Summer Smoothie Recipes

With our without braces, everyone loves smoothies!  We've whipped up a few summer smoothie recipes to help beat the heat and cool off.


Banana Blast Smoothie
(makes 4 servings)

2 bananas
1 cup milk
1/4 cup water
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
8 cubes ice

In a blender, combine bananas and milk. Pulse until bananas are chopped. Pour in water and brown sugar. Blend until smooth. Toss in the ice cubes and blend until smooth. Pour into 4 glasses and serve immediately.

Tropical Fruit Smoothie
(makes 2 servings)

1 mango, peeled and seeded
1 papaya, peeled and seeded
1/2 cup fresh strawberries
1/3 cup orange juice
5 cubes ice

Place the mango, papaya, strawberries, orange juice, and ice cubes in an electric blender. Process until the ingredients are smooth.



Berry Explosion Smoothie
(makes 2 servings)

1 cup frozen berry blend (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries recommended)
1/2 cup coconut water
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

Process all ingredients in a blender at high speed until smooth. Serve immediately.


Tip:
Add chia seeds or flaxseeds to any smoothie to boost your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids!

Choosing The Right Toothpaste

Thanks to better care and technological advances, more people than ever before are keeping their teeth throughout their lives. The most important thing you can do to make sure you're one of those who keep their natural teeth is to brush and floss regularly. 

Most dental decay is caused by plaque, a sticky, colourless bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth. Saliva, food (especially sugar) and fluids combine to produce plaque, which collects on teeth and where teeth and gums meet. Plaque that is not removed by regular brushing and flossing can harden into tartar, a crusty deposit that can only be removed by a dentist. Plaque also leads to gum disease, a potentially serious infection that can erode bone and destroy the tissues surrounding teeth. Flossing removes plaque between teeth, and brushing removes plaque from the large surfaces of the teeth and, if done correctly, from just under the gums.

With brushing being such an important factor in your oral health, you can see why your choice of a toothpaste is important, but with so many brands and types - plaque control, tartar control, whitening, gum care, sensitive teeth, polish - from which to choose, picking the right toothpaste can be a daunting task. Your dentist or dental hygienist can help narrow the field by discussing what your special brushing needs are.

If you tend to build up plaque or tartar quickly, you'll want a plaque or tartar-control toothpaste. Anti-plaque/tartar toothpastes will have ingredients such as fluoride and/or antibacterial agents to limit plaque and tartar formation. (Check with your dentist before choosing fluoride toothpaste for your young children. Excessive fluoride ingestion by pre-school age children can lead to discoloration of the permanent teeth. If your child uses fluoride toothpaste, make sure s/he does not swallow toothpaste while brushing.)

If you drink tea or coffee, a whitening toothpaste may help with stains. However, whitening toothpastes only remove adherent stain. The ingredients necessary to actually bleach your teeth are not chemically stable enough to be included in toothpaste. Use caution with those toothpastes made to remove heavy stains, frequently referred to as "tooth polish". These toothpastes may be excessively abrasive and may cause progressive wearing away of the tooth and supporting tissues. 

Temperature sensitive teeth will benefit from a toothpaste made to desensitize your teeth. Your needs may change as you age, so don't be surprised if your hygienist recommends a type of toothpaste you haven't used before.

Once you've determined which type of toothpaste is best, choose the one that tastes and feels best and doesn't cause irritation or sensitivity problems. If you like the flavour and texture of your toothpaste, you'll brush more and longer. And brushing well and regularly means you'll be smiling with your natural teeth well into your mature years.

Get Your Kids Into Healthy Water Drinking Habits This Summer

The hot weather is upon us, and energetic kids are going to be reaching for something to quench their thirst.  This summer ditch the pop, the juice, and the energy drinks and instead get kids in the healthy habit of drinking water.

The enamel on your teeth is the hardest substance in the body, but it is more fragile than it seems.  Enamel is affected by the acid released by mouth bacteria and it can be worn down even faster by the acids in common fruit juices.  Fruit juice can wear down tooth enamel over time, leading to cavities, sensitive teeth and eventual tooth loss.  Juice is often used as a substitute for pop, in the belief that the juice will cause less tooth decay. But in fact, it will often cause more damage as it is more acidic (although the juice is far more nutritious).  

Even though we know that water is best, it’s not always easy to get your kids to sip H2O regularly.  Here are some tips on how to get kids in the healthy water drinking habit:

• Keep it accessible. Have kids playing outside? Set up a cool water station outdoors. Spending time indoors? Set up a water station on the kitchen counter or table. Keep kids water bottles filled and within easy reach in the fridge.

• Silly straws and colorful bottles can make it more fun for kids to choose water over juice or pop. Let them pick their favorite reusable water bottle and pick up some fun straws to pop in a glass of water to make it more enticing. Decorating their bottles with stickers or name labels will make it even more fun for kids.

• Try some sliced lemons, limes, and oranges to add a little flavour and colour to plain water. Have your kids pick their favourite and then add a slice to their drink for a little added flavour.

• Teach them about the effects of sugar on their teeth, and give them a motivation that will resonate with them.  A younger child might like the idea of keeping their teeth healthy and clean for the Tooth Fairy, and older children might identify with the idea of building strong teeth for a lifetime.

We realize it is summer and sometimes there is nothing like a cold glass of lemonade or iced-tea to quench a thirst on a hot day! These treats are okay once in a while but just be sure that your children stay on track with their oral health over the summer.  It’s easy to forget to floss and brush when you’re taking a break from your usual routine, so make sure that kids have the reminders they need to keep up with their dental health!

Braces Friendly Summer Recipes

The team at Surrideo knows it can be challenging to eat certain foods when you are wearing braces.  There are many foods that can cause braces to break such as hard crusty breads, fresh veggies and whole fruits. Now that summer is in full swing and so is BBQ season, we'd like to provide our patients with some braces friendly summer BBQ recipes to enjoy!

Saucy BBQ Chicken

1 tsp canola oil

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup bottled chili sauce
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp hoisin sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp chili flakes
1/2 tsp salt
2kg chicken breasts, skinned, boned and halved

Preheat barbecue to medium-high. Heat a large saucepan over medium. Add oil, then onion. Cook, stirring constantly, about 1 min. Add ketchup, chili sauce, sugar, hoisin, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, chili flakes and salt.  Continue to cook, stirring frequently to keep sauce from splattering, 5 to 8 min. Reserve 1/3 cup and scrape remaining sauce into bowl. Old grill. Barbecue chicken approximately 6 minutes per side, until chicken is cooked through. Baste during cooking.  Serves 4. 

Summer Corn 'Off the Cob'

2 Tablespoons butter

1 shallot, chopped small

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

5 ears fresh corn, shucked, kernels cut from the cob

1/2 - 3/4 cup assorted chopped fresh herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro, chives, etc - see head note)

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallot and cumin, saute until the shallot has taken on a golden colour, 4-5 minutes. Add the corn and season with a teaspoon of kosher salt and 10-12 grinds of black pepper. Stir frequently for 5 minutes, or until corn is tender. Shut off the heat and mix in all the herbs. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serves 4 as a side. 

Watermelon Sorbet
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
6 cups watermelon chunks, seeded
2 tablespoons lime juice

• 
  

Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, about 45 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Place watermelon and lime juice in a food processor; process until smooth. Set a sieve over a large bowl and press the puree through to remove tiny seeds. Whisk in the sugar syrup.

Pour the watermelon mixture into a shallow metal pan and freeze until ice crystals form around the edges, about 30 minutes. Stir the ice crystals into the center of the pan and return to the freezer; repeat every 20 minutes until all the liquid is frozen.

Serve immediately or transfer to a storage container and let harden in the freezer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Serve in chilled dishes.

Happy Summer!

The Harmony System - The Invisible Solution To An Ideal Smile

Surrideo Orthodontics is pleased to announce we are now offering Harmony Lingual Braces!  

The Harmony System is a customized invisible solution for straightening teeth.  Using accurate digital processes and manufacturing techniques, the Harmony System attaches to the interior, or lingual side of your teeth, so no one will know that you are wearing braces but you.

 

We find that Harmony's digital technology offers precision to your treatment and helps your teeth move quickly and accurately to their desired position. With Harmony's self-ligating technology,  there are no elastic ties holding your wire in place, which we find can result in easier wire changes and shorter office visits.

COMFORT
The Harmony System is customized and designed with your comfort in mind.  Each bracket has smooth, rounded edges and a low profile.

RESULTS
At Surrideo, we believe that Harmony's combination of digital and self ligating technology delivers desired results and ideal tooth alignment - all in a highly dependable, invisible system.

Surrideo Makes Sandwiches!

For our most recent social outreach effort at Surrideo we decided to pitch in and make sandwiches for the Calgary Drop-In Centre. We ended up making and delivering 150 sandwiches!

We also participated in National Denim Day on May 13th in support of the Cure Foundation. By making a small donation we were able to ditch our uniforms for day and wear jeans. We raised $160 to supplement our annual breast cancer fundraiser in October.

Stay tuned for more community outreach projects by our S.O.S ( Surrideo Offering Smiles) Team!

Tuesday Tooth Trivia

This Tuesday we thought we'd present you with some fun tooth trivia. Here are 20 little known facts about teeth! 

1.  Dolphins use their teeth to grasp only, not to chew, as dolphins’ jaws have no muscles.

2.  Each year, the 20th of September is an official holiday in China; this day is called “Love your teeth day”. Great idea!

3.  Elephant’s molar tooth weight nearly 4 kilograms and almost 7″ square.

4.  In Germany, at Middle Ages,it was believed kissing a donkey was the only treatment for painful teeth. 

5.  Ancient Greeks were the first to invent dental pliers

6.  The first woman to get a dental degree in the United States was Lucy Hobbs, from Ohio college of Dental surgery in 1866.

7.  Sharks have three rows of sharp teeth in both of their jaws; actually, a shark can change almost forty sets of teeth in its entire life.

8.  Enamel covering crown of your teeth is the hardest tissue in your entire body.

9.  Most people prefer to use blue toothbrushes than the red ones!

10. Unlike adult humans, when a crocodile loses a tooth, another one grows to replace the old one. 

11. Originally, bristles of toothbrush was made of cow hairs.

12. The first commercial dental floss was made in the year of 1882.

13. According to Guinness World Records 2002, Sir Isaac Newton had the most valuable tooth of all times; his tooth was sold in London for $3,633.00 in 1816. Furthermore, this tooth was put in a ring.

14. Your dental plaque contains more than three hundred species of bacteria.

15. Animals’ numbers of teeth are amazing; dogs have forty two teeth, cats have thirty teeth, pigs have forty four teeth, and the armadillo has one hundred and four teeth. 

16. In the 1800s, people who had false teeth in England ate in their bedrooms before gatherings and events at the dinner table. This unique Victorian tradition protected them against the embarrassment of having their teeth ‘fall off’ while dining.

17. Dentists would recommend that you keep your toothbrush at least six feet away from your toilet to avoid many airborne particles that results from flushing.

18. Even before toothbrushes were invented, people used their fingers and twigs in cleaning their teeth.

19. George Washington wore dentures because he had lost one tooth after another to extraction. He suffered from toothaches all his adult life, and his famous quick temper may have been the result of this pain. By the time of his inauguration in 1790, Washington had only one tooth, his lower left bicuspid. A hole in his lower denture allowed this natural tooth to stick out. The dentures were not made of wood (as common myth goes). They were made of ivory.

20. The Crocodile Bird flies into the open mouth of a crocodile and cleans it's teeth for it!. Nature's Oral Hygienist!

Wisdom Teeth Cause Crowding - Fact or Fiction?

Will the wisdom teeth cause crowding or relapse when they come in?
This is one of the most common questions from parents of younger patients in our initial consultations. Despite popular belief, wisdom teeth do not contribute to the crowding of the front teeth in adulthood.  Wisdom teeth often need removing for many reasons, however studies show that extraction of the wisdom teeth or third molars exclusively for the purpose of preventing crowding of the incisors (front teeth) is not warranted. Human teeth naturally drift forward in our mouths over time and when your teeth are not ideally aligned, crowding occurs.

So if it isn't the wisdom teeth, then why do the teeth often start getting crooked around 17, 18 or 19 years of age?
Orthodontists believe that there are several factors that come into play.  First, as the teeth begin to wear the bite deepens in front (the teeth overlap more). This allows the back surface of the upper teeth to press down on the fronts of the lowers pushing them towards the tongue. This deepening of the bite also causes extra wear on the lower front teeth in some patients.
The second factor is what orthodontists call late residual growth. In common terms, there is a slight amount of lower jaw growth that happens in the late teens or early 20s that forces the teeth slightly forward and upward into the back of the upper teeth. The result is added pressure that crowds previously straight teeth.

What are the reasons wisdom teeth should be removed?
Wisdom teeth often do not have sufficient room to erupt and become totally or partially impacted, and unless other teeth need to be removed for orthodontic reasons, they are not useful, functioning teeth in chewing. In these situations they should be evaluated for extraction.

What is the key to keeping the teeth straight?
Although there are other reasons for removing your wisdom teeth, keeping your teeth straight shouldn't be the main concern.  Research indicates that long-term retainer wear or lingual wires are the only "sure thing". Keeping your teeth straight after braces requires wearing your retainers for as long as you want them to stay straight!

AcceleDent: New Technology to Shorten Treatment Time

What is AcceleDent? AcceleDent is a simple-to-use, hands-free device that uses SoftPulse Technology to offer faster orthodontic treatment with only 20 minutes daily use.










What is SoftPulse Technology and why is it important? Part of the way that orthodontics works is by changing or remodelling the bones surrounding your teeth. As this remodelling process is accelerated, your teeth move more quickly.  That's where AcceleDent comes in. By using tiny vibrations, or micro pulses, SoftPulse Technology is designed to speed up bone remodelling, accelerating tooth movement.

How does AcceleDent work?   By inserting the Mouthpiece – fitted around your existing orthodontics – and turning on the Activator for 20 minutes every day, AcceleDent can speed up tooth movement by up to 50%. Faster tooth movement may decrease the duration of your orthodontic treatment and can even help to make your orthodontics more comfortable.

Is AcceleDent safe? Yes. AcceleDent with SoftPulse Technology™ has been demonstrated safe and reliable in U.S. clinical trials. It is a Class II medical device that has been cleared for use by the FDA – the government agency that approves drugs and medical devices.

By how much time will AcceleDent reduce my treatment? Research has shown that tooth movement is accelerated by up to 50%, potentially shortening conventional orthodontic treatment time by several appointments.

What orthodontic treatment does AcceleDent work with? AcceleDent works in conjunction with most orthodontics. Please ask your orthodontist if AcceleDent is a good option for you.

How is the orthodontic treatment accelerated? Your orthodontics work on their own by moving your teeth in specific directions. AcceleDent generates small vibrations, or micropulses, enhancing the movements directed by your orthodontics, which may allow for faster overall treatment.

How do I know if I am biting into the Mouthpiece correctly and with the right amount of force? Bite pressure on the Mouthpiece should be just firm enough to hold your AcceleDent in place without using your hands. Avoid biting forcibly on the Mouthpiece as that may cause excessive wear.

Can I try to wear AcceleDent while I am sleeping? No.  It is not recommended that AcceleDent be used while sleeping.

Do I have to do the full 20 minute treatment at one time? Yes. It is recommended that you use your AcceleDent for a continuous 20 minute period each day.

If I absolutely have to interrupt the 20 minute session for a few minutes, when I turn my AcceleDent back on, does it remember how long I used it? Yes. AcceleDent will remember how long you used it as long as the interruption does not exceed five minutes. After five minutes of being turned off, AcceleDent will work for a full session of 20 minutes at its next use.

Is there some way that AcceleDent can “track” my usage? Yes. Docking the Activator/Travel Shell on the Charging Port also allows the usage history and details to be displayed. The amount of usage can then be observed on the Smart Display.

Can AcceleDent remind me to use it on a daily basis? No. AcceleDent is not designed to provide reminders. It is recommended that you make AcceleDent part of your daily routine in order to maximize its benefit to you.

How often does AcceleDent need to be recharged? The Activator should be recharged every three days or when no lights are visible on the Battery Gauge.

If I use AcceleDent for more than the recommended 20 minute treatment time, does it add incremental benefit? No. Additional daily use greater than the prescribed 20 minutes duration is not recommended.

What is the best way to clean AcceleDent? The Mouthpiece should be rinsed well with lukewarm water after each use. You may occasionally use a soft liquid dishwashing detergent, a mild soap, or toothpaste to gently brush the Mouthpiece. The Activator can be wiped with a soft cloth as necessary. The metal contacts of the Activator must be free of any dirt or residue and may be cleaned with a Q-Tip® as needed. It is recommended that you allow AcceleDent to air dry before being stored in the Travel Shell. Do not place the Mouthpiece or the Activator in a dishwasher as this will void the warranty and could cause damage to the product.

Can I use my AcceleDent in the shower? No. AcceleDent is not water resistant and should not be used in the shower.

Can I sanitize my AcceleDent and share it with a friend or family member who also has braces? No. AcceleDent is a FDA cleared, single-user prescription device. Sharing the AcceleDent and/or Mouthpiece is prohibited. Your orthodontist prescribed AcceleDent for your use only based upon your unique orthodontic treatment plan. Use of AcceleDent without the supervision and direction of an orthodontist may result in adverse unintended consequences.

Is my AcceleDent under warranty? Yes, the warranty details can be found in the Directions for Use, click here.

What type of battery does AcceleDent contain? The rechargeable battery in AcceleDent is a medical grade lithium ion battery.

What should I do with my AcceleDent once treatment is finished? You should dispose of your AcceleDent as you would with any other device with a rechargeable battery. Reference the “Disposal” section of the Directions for Use manual for further details, click here.

Is AcceleDent eligible under my HSA (Healthcare Savings Account)? When prescribed by a licensed dental professional, AcceleDent may be eligible under your HSA; however, it is always a good idea to check with your HSA Plan Administrator.

How can I get further information regarding AcceleDent? Please ask us about Acceledent at your next visit! 

iTero Digital Scanner at Surrideo Orthodontics

No more goop, gagging or discomfort! Surrideo Orthodontics is proud to offer our patients the iTero digital scanner.  Using the iTero scanner we can take a digital impression and eliminate, in most cases, the need for tray and putty impressions. 

While the old technique can be unpleasant and sometimes has to be done more than once for accuracy, we find that the iTero scanner ensures a more accurate impression from the start, resulting in improved treatment and a more comfortable experience. Digital impressions also give you the ability to see your teeth instantly in 3D, improving communication during the consultation and treatment process. 

The iTero scanner digitally captures the structure of the teeth and gums using optical technology.  The scanner is a compact, hand-held wand. Once we being the scanning process, it can be stopped and started as many times as necessary. 

Your mouth is scanned with a radiation-free laser and in as little as eight to ten minutes, the laser renders a 3D impression of your teeth and soft tissue structures. Through digital software, you'll then be able to follow the progress of the scans, including a 3D model of your teeth on our computer screen. The iTero scanner can be used for most orthodontic treatment, including Invisalign.

Surrideo Orthodontics is excited to be acquiring yet another scanner called the Lythos Digital Scanner.  Watch for more information on the Lythos Scanner coming soon!