A Healthy Halloween

Happy Halloween! We love all the costumes, sweet treats and pumpkin carvings. As Orthodontists we believe Halloween is a great opportunity to remind kids of the responsibility of taking care of their teeth. Here are three tips to have a healthy Halloween.

1. Choose the Right Candy: According to the American Dental Association (ADA), “the best types of treats are those that dissolve easily and don't produce residue that sticks to the teeth's enamel.” Choose candy such as chocolate that melts fast and does not stick to your teeth.
2. Candy Buy-Back: Look for a candy buy back programs that allows you to trade in your candy for cash. This is perfect for any kids saving for that perfect gadget. 
3. Healthy Alternative: You can cut Jack-o-lantern faces into clementines, or make frozen banana halves into friendly ghosts with chocolate chip eyes and mouths. Or, go food-free altogether and hand out stickers, glow sticks or temporary tattoos to support a cavity-free Halloween in your neighborhood.

Avoid these Treats on Halloween

Happy Halloween from everyone at McClellan and Sagun Orthodontics!

Halloween is the perfect opportunity to talk to remind them about the importance of sticking to their health routine. This includes brushing your teeth, flossing, wearing your retainers, using mouthwash and other health tips. If you recently received orthodontic treatment such as braces or in the middle of your treatment, we recommend you avoid these sweet treats.

• Popcorn Balls: These are often a big hit on Halloween night and a guarantee in your child's Halloween bucket. Have some floss on hand after enjoying these treats. Please be aware, if you have braces, these are probably not an ideal treat.  
• Hard Candies: You want to watch out for hard candies on Halloween and beyond. These can break your teeth and can be damaging if you have braces. On top of that, hard candies can cause the sugar to wash all over your teeth. This is due to having the hard candy for longer periods in your mouth.

National Orthodontic Health Month: 3 Benefits of Orthodontics

October is not only about Halloween and fun costumes; it is also National Orthodontic Health Month. We love to educate our patients on the benefits of orthodontic treatment, which exceeds beyond just a beautiful smile.

Here are 3 benefits of orthodontic treatment.

1. Prevent Cavities – Orthodontic treatment is the process that straightens teeth through various treatment plans such as braces and Invisalign. Straight teeth are easier to clean and therefore prevent bacteria that can cause cavities. 
2. Self-Esteem – A beautiful smile will allow you to shine and confidently live your life uninterrupted. Whether it is Invisalign, clear aligners or traditional braces, your smile will radiantly shine and stay healthy. 
3. Speech – We often do not understand that our teeth often impact our speech. When teeth are not straight, it can be tough for people to pronounce particular sounds. With straight teeth, it is easy to sound out words and pronounce sounds.

Check-in 4 Charity: October

Cancer affects more people than we realize. We all know someone or of someone that is affected by cancer, specifically breast cancer. We believe everyone can help in some way. At McClellan and Sagun Orthodontics, we are part of the Check-in 4 Charity program where every month, we feature a charity either locally or nationally to support.

All you have to do is check-in with an image or status update on Facebook and a donation is made on your behalf from us. This month were donating to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s mission is to prevent and cure breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research. “Breast cancer knows no age, gender or race. As the most common cancer in women worldwide and the second most common cancer overall, it remains a fact of life. Nearly 1.7 million women around the globe were diagnosed in 2012, and incidence rates are on the rise.”