Stay Cool with a Braces-Friendly Summer Treat!

Summer is here!

Kids and adults alike will now be spending more time outside being active and enjoying the hotter temperatures. What’s better on a hot summer day than a delicious treat that will cool you down after doing something active in the summer sun? Luckily, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have just the thing, Watermelon Sorbet! You can find the complete recipe below:  

Watermelon Sorbet  

Ingredients
• ¾ cup water
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 2 to 3 cups watermelon, diced, no seeds or rind  

Directions
In a small saucepan, heat the water, sugar, and lime juice on medium high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Chill this “syrup” at least 20 minutes. In the meantime, place the watermelon chunks in a food processor or blender and liquefy them. Add the chilled syrup to the watermelon puree and blend. Freeze sorbet in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions. Serve immediately.

Happy Summer!

What can I eat with my braces?

You just got braces at The Smile Zone and Dr. Rob Andrew 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!

Braces 101 with The Smile Zone

If you ever sustain damage to your braces and need to call The Smile Zone, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.

Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

Patient Question: Why the Damon® System?

Something big is happening in the orthodontics world, and it’s no other than Damon braces, which allow your teeth to move more comfortably and easily than traditional braces. With the Damon System, teeth can move faster, with few adjustments and less discomfort. The Smile Zone is a certified Damon System provider. To learn more about the Damon System or your treatment with Drs. Rob and Jerome, please watch this short video, or give us a call!

Fall into reading with The Smile Zone!

How better to spend the fall months than inside by the fireplace with a warm cup of cider and a book in hand? Dr. Jerome and Dr. Rob encourage you to warm up your mind this season with a few great books. Sure it may be easy to put off reading this time of the year, but reading is vital to brain development and improving your vocabulary. Besides, reading is fun!

This week, we thought we’d ask: What are YOU reading this fall? Do you have any suggestions for must-read books this year? Out of ideas for great fall reads? Ask us for suggestions, and Drs. Jerome and Rob and our staff would be happy to provide a few suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian for some ideas or check out these fall reading ideas that we came across today, courtesy of Amazon.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your fall picks or your all-time favorites on our Facebook page!

Cold and Flu Season is Here- It may be time to replace your toothbrush!

Fall is here, and with it the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Rob and Dr. Jerome will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

Hope this tip helps! Feel free to call us at The Smile Zone if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Smile, and you might just live longer!

Folks with big smiles may actually live than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. Drs. Rob and Jerome have known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting The Smile Zone on a regular basis? If not, give us a call!

Summer plans?

With summer 2010 in full force, we thought we'd ask you about your summer plans. After all, summer is a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories. Whether you're headed to an exotic destination, barbecuing, hitting the open road with family, or just having fun in the sun, we'd like to hear about it! Drop us a comment on our Facebook fan page and tell Drs. Rob & Jerome and staff about your summer adventures! We also encourage you to share any photos on our Facebook wall.

Happy and safe travels everyone,

- The Smile Zone staff

Ask Drs. Andrew and Caouette: Am I too old for treatment?

At The Smilezone, nobody, and we mean, NOBODY, is "too old" for braces. In fact, our staff read a statistic recently that spelled it all out: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great about their teeth. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Drs. Andrew and Caouette can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, our team at The Smilezone would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

What puts you at ease at The Smilezone?

Drs. Rob and Jerome understand not every person always enjoys visiting their orthodontist. But at The Smilezone, we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each of your visits. At The Smilezone we care about our patients. Our doctors and team want to help every patient achieve a healthy, beautiful smile that transcends the boundaries of their expectations and gives them a renewed sense of self-confidence.

Today, we’d like to know: What is it about The Smilezone that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant office environment? Our friendly staff or Drs. Caouette and Andrew?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call! Enjoy your week!

What are patients saying about The Smile Zone?

Drs. Andrew and Caouette, as well as our dedicated team, love getting patient reviews. And lately, The Smile Zone, serving Edmonton and surrounding communities in Alberta, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share some with you today! Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office!

"Friendly and laid back. I also like the honest information provided during appointments that are not rushed. Excellent job!" ~ Paul A.

"I enjoy the flexibility of making appointments according to my sometimes hectic work schedule. I also enjoy the friendly staff and cleanliness of the facilities." ~ Rob S.

"Really modern equipment, methods, and office. Very easygoing." ~ Aurea S.

"Painless most of the time and very patient." ~ Eileen A.

"Just had my first visit. Highly recommended. Excellent visit, Dr. Jerome was very friendly and I am very confident he will take very good care of me and my family." ~ Ryan S.