Staying connected with Reed Orthodontics

At Reed Orthodontics, we embrace technology, whether it’s through the innovative treatments we offer, our high-tech web site or our Facebook fan page. As you can probably tell, we love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas and pictures from our Cash For Candy event on our Facebook fan page. For social media to work, we understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks are hugely popular these days, we know they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While Dr. Reed and our staff take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Please post your thoughts or give us a call!

A few Halloween safety tips, from Reed Orthodontics

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of October’s sweet and spooky holiday, Halloween, Dr. Reed would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has provided trick-or-treaters with some tips for a ghoulishly good time.

A few Halloween safety guidelines:
• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment. If you happen to damage your braces, please give Dr. Reed and our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone.

Reed Orthodontics Recipe of the Week: Twisty Soft Pretzels!

At Reed Orthodontics, serving Denver, Aurora and Centennial, CO, we love sharing braces-friendly recipes with our patients. Our recipe this week is for Twisty Soft Pretzels, which are perfect to pack in kids' lunches or as a yummy snack at home. As always, feel free to share your all-time favorite recipes with us by posting them on our Facebook page.

Twisty Soft Pretzels

Ingredients:

3/4 Cup of warm water
1/2 Envelope yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 Cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
Pinches of salt or cinnamon-sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425. In a large bowl, stir together warm water, yeast & sugar. Mix in salt and flour with a larger spoon. Shape dough into pretzel shapes. Brush them with the beaten egg. Sprinkle salt or cinnamon-sugar. Bake for 12 minutes.

Reed Orthodontics: Tips on Foods to Avoid While In Orthodontic Treatment

At Reed Orthodontics, our goal is to provide you with a beautiful smile. This can only be accomplished if the braces stay attached to your teeth. We do not want to interfere with your nutritional intake, but we do ask that you watch the types of foods you eat. Some types of foods are capable of breaking your bands or brackets, bending your wires, and breaking the cement under your bands or brackets. All these things prolong treatment time.

A careful patient can eat a nutritionally balanced diet and do no harm to their braces. We hope that you will strive to be this type of patient. The foods listed below are the ones that we have found to be the most common cause of loose bands, brackets and broken appliances.

Hard Foods

1. ice (no crunching, please)
2. hard edges of pizza
3. peanuts (all nuts)
4. popcorn (hard kernels)
5. hard candy
6. carrots & apples (may be eaten if cut into small pieces)
7. Corn-on-the cob (may be eaten if sliced off the cob)

Sticky & Chewy Foods

1. caramels
2. taffy
3. gum
4. “Now or Later” candy
5. Gummy Bears
6. Milk Duds
7. “Snickers” candy bars
8. Jelly Beans
Sweet Foods

Although they may not cause damage to your appliances, care should be taken to brush your teeth immediately after eating very sweet foods. If you cannot brush at least rinse your mouth out with clear water.

1. cake
2. pie
3.candy
4. ice cream
5. cookies
6. sweet drinks (cokes, lemonade)

Be a good “brace watcher”. Please notify our Centennial or Denver offices if appliances become loose or broken in order that we might minimize prolonged treatment time.

Brushing is important at all times-but especially now that you have braces. Work hard to keep your braces just as shiny as the day they were placed. Then when your treatment is complete and your braces are removed you will be proud to smile, because a smile is forever!