Are you wearing your mouth guard?

With winter sports getting started, many patients of Dr. Carrie Schwartz will once again pick up the ball, bring the cleats out of seasonal retirement and hit the fields and courts for the return of sports action! During this time, however, Dr. Schwartz and our team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this fall and winter, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as basketball, wrestling and hockey
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps! Dr. Schwartz and team will tell you protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact our office or ask us on Facebook. Stay safe!

Have you had a check-up lately?

Even if you brush and floss daily, as well as maintain your braces it is still important to visit your local dentist every 6 months, or as recommended. Why?

• Your dentist can detect and treat tooth and gum problems that you may have never felt or noticed.
• Even thorough daily oral care may not be enough to prevent cavities and oral decay.
• Frequent visits can allow your dentist to treat a problem early to prevent future complications.

If you have not visited a dentist in the past six months, please let us know! Dr. Carrie Schwartz will be happy to provide a few great references here in the area!

-- Dr. Carrie Schwartz & Team

Invisalign tips from Dr. Carrie Schwartz

Many people know that Invisalign is a great alternative to braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, Dr. Carrie Schwartz wants you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not necessary for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also simple: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Schwartz Orthodontics, give us a call!

Happy Thanksgiving from Schwartz Orthodontics!

Dr. Carrie Schwartz and team would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. It's a big food holiday, so be sure to brush and floss your teeth!

If you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we'd encourage you to post them to our Facebook page or call our office and ask how.

Gobble Gobble!

A few helpful webisodes about orthodontics, from Dr. Carrie Schwartz

Dr. Carrie Schwartz and our team at Schwartz Orthodontics would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at Schwartz Orthodontics, please give us a call.

Ask Dr. Schwartz: Now that I have braces, what can I eat?

You just got braces at Schwartz Orthodontics and Dr. Carrie Schwartz has informed you that during your orthodontic treatment you will want to avoid eating anything sticky, hard, crunchy, or chewy. What does this leave for you to eat? Lettuce? Nothing?

Luckily, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, created a variety of “braces-friendly” recipes that will allow you to enjoy your favorite treats without interfering with your orthodontic care!

Recipes include main dishes, side dishes and even yummy desserts! After all, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps the patient achieve the best possible results from orthodontic treatment.

If you have any questions about the recipes listed or about the foods you should be avoiding during your orthodontic treatment, please give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Enjoy!

From Dr. Schwartz: How was your Halloween this year?

Dr. Carrie Schwartz and her team at Schwartz Orthodontics hope everyone had a fantastically spooky Halloween!

To celebrate one of our favorite seasons, we decorated our office including dressing Breezie up as a pumpkin. Be sure to check out our Facebook wall for more pictures and share your images with us!

If you need to schedule a follow-up appointment for your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Schwartz, be sure to give us a call!