or as a comment on our Facebook page!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1 tsp. soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup Crisco
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 12-16 oz. chocolate chips

Directions
Mix all wet ingredients. Add dry ingredients. Mix in chocolate chips. Bake cookies at 375° for 11-13 minutes.

Option: Add 1/2 cup of coconut for a different flavor.

Dr. Charles Reed, recipient of the Top Orthodontist Award

Dr. Charles Reed is excited to announce that we have been awarded the 2011 Top Orthodontist Award by 5280 Magazine, an organization that identifies top dentists as chosen by their peers and through the topDentists' database. 5280’s theory is that medical professionals are best qualified to judge other medical professionals. It is very exciting to have this exclusive honor! Thank you everyone for your confidence and trust.

-The team at Reed Orthodontics

Maple Walnut Cookies, from the Reed Orthodontics Cookie Cookbook

This week, we would like to share a delicious recipe that was submitted for the Reed Orthodontics Cookie Cookbook by Heidi V. If you enjoy maple, then you're going to love these scrumptious maple walnut cookies. They're simply delicious!

Thank you to everyone who has already passed along their favorite recipes for our Cookie Cookbook. If you haven't already, feel free to share recipes with us here or on our Facebook page.

Ingredients
2 sticks butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
3 tbsp. pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cup walnuts (chopped)

Directions
Beat butter with electric mixer until creamy (about 3 minutes). Gradually add sugar until well blended. Add maple syrup, egg and vanilla. Mix in flour and walnuts. Divide dough in half and shape into logs. Wrap in plastic or wax paper. Refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours or overnight).

Strawberries and Cream Slush Drink, a braces-friendly spring smoothie!

You have braces, and you’re probably wondering what to eat. You can’t have gum, popcorn or other delicious but braces-unfriendly foods. But fear not! Reed Orthodontics has a delicious spring smoothie recipe that is perfect for those warm, sunny afternoons. Enjoy!

Ingredients
• 2 ½ cups (about 1 pound) strawberries, fresh or frozen
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• 1 ½ cups crushed ice
• 1 ½ cups club soda
• 3 Tablespoons vanilla syrup (sold as a coffee flavoring)
• ½ cup sugar or more, to taste
• 1 can whipped cream

Directions
Wash and drain strawberries. Remove stems and slice. Put lime juice in blender, and then add batches of strawberries, about a half-cup at a time, blending until liquefied. Strain the strawberries through a fine sieve to remove most of the seeds and some pulp. Place back in blender, and blend with the crushed ice. Pour into a 2-liter pitcher and stir in club soda, vanilla syrup and sugar. Serve in six tall glasses with a swish of whipped cream on top.

PB&J Cookies, from the Reed Orthodontics Cookie Cookbook

Everyone has a favorite childhood recipe, or a treat that reminds them of mom, dad or grandma's baking. Peanut butter and jelly are no longer just for sandwiches – today's recipe will redefine your favorite childhood snack. Nikki's recipe for PB&J Cookies is one of the originals from the Reed Orthodontics staff and patient Cookie Cookbook. What great recipes we’ve received from everyone!

Dr. Reed would like to pass on a big thank you to all of you who shared your favorites with us. We also encourage patients and staff to share more of their favorite recipes on our Facebook page. Enjoy this tasty treat!

PB&J Cookies

Mix 3 cups flour, 1 Tbsp. baking soda, a pinch of salt and 1 tsp. cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl mix 2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 2 Tbsp. Butter and 1 tsp. vanilla.

Mix dry and wet ingredients. Roll dough into a ball and put peanut butter and jelly in the middle of the dough ball.

Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes. Let cool and serve with milk!

Thanks to Invisalign®, mom and dad can have a perfect smile, too!

Hey parents! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking wistfully about having your own set of perfect teeth, our staff at Reed Orthodontics can help! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you!

Please give us a call to set up a consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

Connect with the Braces Brigade!

At Reed Orthodontics, our patients want to get as much out of their treatment as possible. That includes asking a lot of questions and making sure they take care of both their appliances and oral health.

Would you like to learn more about what to expect during orthodontic treatment, from someone with firsthand experience? Well, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recently developed the Braces Brigade blog, where past, present, as well as future orthodontic patients from coast to coast document their (or their child’s) orthodontic journeys. The blog will serve as a source of guidance for others as the patients undergo orthodontic care.

Our team at Reed Orthodontics encourages you to visit the Braces Brigade blog to read these great and informative blogs—who knows, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two! As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions about the Braces Brigade or your own orthodontic treatment with Dr. Reed!

Eating for orthodontic success with Reed Orthodontics

There are a variety of foods Dr. Reed wants you to avoid while you're wearing braces. Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces. If you’re wearing braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch tend to cause plaque, cavities and even tooth decay.

Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods you should avoid include:

• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Also, chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give Reed Orthodontics a call or ask our staff during your next visit.

Dr. Charles Reed announces the winner of our Senior Photo Contest

With 101 Facebook "likes," Cherokee Trail senior Jace O. is the winner of the Reed Orthodontics' Senior Photo Contest. He received $100 cash as the first place prize. Erica is our second place contest winner, and she will be receive a great dinner certificate. Congratulations Jace and Erica!

Thank you to all of our patients who participated in the Senior Photo Contest. We enjoyed seeing all of your senior photos, and reading your comments. Stay tuned for another contest soon!

Talkin' retainers with Dr. Reed

If you recently completed treatment at Reed Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Reed will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, always provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Reed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Reed, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!

Visualize your new smile with the Brace Painter!

Braces at Reed Orthodontics are more fun than ever! With the Brace Painter, parents and children are able to “paint their braces,” and visualize how teeth will look with different colors of bands.

Would you like to try out green and gold bands this March, without the commitment of an all-out St. Patrick's Day look? The Brace Painter allows for you to select different colors, and then assign those colors of bands to certain teeth. Now, you can visualize your braces before you even come in for your appointment!

As always, please let Dr. Reed know if you have any questions about the Brace Painter, or your orthodontic treatment at Reed Orthodontics. Have a great week!

The health benefits of dairy, from Dr. Reed

Dr. Reed wants to know: Is dairy a major part of your diet? If not, it should be! A 2008 study from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) has found that regular consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, can actually lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease (also known as gum disease). Results of the study also showed that adults who consume at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day are less at risk for gum disease.

Cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child's teeth. In addition to providing large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also does its part to fight cavities. Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, and Monterey Jack all stimulate the body's salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris and protect them from acids that weaken them, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. This means cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque's ph level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child's teeth.

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth that affects the gums and jaw. Gum disease results in a loss of teeth and bone, and has been connected to certain cases of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and osteoporosis.

Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Next time you reach for a quick snack, choose some cheese, or a glass of milk, and remember with each bite, and every sip you are preserving your teeth for a lifetime of smiles and good oral health!

For more information about which dairy foods are best for keeping your teeth healthy, please give us a call.

Dr. Reed reminds patients about our Senior Photo Contest

Senior photos are only taken once, and our team at Reed Orthodontics would love to see yours! Dr. Reed invites patients to share their photos on our Facebook page, or by emailing them to beg4braces@aol.com, for a chance to win $100 in our Senior Photo Contest.

The contest ends April 1, 2011, so don't delay in submitting your entry! The more people you invite to "like" your photo on our Facebook page, the better your chances are for winning $100. Say cheese!

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!

One in four parents say their child has had an injury during an organized sport resulting in a trip to the emergency room, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO. That why Dr. Reed and our team at Reed Orthodontics thought February—also known as National Children’s Dental Health Month—would be great time to remind our patients to be mindful of their braces and pearly whites while playing sports. Here are a few tips to stay safe on the field this spring, courtesy of the AAO:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Reed Orthodontics. Stay safe and have fun!

Get those checkups! From Reed Orthodontics

Are you brushing and flossing daily properly during your orthodontic treatment? If yes, that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist every 3-to-6 months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting Reed Orthodontics, of course). Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health, especially during orthodontic treatment.

Your general dentist can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

During an oral exam your dentist can 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 the dentist in the last six months, let us know during your next visit and we will provide a few great references in the greater Denver and Centennial, CO areas!

The 25th anniversary of MLK Day, from Reed Orthodontics

The activism of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was integral to the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1950s and ‘60s. As the social justice leader once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” There are many ways that you may answer this question, whether it is by participating in a environmental impact project, volunteering through an education program, or serving veterans and military families. Are you in search of a Day of Service project? You can always ask Dr. Charles Reed, or visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service website.

All of us here at Reed Orthodontics would love to hear what you’re doing for others in the Centennial, CO and Denver, CO areas. We encourage you to share any pictures, videos, or information about your Day of Service project on our Facebook page. Happy MLK Day!

Show off your fabulous smile and win $100!

Hey Seniors! Are you excited to show off your fabulous smile in senior pictures? Reed Orthodontics invites you to share your senior photo on our Facebook page, or by emailing them to beg4braces@aol.com, for a chance to win $100 in our contest.

Invite your friends to vote for your photo on our Facebook page as the most FABULOUS! The more people you invite to "like" your photo, the better your chances to win $100. Good luck!

Patient Question: What can Invisalign® do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with Reed Orthodontics than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Reed the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.