Regular checkups are essential in maintaining good oral health

Are you brushing and flossing daily 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 Austin 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 Austin area!

Happy Thanksgiving from Austin Orthodontics!

The team at Austin Orthodontics would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. It's a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat! If you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we'd encourage you to post them to our Facebook page or call our office and ask how.

Gobble Gobble!

Ask Dr. Nelson: Now that I have braces, what can I eat?

You just got braces at Austin Orthodontics and Dr. Nelson has informed you that during your orthodontic treatment you will want to avoid eating anything sticky, hard, crunchy, or chewy. What does this leave for you to eat? Lettuce? Nothing?

Luckily, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, created a variety of “braces-friendly” recipes that will allow you to enjoy your favorite treats without interfering with your orthodontic care!

Recipes include main dishes, side dishes and even yummy desserts! After all, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps the patient achieve the best possible results from orthodontic treatment.

If you have any questions about the recipes listed or about the foods you should be avoiding during your orthodontic treatment, please give us a call or ask us on Facebook!
Enjoy!

A few helpful webisodes about orthodontics, from Austin Orthodontics

Dr. David R. Nelson and our team at Austin Orthodontics would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of thehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at Austin Orthodontics, please give us a call.

Invisalign Savings Event at Austin Orthodontics!

Dr. David Nelson at Austin Orthodontics is excited to announce our latest Invisalign promotion! If you begin full Invisalign treatment through November 30, 2011, you will receive an iPad or a $500 treatment discount!! Schedule your consultation today to see if Invisalign is right for you.

If you have any questions feel free to contact us at the office, visit our website, or leave us a comment on Facebook!

Halloween Costume Contest at Austin Orthodontics

Happy Halloween! What do you love most about this time of the year? All of us at Austin Orthodontics enjoy the fall season, and we’re always trying to connect with our patients through exciting contests and events.

This fall, Dr. Nelson and our team are pleased to announce we will be giving away a $100 gift card through our Halloween Costume Contest. To enter, simply email your costume photo to Melanie@austinorthodontics.com or post the photo to our Facebook page. Once your photo is on Facebook, you’ll want to let your friends, family and coworkers know so that they can share their feedback! Our team will be determining the contest winner on November 11th, also taking into account the number of “likes” that each photo receives.

See you on Facebook!

-Dr. Nelson and team

Halloween TIPS from the American Association of Orthodontists

It’s almost that spooky time of year again and Austin, TX orthodontist, Dr. David Nelson, and our team thought we’d share some Halloween tips from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

Trick-or-treating 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

To protect your braces, steer clear of the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• All hard candies
• All chewy candies
• Caramel
• Nuts
• Licorice
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Bubblegum
• Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)
• Ice

Of course, Halloween does not have to be completely treat-less. Braces-friendly Halloween treats can help you enjoy the “spook-ta-cular” holiday. For example, plain chocolate candy is okay, provided you remember to brush and floss afterwards. Bobbing for apples as well as caramel apples are not recommended. However, you can enjoy thinly sliced apples, dipped in yogurt or creamy chocolate sauce.

Dr. Nelson suggests looking for foods that are soft, such as soft chocolate that can melt in one’s mouth or peanut butter cups. Overall, candies that aren’t sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy are generally acceptable.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the entire team at Austin Orthodontics!