Whether you are a prominent sports figure like San Antonio Spurs player Manu Ginobili, one of the top ten actors in the world like Tom Cruise, or a “diva” like Gwen Stefani…braces are cool at any age.  Read this article recently posted on celebrities wearing braces who are in the public eye every day.  If they can do it… so can you.

Invisalign is a great option if you don’t want others to notice you are going through orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth.  Unfortunately, not every orthodontic problem can be treated with invisible braces.  Some orthodontic problems can only be corrected with traditional braces, whether clear ceramic brackets or metal brackets.  No matter what your orthodontic problem, Doctor Susan McBeth can help you choose your best orthodontic treatment option to create the beautiful smile you deserve.

Leave us a comment and tell us how you feel about wearing braces at any age….

Young children seem to be fascinated with them also.  They may not chew on them like a pet, but they tend to pick them up out of curiosity, distort them, and drop them wherever they roam, making them hard to find. 

At McBeth Orthodontics we can’t stress enough the importance of taking care of your retainers.  Here are some tips on how to keep your appliances out of harms way.  We have heard all the horror stories and very little surprises us anymore.  The safest place for retainers is usually in the mouth.

1. Always place the retainer in the retainer case when not in your mouth. If it is in your case, it is more protected.  If placed in a pocket it can fall out and disappear or end up in the wash and be destroyed.  If it is out of your case in your backpack, gym bag, or on a locker shelf, you are asking for trouble. If you leave it lying around in the open on furniture, it is an accident waiting to happen in more ways than one.
2. Do not wrap the retainer in a napkin while eating at home, school, or a friend’s house. There is a good chance it will end up in the garbage by mistake.  It’s a nasty job sifting through garbage for a retainer, especially at school or in a restaurant! YUK…
3. Do not clean the retainer with hot water or boil your retainer to sterilize.  It will distort the plastic so it won’t fit and then you must replace it!
4. Take them out when swimming. More than one retainer has ended up lost in the ocean surf, bottom of a lake, or public pool.
5. Take them out when vomiting.  Once you flush, they are gone!
6. And the one rule that seems to be most popular…KEEP RETAINERS… AWAY FROM PETS AND SMALL CHILDREN!

If you go without wearing your retainer for any prolong length of time, especially right after the braces are removed, your teeth will begin to move.   One set of retainers is included with treatment.  If you break or lose them due to your own loss or neglect, there is normally a replacement fee, so please be careful. 

If you have lost or damaged your retainer or retainers, contact our office to schedule an appointment to replace them.  Maintaining your smile depends on it!

The Kings Firecrackers are an amazing performance jump rope team from the Kings Local School District in Ohio and was rated the #1 halftime touring team in 2009. The team is made up of talented 4th-8th graders and their foot work, skill and cardio-conditioning will take your breath away! They perform at venues across the country under the coaching of Lynn Kelley.You will not be surprised to learn that they have graced performances such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a Presidential Inauguration and an appearance on The David Letterman Show.

We are constantly amazed everyday with the kids in our practice here in Rogers and Bentonville AR and all over the country. The Kings Firecrackers are a great example of what can happen with dedicated hard work, a fun environment, and inspirational coaching. Go KINGS!

Let us know what you think about this amazing young team and their accomplishments. Leave a comment below. Would love to hear from you!

There are generally three different types of bristles; hard, medium, and soft. We always recommend our patients, especially children and seniors, use a soft bristled toothbrush. This is true for a hand held as well as an electric toothbrush. Why? Because using a hard and medium bristled brush can cause problems with your teeth and gums. If the bristles are too hard, they can wear away the enamel on your teeth and irritate the gums so they become red and sore. Over time, the wrong bristle can even cause your gums to recede.

Using the correct bristle will also help slow down gum recession due to the aging process that occurs slowly throughout life, even when correctly using a soft bristled toothbrush. Taking preventative measures now to protect your teeth and gums, will pay off over a lifetime.

Soft bristles are much gentler when brushing your teeth and are especially recommended for children, seniors, and patients wearing braces. Children tend to brush back and forth over their gums and teeth with incorrect brushing technique that can cause problems. Seniors are already experiencing gum loss due to aging and hard bristles can speed up the process. Patients wearing braces can bend wires or damage the attachments holding a wire in the orthodontic brackets. This can effect treatment results and may require and additional trip to the orthodontist to correct the problem.

Soft bristles, and even extra-soft bristles are every bit as effective when it comes to cleaning your teeth; in fact, the next time you go to buy a toothbrush, try a soft bristled brush. We bet you won’t be able to notice a difference! You are always better off safe than sorry… so buy a soft bristled toothbrush for yourself and everyone in your family from now on if you don’t already.

Watch this video on YouTube about the importance of wearing mouth guards and protective gear when playing contact sports. You can also download a free Emmitt Smith Family Poster at http://www.braces.org/sportsafety/sports_safety_tips.html

The McBeth Orthodontic Team asks all our patients to be proactive and protect yourselves when playing any contact sport, organized or just with friends, by wearing a mouth guard.  It only takes a split second to damage your beautiful smile! Too often, a patient comes into our office with a preventable sports injury.  Extensive dental care is then required to repair the injury and many patients will experience needless discomfort, aggravation, loss of time, and incur an unnecessary financial investment throughout their lives to maintain the dental work required to repair the injury.  So please “Play It Safe” and wear a mouth guard.

If you have any questions about what type of mouth guard will work best for you or your child… please contact our office to discuss options.

How do you feel about the importance of wearing mouth guards?  Do you make it mandatory for your children?  Please comment below.  We would love to hear from you.

Traditionally, one of the most popular gifts on Valentine’s Day is chocolate.  There’s a good reason – chocolate contains phenylethylamine, the same naturally occurring amino-acid released when we fall in love.

If you or someone special wears braces, go all out and make a special chocolate Valentine’s Day treat that is is “brace safe”.  We all know McBeth Orthodontics advises their patients to stay away from sticky, chewy and hard foods to prevent damage to their appliances. This includes many valentine chocolates with nuts, caramel, toffee, and nougat.

Below is a great recipe with a “secret ZING ingredient” you can whip up on your own from scratch instead of using a package mix for this extra special day. Whether it be a special someone or the entire family, they will appreciate the time effort when they first sink their teeth into this decadent Valentine’s Day Chocolate treat.

The recipe is courtesy of simplyrecipes.com and we added our own “secret” ingredient to give it that special ZING flavor that no one will be able to tell what it is!

Chocolate Mousse a la McBeth Orthodontics - It is worth the effort…

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped ( substitute bittersweet chips)
• 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) unsalted butter, diced
• 2 tablespoons espresso or very strong coffee (try using decaf espresso from a local Starbucks)
• 1 cup cold heavy cream
• 3 large eggs, separated
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Secret Ingredient “1/8 tsp” cayenne pepper
• (Optional) Raspberries and extra whipped cream on top for that festive look

Directions

• Whip the cream to soft peaks, then refrigerate.
• Combine the chocolate, butter, cayenne pepper, and espresso in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not simmering, water, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool until the chocolate is just slightly warmer than body temperature. To test, dab some chocolate on your bottom lip. It should feel warm. If it is too cool, the mixture will seize when the other ingredients are added. To speed up the process, set the bowl in the kitchen sink filled a few inches of cold water.
• Once the melted chocolate has cooled slightly, whip the egg whites in a medium bowl until they are foamy and beginning to hold a shape. Sprinkle in the sugar and beat until soft peaks form.
• When the chocolate has reached the proper temperature, stir in the yolks. Gently stir in about one-third of the whipped cream. Fold in half the whites just until incorporated, and then fold in the remaining whites, and finally the remaining whipped cream.
• Spoon or pipe the mousse into a serving bowl or individual dishes. If you wish, layer in fresh raspberries and whipped cream. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours. (The mousse can be refrigerated for up to a day.)
• Serves 5-8, depending on the size of the servings.

Your loved one will really appreciate the gesture.

Just as a reminder, chocolate may be good for your heart and sweet tooth, but it is definitely bad for your teeth… so don’t forget to brush afterwards.

Leave a comment after you try this recipe and let us know how you rate it!