Halloween Recipes for a Fun Night

If you just received braces or looking for something different to try this Halloween, here are two incredibly delicious alternative to sweet treats and hard candy that can harm your teeth if you have braces.

Halloween Parfait:
What You Need:

• 3 boxes instant vanilla pudding 
• 1 teaspoon red food coloring  
• 1/2 teaspoon yellow food coloring 
• one 9-ounce package plain chocolate wafers  
• 6 cups milk chocolate syrup to taste  
• One 8-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained 

Directions:

• Combine pudding mix and milk in a large bowl as directed on the package. 
• Refrigerate until firm. 
• Crush chocolate wafers into crumbs, using a food processor, or put the wafers into a plastic food storage bag and crush with a rolling pin. 
• Combine red and yellow food coloring in a small bowl. 
• Stir into pudding thoroughly, until pudding is orange. 
• Alternate layers of pudding with layers of chocolate crumbs in a parfait cup or glass for a total of three layers of pudding. 
• Top each layer of crumbs with chocolate syrup to taste before adding the next pudding layer.
• Top each parfait with mandarin oranges and additional chocolate wafer crumbs. Makes eight 8-ounce servings.

Dental Health is Orthodontic Health

There are major differences between a dentist and an orthodontist. While all orthodontist are dentist, only a small percentage of dentists are also orthodontists. However the dental health benefits are the same for everyone. When you care for your teeth, it benefits your smile and helps your orthodontic treatment go as planned.

• Achieve a balanced diet. This can be achieved by eating a variety of foods preferably from each of the five major food groups: breads, cereals and other grain products; fruits; vegetables; meat, poultry and fish; milk, cheese and yogurt. 
• Limit the number of snacks that you eat. If you do snack, choose nutritious foods, such as cheese, raw vegetables, plain yogurt or a piece of fruit. Each time that you eat foods that contain sugars or starches, brush your teeth. 
• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. 
• Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaners. 
• Maintain your regularly scheduled check-ups with your dentist.

Two Candies to Avoid this Halloween

Happy Halloween from everyone at Apple Tree Orthodontics!

We believe that Halloween is the perfect opportunity to talk to your child and 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.

1. 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.

2. Sour Candy: It’s no secret how important the enamel on your tooth is. Acidic foods are harmful to your enamel and can cause it to erode, exposing your tooth to being more vulnerable to cavities. You can pass on sour candy because of the acidity.

National Orthodontic Health Month: 3 Benefits of Orthodontics

October is National Orthodontic Health Month! The importance and benefits of Orthodontics exceeds beyond just a beautiful smile. Here are 3 benefits of orthodontics.

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. Prevent Gum Disease – Orthodontic treatment allows your teeth to be spaced out better. This makes it easier for people to floss and clean their teeth. Without straight teeth, it is easier for food to hide between teeth, causing bacteria, turning into gum disease. 
3. Helps Bad Bites – Orthodontic treatment can fix bad bites such as overbites and under bites that make it difficult to eat, chew and sometimes speak.