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Operation Gratitude

We need your Candy! Every Pound equals 10 Reward Points!

candy is bad for braces

National Orthodontic Month

National Orthodontic Health Month

National Orthodontic Health Month

This October is national orthodontic health month and it is especially important with the Halloween season coming up. National orthodontic health month is a time to raise awareness about the benefits of orthodontic treatment. We are interested in connecting with new patients, and educating people in the community about the benefits that they can experience after receiving proper orthodontic treatment.

The American Association of Orthodontists recognizes October as orthodontic health month and a time to raise awareness for these benefits. The AAO has over 16,000 members located across North America and is one of the oldest professional associations for orthodontists. They have established this month is a good time to educate people about these benefits because it falls in line with Halloween, and because it’s always a

National Orthodontic Month

Pamela Machado via Compfight

good idea to explain the benefits of orthodontic work. By banding together during the month of October we only hope that each orthodontic member of the AAO will do their part to reach out in the community and educate new people about what they can receive along with orthodontic care.

Currently undergoing orthodontic treatment?

For people who are currently undergoing orthodontic care, October is a great time to brush up on your skills and to learn more about the treatments that you are undergoing. By Learning about some food that you can avoid during Halloween, as well as how to properly clean your teeth even with orthodontic appliances on, you can be more prepared to handle October during your treatment. There are bound to be lots of treats floating around and plenty of temptations. It’s important to note that some of these sticky treats could really set your progress back and lead to some serious oral health issues. Opting for some melt in your mouth treats over some harder sticky items could make sure that your progress isn’t interrupted.

Professionals across all levels of orthodontistry are recognized across orthodontic health month. Orthodontists will receive awards and certificates based off of their performance over the past year. Certified orthodontic assistants and orthodontists can be recognized on behalf of their various boards if they are certified by an exam. Certification lasts just one year but some of the most elite orthodontists and assistants carry these certifications to show their commitment to excellence.

If you are interested in receiving orthodontic care or you are interested in learning more about the treatment that you are undergoing, October is perhaps one of the best months to look into your orthodontic health.

Dr Panucci is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to orthodontic treatments, you can book a complimentary consultation by clicking here !

Beach Braces 1730 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Suite B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 TEL: 310-379-0006 Fax: (310) 379-7051.

National Orthodontic Health Month

Toothbrushing Mistake 9

Toothbrushing Mistake No.9

Toothbrushing Mistake No.9: “Not Letting the Toothbrush Dry”

Toothbrushing Mistake 9

There is more bacteria found in your mouth than any part of your body hence when you brush your teeth, some stays on your toothbrush. People don’t usually mind if their toothbrush is not  dry before storing them, and since most people store their toothbrush in the bathroom, a place where airborne bacteria is common, your damp toothbrush is the most appropriate choice for these bacteria to thrive in.

Not letting the toothbrush dry well enough can contaminate it. Contamination happens because there’s moisture left in your toothbrush making it a good environment for bacteria and germs to grow. When bacteria builds up during the time your toothbrush is stored, you will be putting more bacteria into your mouth the moment you start brushing. This is not cleaning your mouth at all; this is reestablishing the old bacteria in your mouth through your contaminated toothbrush. Of course, you don’t want this happening as the more bacteria in your mouth means more tooth decay.

In order to prevent this, make sure to air dry your toothbrush first before storing it in a cool and dry place. Also make sure that the container allows the air to flow, so your toothbrush can breathe properly and moisture can be prevented. Keeping your toothbrush dry literally means keeping your toothbrush clean and safe from bacteria which loves to thrive in damp places.

Brushing teeth correctly is very important . For more Toothbrusing Facts, visit our blog.

Beach Braces 1730 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Suite B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 TEL: 310-379-0006 Fax: (310) 379-7051.

Toothbrushing Mistake No.9

columbus_

Happy Columbus Day!

What is Columbus Day? 

As the second Monday in October is approaching very quickly we are almost ready to celebrate Columbus Day. On October 12 1492 Christopher Columbus arrived in America, today we celebrate Columbus Day over an extended long weekend holiday. Many of us spend Columbus Day together with family or friends enjoying good food and good times. It’s important to enjoy yourself over Columbus Day but also to be careful especially if you are undergoing orthodontic treatment.

We understand that accidents over the course of the Columbus Day holiday can happen and it can be very difficult to receive treatment especially with our offices facing shortened hours. If you have an emergency that requires immediate attention feel free to check through our website for a number of quick fixes that you can make to orthodontic appliances to ensure your short-term comfort.

Are you going away for Columbus Day? 

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If you are going away for Columbus Day or spending time with friends is also very important that you keep track of any removable appliances. For patients that use retainers or Invisalign dental aligners it’s very important that they keep track of their appliances and continue to use them over the course of the holiday. We understand that sometimes appliances can be lost or damaged over the long weekend and if this occurs make sure to phone into our answering service or e-mail us directly so that we can order you a replacement appliance as soon as possible.

If you go without your appliance for a long period of time it can greatly impact the length of your treatment and extend the length of your treatment. Make sure to continue wearing your appliance and to keep track of it especially when you are traveling, it can be a costly expense to replace it. Enjoying Columbus Day with friends and family may also affect your diet especially if you have a permanent orthodontic appliance. Make sure to consider your food options before going out to an event.

It is important to consider that their are certain foods you will need to avoid in order to maintain your oral health. For a description of the foods that you should best avoid over Columbus Day feel free to consult our website on some of the foods to avoid with braces.

Beach Braces 1730 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Suite B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 TEL: 310-379-0006 Fax: (310) 379-7051.

Happy Columbus day!

Opperation

Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude: A Candy Buyback

With Halloween fast approaching, there are many orthodontists that are looking for solutions to steer their patients away from all of the sugar and junk that could ruin the progress of their orthodontic treatment. Luckily there is a solution and it comes in the form of operation gratitude which is a candy buyback program for orthodontists and dentists. 

US Army

first_msc via Flickr

As children collect candy for Halloween and throughout the Halloween season,  participating orthodontists can encourage them to hold back on eating the candy and to collect it. At an appropriate time participating practices will be able to buy back the stockpiles of candy and in exchange give children coupons for food, services, toothbrushes or other creative exchanges. After the orthodontists and dentists collect all of this candy up and exchange it, they are asked to send the candy off to operation gratitude.

Where does all the candy go?

Operation gratitude then bundles up all of the candy that is collected from practices across North America to eventually send the candy along with supplies in the operation gratitude program which is a military support group designated to support US military troops. All of these candies and supplies will eventually be sent overseas and deployed to US military troops who are in harms way.

The program is a big win for orthodontists as it can work to reduce any October issues in orthodontic and oral care. The program also works to benefit American soldiers were deployed in harm’s way and gives them a much-needed morale boost. Many practices that participate in this program experience overwhelming support and the children, who have been told to avoid candy throughout October, certainly enjoy getting some type of treat in exchange for their Halloween efforts.

Halloween is a fun time of year for kids and there is no reason why they should have to miss out because they are currently undergoing orthodontic treatment. Kids with orthodontic appliances can still go out and collect candy and with a program like this one orthodontic office can still reward them for taking part in the Halloween season.

The program has been widely successful and this year will be shipping its 1 millionth care package on December 7, 2013. Operation gratitude runs entirely on donations and even some money is needed to handle the shipping costs for their care packages. Donations can be made via the website, or at any one of the orthodontic candy buyback programs that occur throughout early November and October.

For more information contact our office by clicking here, alternatively post any comments on our Facebook wall.

Beach Braces 1730 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Suite B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 TEL: 310-379-0006 Fax: (310) 379-7051.

Operation Gratitude

Brushing teeth

Toothbrushing Mistake No.8

Toothbrushing Mistake No.8: “Not Following Up With a Rinse”

TM8-BB

Rinsing the toothbrush after using is a healthy practice since not following up with a rinse can contaminate your toothbrush.A contaminated toothbrush can bring bacteria to your mouth the moment you start brushing, hence you are not cleaning your mouth and teeth at all but putting in more bacteria into your mouth instead. More bacteria means a higher possibility of tooth decay thus defeating the purpose of why people brush their teeth in the first place: to preserve their teeth. So how do you make sure you avoid this kind of scenario?

When rinsing your toothbrush with tap water, make sure there’s no debris and toothpaste residue is left. You can closely check the toothbrush for debris and make sure to rinse it with running water. Even if your toothbrush looks visibly clean, it is not a guarantee that there’s no bacteria left in the bristles or other parts of your toothbrush. So, the next best thing to do is to let it air-dry and store it in an upright position if possible.

If there are more toothbrushes on your holder, make sure that they are properly separated in order to prevent cross-contamination among the toothbrushes. Also check if the toothbrush holder is properly designed in order to let the brushes breath.

Closed containers have a higher possibility of moisture, and a moist environment is the breeding place of germs and bacteria so make sure you store your toothbrush in a cool and dry place.

For more Toothbrushing Mistake Facts, please visit our blog. If you’re in the Manhattan Beach area, you can book a complimentary orthodontic consultation by clicking here.

Beach Braces 1730 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Suite B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 TEL: 310-379-0006 Fax: (310) 379-7051.

Toothbrushing Mistake No.8

orthodontic for kid

The Kids Healthy Mouths Campaign

What Do You Know About The Kids Healthy Mouths Campaign

You may have recently seen a PSA campaign regarding the kids healthy mouths program. Kids healthy mouths is a partnership that was created and spearheaded by spokesperson Laila Ali and backed by a partnership between the healthy mouths, healthy lives program and the ad Council.

orthodontic for kid

Marwa Morgan via Compfight

The PSA campaign is targeted towards parents and children and drives home the importance of brushing for 2 minutes, two times per day. The 2 x 2 campaign is designed to target children to ensure that they maintain their oral health and care during the early years of their lives avoiding dental decay.

Dental decay is currently one of the most common chronic childhood diseases. Over 16 million children in the United States are currently suffering from some form of untreated tooth decay. The idea of these PSA’s is to create a light and comfortable message for kids by reminding them of some other silly activities that they generally spend time doing rather than brushing their teeth for 2 min.

It is the hope that these PSA’s can affect real change and that children will see them and be encouraged to brush their teeth two times daily for 2 min, to severely cut down the instances of dental decay among children in the United States.

How can poor dental health affect children? 

Poor dental and oral health can really affect childhood health. Many children experienced cavities and oral pain which can also cause extra expense for parents as well as some health issues. Cavities and oral pain can make life difficult for children and could require extra care especially if left untreated for a long period of time.

Research has shown that only 44% of parents report that their children were brushing their teeth at least twice a day. By providing proper instructions, exposure and reminders through these PSA’s the aim is for more children and parents to get on the bandwagon,  creating positive change when it comes to focusing on oral health in children.

Coupled with these PSA’s comes a variety of internet material to help parents teach their children how to brush. The two-minute two times website is an excellent resource for parents to teach their children good cleaning habits.

Useful Websites

Some great information can be found on these websites, including referrals for local dentists, product recommendations as well as the different types of toothbrushes that should be used for children. Extra resources such as the brush checklist can also be used by parents to help children establish healthy routines for brushing and to keep track of their cleaning habits. You can also view our blog for common tooth brushing mistakes that we list on a weekly basis.

If you would like to learn more about the kids healthy mouth campaign please feel free to visit www.2min2x.org

For all the latest tips, news and competitions please like our Facebook page.

Beach Braces 1730 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Suite B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 TEL: 310-379-0006 Fax: (310) 379-7051.

The Kids Healthy Mouths Campaign.

Toothbrusing Mistake 7

Toothbrushing Mistake No.7

Toothbrushing Mistake No.7: “Skipping Inner Tooth Surfaces”

Toothbrusing Mistake 7

How does skipping inner tooth surfaces (the surface in which your tongue presses against) when brushing affect your overall oral health? Leaving any part of the tooth behind can cause decay from  bacteria which was not removed when brushing.

The bacteria can spread all over the mouth (tongue, cheek, gums, and teeth) which can also damage other teeth which are thoroughly brushed. In order to avoid this scenario, it is best to include all parts of the teeth when brushing, including the inner surfaces of the teeth. The inner surfaces are commonly skipped since not all people are aware of the detrimental effects of skipping them.

Besides, since the inner surfaces of the teeth are not as visible as the outer ones, most people think it is not necessary to clean them properly thus they are making the biggest mistake when it comes to oral hygiene. Richard H. Price, DMD, the consumer adviser for the American Dental Association says that the plaque that you can’t see is as important to remove as the plaque that you can see so don’t just focus on removing plaque on the outer surfaces. Furthermore, dentists found out that the most skipped area when brushing is the inner surfaces of the lower front teeth so make sure to include this the next time you brush.

Overall, make sure to brush every part of your mouth when brushing in order to ensure that bacteria which causes bad breath and tooth decay is removed.

Are you on Google Plus ? Circle doctor Panucci  by clicking here, doing so you will be the first to know about all the latest dental information.

Beach Braces 1730 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Suite B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 TEL: 310-379-0006 Fax: (310) 379-7051

Toothbrushing Mistake No.7

Invisalign v Braces

What are The Five C’s? [Of Invisalign & Invisalign Teen]

Invisalign is a revolutionary new orthodontic treatment that allows patients to straighten their teeth without the use of traditional metal braces. Whilst traditional metal braces have worked and evolved for decades to include increased comfort, shorter treatment times and more fine-tuned adjustments, Invisalign is really the next step in orthodontic treatment that many adults and teens are interested in receiving for convenience.

Read more

Toothbrushing Mistake 6

Toothbrushing Mistake No.6

Toothbrushing Mistake No.6: “Starting in the Same Place Each Time”

Toothbrushing Mistake 6

So does starting in the same place each time when brushing really have an impact to your overall oral health?

Most right handed people have the habit to start at the upper left corner of their front teeth while left handed people tend to start at the upper right corner of their front teeth. The bad news is that starting at the same place each time when brushing can cause excessive wear to that certain teeth. Aside from the excessive wear, starting at the same place each time when brushing also makes you get bored on the same areas each day hence those areas won’t be as clean as those areas where you start brushing.

Richard H. Price, DMD (consumer advisor for the American Dental Association), added that by the time you reach the last quadrant of your mouth, you’re already bored and lazy hence you are missing the most important places to clean, especially the back of your last teeth. People tend to start brushing harder then let up as they go on and the usual places left behind with less cleaning effort are the upper back teeth. So how can you change this habit?

Whenever starting up, always remember to start with the inner and chewing surfaces of your teeth where most bacteria builds up. Do not start on the same place each time and remember to include brushing the tongue in order to remove the white film which also contains bacteria and causes bad breath.

Dr Panucci is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to oral hygiene and orthodontic treatments, you can book a complimentary consultation by clicking here !

Beach Braces 1730 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Suite B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 TEL: 310-379-0006 Fax: (310) 379-7051

Toothbrushing Mistake No.6