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We love when patients ask us that question! Now that you’re wearing braces, it’s just as important to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen as you did before your orthodontic treatment began. The first few days in braces are going to be more difficult to eat than normal. There will be a slight discomfort when you first get your braces on, so the act of chewing will make it more painful.

Here are a few soft foods that do not require you to do much chewing and are easy to chew on when your teeth are sore.

Ice cream, yogurt, pudding, cool soups, Jell-O, scrambled eggs, cream of wheat, baked potatoes, soft cooked pasta, soup, bananas, cottage cheese, smoothies, macaroni and cheese, pancakes, soft cheeses, and milk are all foods you can eat safely without having to worry about pain or breaking your brackets.

Be sure to always check with us if you have questions about a particular food item by either giving us a call or asking us on Facebook!

The dreaded cold and flu season is here again! This raises a common question around our office: should your replace your toothbrush if you’ve been sick?

Since the flu is a viral infection, you develop antibodies once you’ve been infected. This helps prevent you from catching the same illness twice. Even for bacterial infections, the likelihood of becoming re-infected from your toothbrush is fairly slim for minor illnesses like the common cold. Also, toothpaste frequently contains antibacterial compounds, which further decreases your chances of re-infection.

The American Dental Association recommends the following tips for toothbrush care:

• Do not share toothbrushes, especially if you are sick
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use
• 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!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to give us a call or ask us on Facebook if you have any questions!

With 2012 over, we thought we would ask you, our patients: what was memorable about 2012 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2013? Do you have a new year’s resolution or any exciting plans for the coming year?
 
Here are the top resolutions for 2013, and some great free iOS and Android apps to help you achieve your 2013 resolutions!

Eat Healthier:

Fooducate

iOS Download  |  Android Download

Lose weight, eat real food, and get healthy. Fooducate grades your groceries, explains what's really inside each product, and offers healthier alternatives. We've got the largest database of UPCs - over 200,000 unique products and growing.

Work out / Exercise More:

NPT BOOM

iOS Download  |  Android Download

Nike BOOM syncs your music to your dynamic training workouts, with the world’s most elite athletes and coaches motivating you along the way. Choose your type of workout, length of training, best workout music and favorite Nike athletes—then get to work.

Become More Organized:

Wunderlist

iOS Download  |  Android Download

Wunderlist 2 is the easiest way to manage and share your daily to-do lists. Whether you’re planning an overseas adventure, sharing a shopping list with a loved one, or simply keeping track of your daily to-dos, Wunderlist is here to help you get things done.

Gain More Control of Finances:

Mint.com App

iOS Download  |  Android Download

Mint.com allows you to track, budget and manage your money all in one place, so you can see where you’re spending and where you can save. Open an account, add your bank, credit, loan and retirement accounts and Mint will automatically pull in and categorize your transactions. It’s safe, secure and easy to keep your personal finances organized.

Expand Social Circle:

SupperKing

iOS Download  |  Android Download

If you're trying to expand your friend circle in 2013, or maybe just plan more exciting activities with your current friends, apps like Sonar and Highlight can connect you to new people. A new iOS app called SupperKing is like Airbnb for at-home meals. You can charge strangers cash to enjoy a meal at your place with you -- an idea that not everyone is game for. But the app is also great for organizing dinner parties with your friends.

We want to wish all our patients, friends, family and all our colleagues a happy and healthy New Year!

Sources: Mashable, PolicyMic

The year is almost over, and as we reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask all our patients: what was memorable about 2012 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2013? Do you have a New Year’s resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

We know that we are looking forward to serving our amazing patients with even more great care in 2013!

Have a safe and happy New Year from our family to yours!