Why Aren't You Smiling?

Did you know humans can recognize a smile up to 300 feet away!? Smiles are the universal sign of happiness, but studies have also shown smiling has positive effects on your life in general.

5 Benefits of Smiling: (Source: lifehack.org)

• Endorphins are released when you smile naturally: Endorphins are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
• Smiling lowers stress and anxiety: Smiling isn’t always the natural reaction to stressful situations, but a study showed participants who were smiling had lower heart rates than those with a neutral facial expression.  
• Smiles are contagious: Ever started smiling because someone smiled at you? This is because of complex brain activity that occurs when you see someone smiling, smiles are contagious. Smiles are positive expressions. Spreading positivity can be self-rewarding and good for others to receive.
• Boost immune system: Smiling decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
• Smiling can lead to laughter: Laughing has its own benefits including physical, mental and social benefits. 

Whether your smile is flashing metal or pearly white, it’s important to smile to boost your mood and feel great. We want to also make sure your showing off a healthy smile. Visit our oral hygiene page to make sure your take the proper steps to having a healthy smile.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22nd. This day is used to spread environmental awareness and show support for environmental protection. The Earth and its natural resources are important to allowing all living organism, from plants to humans, to thrive in the world. However, the environment isn't going to protect itself. We must take action to make sure Earth is in a clean and healthy state. Since Earth Day was launched in 1970 we have made process with legal acts being put in place to support environmental safety. Let’s celebrate this Earth Day by getting the entire family involved.

There are 3 easy ways to "Go Green" by recycling, reusing and reducing. (source:http://www.nrdc.org)

Reduce:

Reduce. "Reduce" means using fewer resources in the first place. This is the most effective of the three R's and the place to begin. It is also, I think, the hardest because it requires letting go of some very American notions, including: the bigger the better, new trumps old and convenience is next to godliness. But you don't need to let go completely or all at once. "Reduce" is a comparative word. It says: cut back from where you are now. 

Reuse:

Before you recycle or dispose of anything, consider whether it has life left in it. A jam jar can store leftovers. Food scraps can become compost. An old shirt can become a pajama top. An opened envelope can become a shopping list. A magazine can be shared. DVDs can be traded. A dishwasher can be repaired. A computer can be upgraded. A car can be resold. A cell phone can be donated. Returnable bottles can be, well... returned. 

Recycle:

Recycling is the "R" that has caught on the best. Partly, this is because there are so many curbside recycling programs today (8,660 as of 2006, according to the EPA), which makes recycling so easy. 

Learn more about Reducing, Reusing and Recycle at nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/0802.asp

Just like all good habits if you start young it is more likely these habits will last a lifetime. Children are the future, so teaching kids to go green is investing in the longevity of Earth. Every little action you take to protect the Earth helps, start today and help save the planet. To learn more about Earth Day visit Earthday.org

Can Your Name the Parts of Your Braces?

Your braces are made up of intricate pieces of metal attached to your teeth to get you the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve. However, can you name all the parts of your braces?

Photo provided by Solutions by Design ScreenPlay software

Each piece serves a special purpose, all working together cohesively to correct your smile. Learn about the key components of your braces with our list below:

Bands
Bands are a ring of metal that fit around the molars and sometimes premolars. The bands are selected from a range of sizes in order to find the tightest-fitting band. The bands are sealed in position using dental cement that contains fluoride to prevent any decalcification during treatment.

Brackets
The brackets hold the archwire against each tooth. The archwire fits into a slot in the bracket. Brackets may be attached directly to each tooth or to a band.

Archwire
The main wires, or archwires, are shaped specifically to fit around the arch into the bracket slots. Teeth move from the pressure that is applied by the braces. That pressure comes from the archwire, which guides the direction of the movement.

Elastics
An elastic is the tiny rubber ring that ties the archwire into the bracket.

Hooks
Hooks are small attachments on the brackets used to attach elastics (rubber bands).

Coil Spring
The coil spring fits between brackets and over the archwire

Here's a diagram to show show you where everything is located:

The more you know about your braces the easier your experience will be, If you have any questions feel free to contact us today!

Save Face. Wear a Mouth Guard! #NFPM

Each year during the month of April the Academy for Sports Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and the American Association of Orthodontists sponsor National Facial Protection Month.

National Facial Protection Month focuses on spreading awareness about the importance of protecting children and adults from oral and facial injuries. Many injuries that do occur during sporting activities could have been prevented had the proper protective gear had been worn. An estimated 12 million people between the ages of 5 and 22 years suffer a sport-related injury annually.  A recently published study by the University of Alabama at Birmingham analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a database of injuries treated at hospital emergency departments, for the period 2001-2008. Researchers found the five most common causes of childhood injuries were, in order of frequency, basketball, football, bicycling, playgrounds and soccer.

Dr. Poser wants to remind you that it is important for you to protect your mouth during treatment. For protection you must wear a mouth guard. A mouth guard can help prevent injury to the teeth, mouth and even jaw. Mouth guards are made of flexible material that is fitted to protect your upper and lower teeth. You can buy a stock mouth guard or get a custom guard made. The right fit mouth guard will act as cushions protecting your mouth from hits and preventing serious injury.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons advise that you to take five, and take in these five simple safety tips:

Mouth Guards are a Must. Mouth guards are significantly less expensive than the cost to repair an injury, and dentists and dental specialists can make customized mouth guards that hold teeth in place and allow for normal speech and breathing.  

Helmets are always Helpful. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact and help prevent damage to the head.  

Have 20/20 Vision with Protective Eyewear. Eyes are extremely vulnerable to damage, especially when playing sports.

Face Shields Save Skin…and more. Hockey pucks, footballs and racquetballs can cause severe facial damage at any age.

Cheer and Shout Out Your Support for Mandatory Protective Gear. Athletes who participate in football, hockey and boxing are required to wear mouth guards. If mouth guards have been proven to significantly decrease the risk of oral injuries, why is it not mandatory in every sport for kids to wear them?

To learn more about National Facial Protection Month please visit AAOMS.org

DIY Easter Fun!

With the spring colors arising you may have seen bunnies and eggs popping up everywhere, well that’s because Easter Day is coming. Easter is this Sunday, April 5th and with the beautiful weather that spring has brought on it is a perfect time to get outside with your family and get involved in Easter themed activities.

Easter Day activities are fun for kids, but can bring joy to the family as a whole. And the great part about these activities is that you can pick up supplies at your local store for a round of DIY fun!

Here are 3 EGG-cellent Do It Yourself activities:

Dying Eggs
Traditionally eggs are off-white, but with beautiful colors blossoming from nature why not add a little life and color to our eggs on this holiday. The main things you need are eggs are food coloring. For detailed instructions on dying eggs click here.

Easter Egg Hunting
The day of Easter is the perfect time to invite family and friends over so kids can enjoy a fun-filled Easter egg hunt. What you’ll need is plastic eggs and mini treats. You’ll need to put the treats inside the plastic eggs, after you fill the eggs it is time to strategically hide the eggs in your yard. Let the kids run wild and find the hidden eggs. To make the hunt more fun you can pick a grand prize for the child who finds the most eggs!

Bunny Crafts
Since Easter is synonymous with bunnies having your kids create bunny crafts can be fun! Here are some ideas for bunny crafts.

Paper Plate Bunny

Click here for more fun ideas

Share your Easter day fun with us on Social Media:

Post pictures on our Facebook wall 
Tag us on Instagram @Poser_Orthodontics
or Tweets Us @PoserOrtho