NEWSLETTER

March 2008

Welcome to the March issue of our newsletter!  We hope you find this information helpful and fun.  Enjoy your holidays!

 

A FUN DENTAL EXPERIMENT WITH EGGS

Teaching and having your child brush is extremely important because it establishes good oral habits that last a lifetime. This easy dental experiment is fun and educational for kids of all ages and should be supervised by an adult. Children can actually demonstrate the effects of brushing off plaque using hard boiled eggs and a few other things that you probably already have around the house. This hands-on experiment can be done for one child or for a group of children.

You will need:

• One hard boiled egg per child
• Coke, Pepsi or other dark colored soda

• One toothbrush per child
• Toothpaste containing fluoride

Before the experiment, boil an egg(s). Place the egg in the soda for a day. When you are talking to children about the importance of brushing their teeth, take the egg out and show it. The egg will be stained and look like plaque. It will be discolored and yellowish. Give the child a toothbrush with a little toothpaste on it. Let them brush the “plaque” off of the egg.

For some children, getting them to brush their teeth can be quite a challenge. To help them understand the importance of brushing, it can be sometimes fun and helpful to let them eat or drink something that will ‘stain’ their teeth temporarily, such as Oreos, and then let them brush them clean.

Another option for children to learn the importance of brushing their teeth, is plaque disclosing tablets. Disclosing tablets contain a harmless colored dye that is attracted to the plaque on your teeth. Their use is simple. Take a tablet, chew it up and swish the accumulated saliva in your mouth for 60 seconds, spit and rinse. Now the disclosing tablet dye has colored the plaque on your teeth allowing you to easily see areas that need special attention. The special dye is easy to remove with a toothbrush and there are disclosing tablets that have a special “two tone” added feature. Old plaque will be one color, and new plaque will be a different color. It’s easy to see where you are missing with your brushing allowing you to improve your brushing technique.

Visit the American Dental Association’s web site, www. ada. org/public/education for a variety of informative dental topics.

 

INTRODUCING OUR FEEDBACK PROGRAM

We want to provide everyone with the best care at ND Orthodontics. Your opinions and comments are extremely important to us as we continue to grow our practice. Please fill out our ND Orthodontics survey located by the magazines in our reception room. If you have any further feedback or comments, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail us!
Your feedback is much appreciated! Thank you!

 

INTRODUCING OUR REFERRAL PROGRAM!

The greatest compliment you can give us is to refer a friend or a loved one to our office!  When someone you refer starts treatment with us, we will present you with a gift as a token of our appreciation.  We truly appreciate your support!

 

FUN FACTS

• The 2nd most common disease is the U.S. is tooth decay. The 1st is the common cold.
• Crocodiles don’t clean their teeth...they let a plover (little bird) pick their teeth for scraps of leftover food.
• People who drink 3 or more sodas a week have 62% more dental decay, filings, and tooth loss.
• The average American drinks more that 53 gallons of carbonated soft drinks each year, more than any other beverage including water.
• QUESTION: What does an orthodontist do on a roller coaster? ANSWER: They brace themselves.

 

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST

• Don’t forget to check out our contest page to see all the fun and exciting things that are happening!
• Don't forget to check out our ND Ortho's community involvement page to see all the wonderful things we are doing to give back to those in need!                

 

RECIPES OF THE MONTH

Lucky Recipe: Pot O’ Gold Soup
Braces Friendly

Carrot coins are hidden at the bottom of every bowl of this creamy golden soup. With every spoonful, you get just a little richer!

Recipe Ingredients:
2 tbsp. (30 mL) butter
1 medium onion, chopped
4 medium carrots, sliced into 1/4-inch (.5 cm) rounds
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups (1 L) chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
1 cup (250 mL) milk
1/2 tsp. (2 mL) salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring, until softened -- about 5 minutes.
2. Add the sliced carrots, potatoes and garlic and continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring once or twice.
3. Now add the broth, stir to mix, then cover and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to low and let simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the potatoes and carrots are tender. Remove from heat and, with a slotted spoon, fish out about 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the carrot slices. Reserve.
4. Working in two or three batches, transfer the soup to a blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth. Return the blended soup to the pot, stir in the milk and cook just until heated through -- don’t let it boil.
5. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary (if the broth is highly seasoned, you may not need to add anything at all).

To serve, ladle soup into bowls and add a few of the reserved carrot “coins” to each serving.