Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Bethany Hamilton

Damon Braces is proud to announce our newest ambassador,
Damon patient Bethany Hamilton.

There are not many people who don't know about Bethany and her amazing story after an unspeakable shark attack. Just a young teen in 2003 when attacked, Bethany has gone on to inspire millions due to her amazing determination and attitude. She shares her astonishing story in her bestselling autobiography Soul Surfer which in April 2011 was released as a major motion picture. Not only does Bethany continue to compete in the ASP World Professional Surfing Tour, but she tours the world to share her story of triumph and to prove that with faith and belief anything is possible.

After being treated with Damon Braces I couldn't be happier. The results of having braces not only improved my smile, it boosted my confidence.

After the shark attack Bethany will tell you she struggled through many trials and tribulations which took a toll on her confidence and self esteem. When asked, Bethany will tell you that "after being treated with Damon Braces I couldn't be happier. The results of having braces not only improved my smile, it boosted my confidence." Now, with help from Damon System braces, Bethany is able to smile through adversity.
If you are interested in improving your smile and outlook on life, take a tour through our website and ask your orthodontist about Damon System braces. If you don't have an orthodontist, that's ok, check out our Damon Doctor Locator you will be able to find one in your area.
To find out more about Bethany visit her website at http://bethanyhamilton.com/

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

0Comments

Sep 2, 2010 | By Shelly Morgan

What Can You Not Eat When You Are Wearing Braces? — Photo Credit candy image by cherie from Fotolia.com

According to BracesReview.com, people who wear braces not only have to be careful about keeping their teeth clean, they also have to avoid the many foods that can damage braces. Avoiding these foods can save time, money and unwanted trips to the orthodontist.

Warnings

BracesReview.com says that anything "sticky, hard, chewy or crunchy" is not advisable for people with braces. This includes jelly beans, corn on the cob, gum drops, carrots, all types of gum, taffy, nuts, chips and popcorn. Ice cream with candy mix-ins such as caramel chocolate bars is also off-limits. Biting into an apple can cause problems, but generally eating sliced and peeled apple is OK. Chewing ice is also not advisable if you have braces.

Invisalign® Official Site Get More Information - Not Wires. Find an Invisalign Provider Today! www.Invisalign.com

Significance

Brackets in braces can be broken and wires can be bent or pulled out of place by eating Halloween candy, says BracesReview.com. This means more unwanted trips to the orthodontist. Even if the braces are not broken, sugar gets behind the wires, where it is hard to remove and can cause tooth decay.

Expert Insight

The Academy of General Dentistry recommends that people with braces be extra diligent about brushing, flossing and rinsing because sugar and plaque can combine to make acid. This acid causes decalcification, which causes white spots on teeth.

Alternatives

Avoiding candy altogether is often not a reasonable expectation. It's far better to educate kids about what candy they can eat on special occasions. BracesReview.com recommends soft chocolates that melt in the mouth, like peanut butter cups and candy bars that do not have caramel or nuts. Apples can be peeled, sliced thin and dipped in chocolate for a special treat.

Holidays

Holidays like Halloween and Christmas are particularly problematic because eating candy is so much of a cultural norm. The American Association of Orthodontists recognizes this and in 2009 started a Halloween candy buyback program in which gift certificates, movie tickets and cash were given in exchange for Halloween candy. The association anticipates receiving almost 16 tons of candy in 2010. Places like Amherst Orthodontics have committed to paying $1 for every pound of candy they receive.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Thanksgiving is just around the corner!!!

Fun Facts about the First Thanksgiving

The Plymouth Pilgrims were the first to celebrate the Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to reach North America.

They sailed on the ship, which was known by the name of 'Mayflower'.

They celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The Wampanoag Indians were the people who taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land.

The Pilgrim leader, Governor William Bradford, had organized the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621. He invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians to the feast.

The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days.

Mashed potatoes, pumpkin pies, popcorn, milk, corn on the cob, and cranberries were not foods present on the first Thanksgiving's feast table.

Lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squashes, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup and honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and goat cheese are thought to have made up the first Thanksgiving feast.

The pilgrims didn't use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers.

Thanksgiving Facts throughout History

Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States.

Sarah Josepha Hale, an American magazine editor, persuaded Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. She is also the author of the popular nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb"

Abraham Lincoln issued a 'Thanksgiving Proclamation' on third October 1863 and officially set aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving.

The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade tradition began in the 1920's.

In 1939, President Roosevelt proclaimed that Thanksgiving would take place on November 23rd, not November 30th, as a way to spur economic growth and extend the Christmas shopping season.

Congress to passed a law on December 26, 1941, ensuring that all Americans would celebrate a unified Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November every year.

Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has presented a live turkey and two dressed turkeys to the President. The President does not eat the live turkey. He "pardons" it and allows it to live out its days on a historical farm.

Fun Facts about Thanksgiving Today

In the US, about 280 million turkeys are sold for the Thanksgiving celebrations.

Each year, the average American eats somewhere between 16 - 18 pounds of turkey.

Californians are the largest consumers of turkey in the United States.

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States.

Although, Thanksgiving is widely considered an American holiday, it is also celebrated on the second Monday in October in Canada.

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season.

Fun Turkey Facts

The average weight of a turkey purchased at Thanksgiving is 15 pounds.

The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog.

A 15 pound turkey usually has about 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat.

The five most popular ways to serve leftover turkey is as a sandwich, in stew, chili or soup, casseroles and as a burger.

Turkey has more protein than chicken or beef.

Turkeys will have 3,500 feathers at maturity.

Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not. They make a clucking noise.

Commercially raised turkeys cannot fly.

Turkeys have heart attacks. The United States Air Force was doing test runs and breaking the sound barrier. Nearby turkeys dropped dead with heart attacks.

A large group of turkeys is called a flock.

Turkeys have poor night vision.

It takes 75-80 pounds of feed to raise a 30 pound tom turkey.

A 16-week-old turkey is called a fryer. A five to seven month old turkey is called a young roaster.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Eat (and drink) your way to a whiter, healthier smile

No toothbrush handy? Grab some cauliflower — easy on the soy sauce

Image: Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles

Stars like Jessica Alba and Scarlett Johansson need killer smiles for their livelihood, but for us mere mortals, a whiter, brighter smile can do wonders for our appearance and self-confidence. Plus, surveys reveal that one of the first things that people notice about others is their smile, and as that old saw goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression.

Dr. Timothy Chase, a 15-year veteran of cosmetic dentistry in New York City says white teeth and healthy gums can take 10 years off your appearance. And while professional dental products work best for whitening, what you eat and don’t eat can play a huge role in how white your teeth are. It seems certain fruits, vegetables and other foods can aid in your quest for whiter teeth. Here’s what you should know about the white smile diet:

The crunch factor

Apples, cauliflower, celery and carrots work to whiten because they function as an abrasive scrub for teeth. These foods are nature’s toothbrush. They also stimulate the production of saliva, which helps keep plaque from forming. Stain sticks to plaque.

Orange ya glad?

The acid in oranges and pineapples may whiten and brighten the surface of the teeth. The acid also contains enzymes that kill bacteria that cause tooth decay and bad breath. “Saliva is the body’s wonder fluid,” says Chase, and eating juicy citrus increases saliva production that washes away foods that stain like coffee, soda and red wine.

Strawberry patch

Strawberries contain an enzyme called malic acid that can whiten teeth. Munch berries several times a week to naturally whiten chompers.

Pass the cheese, please

Dairy products such as yogurt, milk and hard cheeses like cheddar contain lactic acid, which may help protect teeth against decay. Researchers think proteins in yogurt may bind to teeth and prevent them from attack by harmful acids that cause cavities. Dairy is also loaded with calcium, which guards and strengthens bone that holds teeth in place. Plus, chewing hard cheese creates saliva that helps remove food particles that stain.

You can also try to avoid stain-causing foods. Any food that causes a stubborn laundry stain can discolor teeth, too. If you look at a tooth under a microscope, it looks like a kitchen sponge with many little nooks, crannies and holes. When stain-causing foods and beverages get stuck in those nooks and crannies, especially over time, dark stains develop. While we hear a lot about coffee, tea and red wine, soda is actually one of the worst offenders. It not only contains acids that open up those nooks but then stains them with cola color.

While you're at it, be sure to go easy on other teeth-staining food and drink, such as coffee, tea, blueberries, red wine, soy sauce and tobacco.

“It only takes seven minutes for destruction to start, but you can stop it by rinsing with plain water for seven seconds until you can brush and remove plaque,” says Dr. Joe Kravitz, a Washington D.C. dentist and author of “Dirty Mouth.” If you can’t get to a toothbrush or drink water, chew sugarless gum to remove stain food causing particles.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Halloween Candy - How to Avoid Scary Tooth Decay

Avoid Scary Tooth Decay This Halloween

Don't let Halloween Candy be a Nightmare

From Tammy Davenport, former About.com Guide

Updated: October 24, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

See More About:

George Doyle / Getty Images

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Braces Emoticons

By now, everybody probably knows that a colon, dash, and right parenthesis looks like a smiley face :-)

ArchWired reader Eric from Massachusetts sent in these handcrafted orthodontic emoticons for us to enjoy. Eric says, "Sitting in from of my laptop pondering my current orthodontic journey, I put together some braces 'emoticons'. I know I've seen some of the simpler ones, but think some of the others may be new."

Thanks, Eric!

: ^ (-_) overbite

: ^ (_-) under bite

: ^ (´`) protruding teeth

:-)#) braces and happy

:->#> braces and very happy

:-(#( braces and unhappy

:-<#< very angry about having braces

:-#)….. braces and drooling

;..(#) braces hurt

;..(*#) braces with canker sore!

:-)#}#) braces and headgear

:-<}< not pleased with wearing headgear

<(:-)#}#) braces and high-pull headgear

(:-)=})> facemask

:-)##) metal brackets

:-)}}) ceramic brackets

:-)$$) gold brackets

:-)][) Invisalign™/invisible braces

:-)}) retainer

:-)=) thumb/tongue habit appliance

: (?) broken wire/bracket

:-)#=#) braces with rubber bands

º :-(#-#) popped off a rubber band

:-(#-#) ºººººº spilled my bag of rubber bands

:-(###)-: braces locked

:-[::] brackets being installed

:-[#] braces being installed

:-X I don't want anyone to see my braces

:-(#J#) using a Water-Pik™

:-(#q#) brushing braces

:-(#\#) how do you floss these things?

:-(#*#) gum caught in braces

:-(#~#) tongue caught in braces

:-<##) lip caught in braces

:-(#·#) tongue piercing caught in braces

:-[|] braces being removed

:-)|) finished with braces!

Celebrating its 29th year, the International Day of Peace was created by the United Nations to promote worldwide peace and encourage mankind to work in cooperation toward this goal. It provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It can be as simple as lighting a candle or as involved as organizing a community event. Share the sign of peace with everyone you meet today!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Celebrate National Smile Week

Often special days and weeks don't seem so special when they happen every day, but this week is different. This week is National Smile Week, which means its time to plaster on a grin and show the world how smiling can be contagious.
Sharing a smile with a family member, coworker or friend is easy. Smile while you speak and watch the other person light up. It’s an amazing phenomenon that just smiling can make someone else smile, and before you know it, you’ll see a change in their attitude. Congratulations, you’ve just made someone’s day and you didn’t even have to go out of your way.

There are plenty of other ways you can share a smile, too, which require very little effort on your behalf, but can make a huge difference to someone else. Here are a few ideas to give you inspiration:

Write a funny or uplifting note and leave it under someone’s windshield wiper.
Give someone a compliment they won’t expect.
Telling a friend they look great is one thing, but if you tell them how fantastic their shoes are, you’re able to be specific and they’ll really appreciate it.
Practice random acts of kindness. Hold the door for someone, buy someone a cup of coffee, or even just give someone a high five.
Wear a happy face button, sticker or pin. Make some extra to share with friends and people you encounter.
Use Twitter or other social networking outlets to spread your smiles.

National Smile Week is about positivity and sharing your good mood with the people around you. How are you celebrating National Smile Week?

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Why Should I Get Braces?

Make a Good First Impression

Smiles are a big part of our identity, how we feel about ourselves and how others perceive us. In a recent survey, of more than 1,000 Americans (age 18 and over), 72% of the respondents agreed that people of all ages with healthy, straight teeth are typically treated better in social situations than those with noticeably crooked teeth. Conversely, nearly half said that crooked teeth leave a negative first impression.
"We live in a very image-conscious society and impressions are made within a few seconds. Straightening teeth makes a difference and can ultimately make or break your chances of getting certain opportunities."
— Mark Montano, host of TLC's, 10 Years Younger
The good news? With the innovative technology of the Damon System, it's easier than ever before to improve your smile in far less time, with greater comfort and with greater results and benefits that last a lifetime.

Healthier teeth and gums
Confidence to excel in school, work and personal life
Broader smile
Enhanced facial features
Clearer speech for interviews, public speaking, etc.

Improve your Health

A nice smile is not only beautiful, it also promotes good health:

Straight and evenly spaced teeth are easier to keep clean, resulting in better
oral health.
Properly aligned teeth chew more efficiently, which may help digestion.
Aligned teeth create a better bite, which may reduce stress, headaches, and strain on your supporting bone and tissue.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This may contribute to conditions that cause not only tooth decay but may lead to gum disease and tooth loss.

When left untreated, many minor orthodontic problems may become worse, contributing to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing, excessive gum stress on gum tissue, and misalignment of the jaw joints. This can all lead to chronic headaches or pain in the face or neck. Treatment by a specialist to correct minor orthodontic issues are often less costly than the additional dental care required to treat more serious problems that can develop in later years.
So, no matter what age you are it is never too early or too late to invest in braces and ultimately invest in yourself. Start enjoying the lifelong results today.

Monday, July 11, 2011

How Stress Affects Your Oral Health

Excess stress may give you a headache, a stomachache, or just a feeling of being "on edge." But too much stress could also be doing a number on your mouth, teeth, gums, and overall health.
The potential fallout from stress and anxiety that can affect your oral health includes:

Mouth sores, including canker sores and cold sores
Clenching of teeth and teeth grinding (bruxism)
Poor oral hygiene and unhealthy eating routines
Periodontal (gum) disease or worsening of existing periodontal disease

So how can you prevent these oral health problems?

Mouth Sores

Canker sores -- small ulcers with a white or grayish base and bordered in red -- appear inside the mouth, sometimes in pairs or even greater numbers. Although experts aren't sure what causes them -- it could be immune system problems, bacteria, or viruses -- they do think that stress, as well as fatigue and allergies, can increase the risk of getting them. Canker sores are not contagious.
Most canker sores disappear in a week to 10 days. For relief from the irritation, try over-the-counter topical anesthetics. To reduce irritation, don't eat spicy, hot foods or foods with a high acid content, such as tomatoes or citrus fruits.
Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are contagious. Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that often appear on or around the lips, but can also crop up under the nose or around the chin area.
Emotional upset can trigger an outbreak. So can a fever, a sunburn, or skin abrasion.
Like canker sores, fever blisters often heal on their own in a week or so. Treatment is available, including over-the-counter remedies and prescription antiviral drugs. Ask your doctor or dentist if you could benefit from either. It's important to start treatment as soon as you notice the cold sore forming.

Teeth Grinding

Stress may make you clench and grind your teeth -- during the day or at night, and often unconsciously. Teeth grinding is also known as bruxism.
If you already clench and grind your teeth, stress could make the habit worse. And, grinding your teeth can lead to problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), located in front of the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet.
See your doctor and ask what can be done for the clenching and grinding. Your dentist may recommend a night guard, worn as you sleep, or another appliance to help you stop or minimize the actions.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Being under extreme stress may affect your mood and cause you to skip oral hygiene habits such as flossing and brushing.
If you don't take care of your mouth, your teeth and overall oral health can suffer. If you already have gum disease, skipping daily hygiene may worsen the problem. If your mouth is in relatively good health, falling down on brushing and flossing can lead to gum disease or increase your risk of cavities.
When under stress, you may also develop unhealthy eating habits, such as snacking on large amounts of sugary foods or drinks. These habits increase the risk for tooth decay and other problems.
Just reminding yourself of the importance of hygiene and healthy eating may help. Boosting or resuming your exercise routine can help you relieve stress and feel energized enough to tend to your oral hygiene and cook healthier meals. Exercise will also boost your immune system -- and that, too, is good for your oral health.

Gum Disease

Stress can cause an increase in dental plaque, even when the high stress levels are short term. That's according to a study that evaluated people who cared for loved ones with dementia and who experienced stress.
Long-term, the stress these caregivers felt boosted their risk of bleeding gums, or gingivitis, which can progress to serious gum disease.
Stress can lead to depression. And depressed patients, according to recent research, have twice the risk of an unfavorable outcome from gum disease treatment compared to those who aren't depressed.
You can't make depression or the stress disappear, of course. But experts say that learning healthy coping strategies can help reduce the risk of gum problems getting worse. Healthy coping is "problem-focused" with active and practical strategies to deal with the stress and depression, experts say.
Remember, eating a balanced diet, seeing your dentist regularly, and good oral hygiene help reduce your risks of periodontal disease. Make sure you brush twice a day and floss daily.

WebMD Medical Reference

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Dental Fun Facts
Did you know that Americans cite bad breath as the least attractive trait a co-worker can have? Be more popular around the water cooler and brush after lunch.

Cap the paste but not the brush. Covering the brush can trap moisture and encourage bacteria growth. Yeah, we know. Gross, huh?

The average women smiles about 62 times a day, while the average man smiles only 8 times. Women are also more likely to brush their teeth and visit the dentist regularly. Think there might be a connection here?

MacGyver claims dental floss works well as a cake cutter, makeshift clothesline, replacement fishing line, picture hangers and much more. Our favorite use for it? Cleaning your teeth.

Dental floss has played a role in many attempted prison breaks, used as everything from a rope to a chainsaw. None have been successful. We suggest flossing with it.

Bottled water doesn’t contain the tooth-decay fighting fluoride, which is added to most municipal water supplies. Ditch the bottle and drink from the tap.

Saliva helps you eat by breaking apart food particles and cleaning your mouth afterwards. The average person produces 10,000 gallons of saliva over their lifetime (no data as to how much winds up as spitballs).

Sports, accidents and fights are the leading cause of tooth loss in people under the age of 35. Play it safe and wear a mouth guard.

Each day, the average person spends 8.5 hours sleeping, 1 hour eating, 7.2 minutes volunteering and only 50 seconds brushing their teeth. Set your alarm 2 minutes earlier and squeeze in some extra brush time. Dentists recommend 2-3 minutes.

Americans spend $100 billion per year on hair care products – and only $2 billion a year on dental care products. What good is great hair without a great smile?

The next time you want to play hooky, head to the dentist for a cleaning instead. Last year alone, adults missed over 164 million hours of work – and children missed over 51 million hours of school for dental related problems.

If flossing properly, the average person should use 122 yards of floss per year. Twenty-eight percent of people claim to floss daily, but annual sales data shows only an average of 18 yards of floss are sold per person. We think someone’s fibbing.

Spearmint Sparkle. Peppermint Breeze. Eggshell Shine? The next time your dental hygienist asks you to pick a flavor, consider this – the ancient Romans used a mixture of bones, eggshells and oyster shells and honey to clean their teeth! We recommend you stick with the paste.

Let’s all scrub together now! The average toothbrush has around 2500 bristles grouped into about 40 tufts.

Contrary to popular belief, George Washington’s famous dentures weren’t made from wood. His four pairs of custom chompers were crafted from gold, ivory, lead and a mixture of human, donkey and hippopotamus teeth (take care of yours and you won’t have to think about it!).

Friday, May 13, 2011

Caring for teeth with braces

Braces are often placed in patients between 10 and 14 years of age to correct crooked or overcrowded teeth. “The benefits of braces are many,” says Ken Sutherland, DDS, Delta Dental senior dental consultant. “Straight teeth, an attractive smile, improved dental function and, often, improved overall health are all results of wearing braces."
Below are some answers to questions about staying comfortable and healthy while wearing braces.
Why is good oral hygiene with braces so important? Food and plaque can get trapped in the tiny spaces between braces and wires, causing decay and enamel stains. Food can also react with the bacteria in your mouth and the metal in the braces to produce a bleaching effect, which can cause small, permanent light spots on the teeth.
How should teeth and braces be cleaned? It is best to brush after every meal and use a floss threader or special orthodontic floss (available at drug stores) at least once a day to clean between braces and under wires. Check your teeth in a mirror to make sure all food particles are gone. If you don't have your toothbrush with you, rinse your mouth vigorously with water.
How do braces feel? The wires that are used to move teeth into position are usually tightened at each visit to the dentist or orthodontist. This causes pressure on the teeth and some discomfort. Eating soft foods and taking a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®, for instance), can help. Also, braces can rub against the inside of the lips. If this is a problem, a special wax can be placed on the wires to keep them from chafing (available from your dentist or orthodontist and at drug stores).
How long do braces have to be worn? It depends on how complicated the spacing or occlusion (bite) problem is. Most braces are worn for 18 to 30 months. After the braces are removed, the patient wears a retainer, which is used to maintain the position of the teeth while setting and aligning the tissues that surround the newly-straightened teeth.
Should any foods be avoided? Yes. Sweets, soda and other sugary and starchy foods can promote tooth decay and gum disease. Sticky and chewy foods (caramel, taffy, chewing gum, dried fruits) can stick to braces and be difficult to remove. Biting and chewing hard foods, such as some candies and nuts, ice, beef jerky and popcorn, can break wires and loosen brackets. Avoid damaging wires on the front teeth by cutting carrots, apples and other crunchy, healthy foods into bite-sized chunks before eating them

Monday, April 25, 2011

Benefits of Orthodontics

A smile you can be proud of is an obvious benefit of orthodontic treatment. People who are happy with their smile are more confident with themselves and with the people around them. It is no wonder that parents want to provide their children with the best chances of success and that adults seek treatment for personal and business reasons.
But beyond the cosmetic advantages of straight teeth, there are important medical benefits as well.
Properly aligned teeth and jaws may alleviate or prevent physical health problems. Straight teeth are less prone to decay, develop periodontal (gum) disease and decrease risk of injury. When teeth are properly aligned, it is easier to keep them clean. Straight teeth collect less plaque which is a risk factor for periodontal disease. Protruding upper teeth are more likely to be broken in an accident, so repositioning and aligning them with other teeth can result in a decreased risk for fracture.
Untreated orthodontic problems may lead to tooth decay, periodontal disease and digestive difficulties. Misaligned teeth can also cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing and stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth. In extreme cases, misalignment of the jaw joints can result, sometimes leading to chronic headaches or pain in the face or neck. Early prevention may be less costly than the dental care required to treat more serious problems that can develop in later years.
So, orthodontic treatment can mean more than just a great smile. And that’s something you can smile about!