7 Tips to Avoid Holiday Eating Disasters

For adults with braces, holiday social functions with munchies and appetizers can be tricky to navigate.

Most resign themselves to saying "I'll pass" to the spinach dip for fear of it getting lodged in their teeth for the whole evening!

This holiday season, the authors of "The Braces Cookbook 2: Comfort food with a Gourmet Touch" are offering seven tips to help ensure a carefree smile for those with braces at any holiday gathering:

-Go for the cauliflower in the veggie tray. It's softer than brocolli and won't show up as much on braces if tidbits go astray.
-Try potato chips and pita bread as less crunchy alternatives to tortilla chips and hard crackers.
-In general, think "white" when you choose food. It's okay for once to skip the healthier greens.
-Take extra-small bites and nibble food from the side of your mouth. Strong molars can usually handle tougher work, and your front teeth will still gleam.
-If you're contributing baked goods, include a slice of fresh bread along with them in a tightly lidded container - the moisture will transfer to cookies and bars, softening them up; this even works a bit on store baked goods.
-Carry a tiny spiral self-covered brush in a pocket or purse. This item is a lifesaver for freeing stuck bits from between brackets during a quick trip to the restroom.

Incognito Jacqui's Hidden Braces

At Surrideo Orthodontics, we offer the latest technologies when it comes to straightening your teeth.

We have many patients who have chosen our invisible Incognito Orthodontic Braces.

Watch this video blog by Incognito Jacqui to find out what it's like to straighten your teeth without anyone knowing you have hidden braces.

Clean Teeth, Healthy Smile

With braces, oral hygiene is more important than ever. That's because braces have tiny spaces where food particles and plaque get trapped and insufficient cleaning can cause enamel staining and tooth decay around brackets or bands.

At Surrideo, we help our patients maintain excellent oral hygiene habits during orthodontic treatment through the Ortho Care at Home Plan by Crest OralB. The program provides patients with a comprehensive, personalized plan, both in-office and at home, empowering them with the knowledge and tools to adopt an oral hygiene routine to help achieve a greater level of success in this difficult area.

It is based on a simple 5 level oral hygiene rating system that lets patients know how they’re doing at each visit: 1-poor, 2-needs improvement, 3-average, 4-good, 5-excellent. Each new starting patient will take home:

· Ortho care home booklet and healthy mouth assessment card with pictures to visually monitor the results of daily oral hygiene
· Oral B Triumph electric toothbrush (studies have shown this toothbrush to be the most effective brush in the industry)
· Crest Pro Health Toothpaste
· Crest Pro Health mouth rinse

At every appointment we also assess our patients oral hygiene and indicate where improvement is needed. Following the guidelines below, our patients can enjoy a new, beautiful, healthy-looking smile sooner.

-Floss before you brush - at least once a day. To make this easier, use a floss threader or SuperFloss, a special type of floss for cleaning around appliances such as braces.
-Brush, at minimum, twice a day for two minutes at a time.
-Rinse twice a day for 30 seconds each time.
-Make wise food choices and avoid actions that could damage your braces.

Invisible Incognito Braces

One of the major concerns we hear from adults about straightening their teeth is that they don't like the look of braces. Even though there are some highly aesthetic and clear options available, they would rather live with crooked teeth than wear braces.

At Surrideo Orthodontics, we have the solution to this problem with invisible Incognito Braces. With Incognito, the braces are placed on the back side of teeth and completely hidden from sight so that we can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing you are wearing braces.

Incognito Orthodontic Braces are 100% customized to follow the contours of your teeth for comfort as well as precise and efficient treatment. Customized wires that don't require adjustments often mean fewer appointments and quick results.

Ask us about Incognito Orthodontic Braces and start improving your smile with confidence!

Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush This Holiday Season

Everyone here at Surrideo Orthodontics understands that with holiday goodies everywhere you look, keeping your braces clean is exceptionally difficult this time of year. But keep in mind, making sure you properly clean your teeth is even more important when you have braces and should not take a back-seat in the run up to the New Year. Here are some tips to keep in mind when brushing up your holiday grooming routine:

1. Don’t forget your toothbrush. Even though it is a busy time of year don’t forget to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes. This is the most effective way to keep your teeth healthy. Whether is be an all day shopping spree or a week-long trip to a sunny destination, make sure to pack your toothbrush. Designate a special container for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

2. Floss that turkey away. Flossing helps prevent plaque and tartar build up, both of which can cause gum disease. Regular floss works for some patients but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.

3. Leave the Cookies and Candy Canes for Santa. Try to avoid over-indulging in sugary and starchy foods which generate plaque acid and can cause tooth decay and promote gum disease. Stay away from sticky, chewy sweets like caramel and candy canes which can cause wire damage and break off brackets.

4. Hold the fizz. Try to avoid too many fizzy drinks this holiday season. The real danger of fizzy drinks is the acid, it dissolves the enamel of your teeth making them sensitive, prone to decay and can even make them more yellow.

5. Get thee to a dentist! It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need help finding the right Dentist for you, feel free to contact our office - we’d love to help!

Make sure to check out our Oral Hygiene tips and Patient Information page on our website at www.calgarybraces.com

The Clear Alternative to Braces®—Now for Teens!

Invisalign Teen used the same Invisalign technology as adult aligners, moving teeth gradually with each set of clear, comfortable plastic aligners. But because teens are constantly on the go, Invisalign teen has added a few special features:

•Blue wear-indicators fade from blue to clear to help your teen gauge wear time.

•Six free individual replacement aligners are included with Invisalign Teen to replace lost or broken aligners.

•Designed to compensate for the growth of new teeth and molars.

Aligners are removable so patients can continue to eat their favorite foods and brush and floss normally to help keep teeth and gums healthy. Best of all, Invisalign Teen works so teens can smile with confidence and so can their parents!

Invisalign – Straighten your Teeth with the Clear Alternative to Braces

Many of our new patients tell us that they'd like to improve their smile but they don't want to wear braces. They are looking for something that will suit their lifestyle, won’t be as obvious as metal braces, and will be comfortable and easy to keep clean.

With Invisalign, we can offer patients the alternative they are looking for. Invisalign is the clear way to straighten teeth without traditional brackets and wires, using aligners. With Invisalign, you can get the smile you want, discreetly and comfortably.




What are Invisalign Aligners?
Aligners are a clear and removable orthodontics solution which are custom-made for you, and only you. Because they are removable, you can brush and floss normally to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Also, there are no wires, metal or brackets to cause mouth abrasions.


How do they work?
Your Invisalign treatment will consist of a series of aligners that you switch out about every two weeks. Each aligner is individually manufactured with exact calculations to gradually shift your teeth into place.
· You wear each set of Aligners for about two weeks.
· Remove only to eat and drink, brush and floss.
· Your teeth will move gradually each week.
· Visit us every 8-10 weeks.


What is an Invisalign Preferred Provider?
Invisalign Preferred Providers have achieved a level of clinical training and experience in treating patients with the Invisalign system. At Surrideo Orthodontics, we have the experience and training you can rely on.