Cool Down With This Recipe

Enjoy the rest of the summer with this tasty homemade snack that's sure to be a hit at any age. You probably have all the ingredients you need already! Skip store-bought popsicles and opt for a DIY version with this delicious BRACES FRIENDLY Greek Yogurt Berry Smoothie Pops!

Ingredients
½ cup Greek yogurt (I use Chobani Vanilla)
½ cup milk
1 cup frozen berries

Instructions
Blend ingredients until smooth.
Pour into 3 oz paper cups.
Let pops set up until almost firm and insert popscicle stick.
Continue freezing until solid.
Gently tear off paper cup and enjoy immediately.
Makes 5 pops.

You Have Braces...So Why Do You Still Need To See Your Dentist?

So you have a mouth full braces, you see your orthodontist for an examination and adjustment every 6-8 weeks and your hygienist has a poke around too….so why do you need to visit the dentist?

When we work on your braces, we are not looking specifically for any cavities and anything we do notice is a by-product of monitoring your oral health from an orthodontic perspective. Even if we did find something suspicious we don’t have the facilities to deal with it.

For this reason, we advise you to maintain your regular dental checkup schedule. Ideally, a visit to your general dentist once every 6 months is good.

The other important thing to remember is that your oral hygiene needs to be flawless. The appliances that are in your mouth are a magnet for plaque buildup, unfortunately. If you are a bit lax with brushing and rinsing out your mouth after eating, you may just find that you have a beautiful straight smile with stained teeth.

While having braces does not increase the risk of cavities, not caring for your teeth and having braces does.

Remember to brush or rinse after eating.  Just swishing water around your mouth if you can’t brush during the day is better than leaving food debris in your braces or appliances. Then, brush thoroughly morning and night the way you were shown at your appointment.

If you can’t remember, ask for a brushing refresher next time you visit and one of our handy mirror clings. Or, you can always visit our website for more information. Click here to view it now.

Summer Tip #1: How to Pack With Braces

If you are wearing braces and are planning a vacation, our team at Poser Orthodontics would suggest that you be prepared. We put together a list of items that will be handy to have with you at all times while you are out of town.

They include:

• Toothpick, flosspick, or other interdental cleaners
• Travel toothbrush
• A water bottle or a mini bottle of mouth rinse
• Orthodontic wax to help with discomfort from protruding wires
• A small mirror for examining any possible issues in your mouth

Putting these items together in a “braces/oral hygiene kit” may be wise. You may even buy pre-made braces kits. Please ask us for more information.

Why Choose Damon Braces?

You may have heard that Damon braces can straighten your teeth faster, with fewer appointments, and without extractions or expanders. What is the Damon System and is it better than regular braces?

Damon brackets are a type of bracket known as self-ligating. To “ligate” means to bind or tie. With conventional braces, the wires are held in place by ligatures or o-rings that secure them to the brackets (which are the metal pieces attached to the teeth). With self-ligating braces, part of the bracket itself holds the wire in place without the need for o-rings or steel ties. Some brackets have doors or “slides.” Others have clips. The Damon bracket was not the first self-ligating bracket, but we believe it is the best.

Some of the claims about Damon brackets are that they won’t cause pain as they move your teeth, you won’t need to have an expander or have permanent teeth removed, you won’t need headgear or rubber bands to fix your overbite, and that your treatment will be much shorter than with regular braces.

If you’d like to know more about Damon braces and if they’re right for you, come see Dr. Poser or give us a call at 262-255-6255. We know you'll be impressed!