HOW TO: Floss with braces

Dr. Jeff Collins will tell you that keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and could possibly reduce your treatment time.

Here is a very concise video explaining the proper way to floss your teeth with braces. Give Parker Orthodontics a call if you have more questions about flossing. Enjoy!

A great BRACES-FRIENDLY spring recipe! From Parker Orthodontics

Winter is over, and the weather is finally starting to get warmer. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) spring dish that is sure to delight. Remember, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment.

Soy Simmered Chicken Wraps

Ingredients:
• 3 boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 large onions, chunked
• Small flour tortillas (pkg. of ten) wheat or white
• (optional: 10-16 oz. of cooked chopped broccoli)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup water
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger
• 2 Tablespoons peach or apricot jam
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

In a slow cooker, or a large pan on the stove, layer the onions and the chicken breast. Allow at least three hours in the slow cooker on medium, or at least one hour on the stove—the longer the better, but you don’t have to do anything to it while it cooks. Spoon out the chicken onto a cutting board, and with a knife and fork, shred the chicken as finely as you’d like. In a small saucepan, stir all sauce ingredients together over medium heat until the mixture starts bubbling, then let it simmer for five minutes on low heat to thicken. In a serving bowl, stir sauce and onion into chicken; if you’d like, add cooked chopped broccoli. Makes about six to eight servings.

Enjoy this great spring dish and have a great week!

--From Dr. Jeff Collins and team

Your pal, fluoride

There are so many ways you protect your teeth throughout your treatment with Parker Orthodontics. You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly and protect your mouth and appliances from being damaged. But did you know there is another, often forgotten about, way to keep your teeth clean and healthy during your treatment? Fluoride – a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay – can help keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is applied directly to the tooth. Topical fluoride includes toothpastes and mouth rinses. Systemic fluorides are swallowed in the form of a dietary supplement.

Fluoride used in the orthodontists’ office is often times a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask your doctor how to purchase professional strength fluoride). A fluoride treatment typically takes just a few minutes. After the treatment patients may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride. Depending on your oral health or doctor’s recommendation, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six or 12 months. Your doctor may also prescribe a fluoride product such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses for at-home treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness.

Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, from Parker Orthodontics

Each February for the past 61years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces.

If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Jeff Collins is available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited us lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!

Ask Dr. Collins: Why is it so important to have straight teeth?

Some people wonder why Parker, Elizabeth and Castle Rock CO orthodontist Dr. Jeff Collins and our team work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly-aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Parker Orthodontics can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Collins can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

At Parker Orthodontics, a pursuit of excellence

At Parker Orthodontics we make every effort to provide you with the best orthodontic treatment. For us that means achieving consistently great results. There are many things that help Dr. Collins do that. Some of them are:

1. Using the most up to date and proven technologies available

2. Spending time and resources on continuing education to stay current and relevant

3. Training our entire team on new techniques

4. Educating our patients about the pursuit of excellence

If you or a family member has been thinking about orthodontic treatment, please give us a call. We look forward to seeing you.

Happy New Year from Parker Orthodontics!

Many folks in Colorado consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2011? Dr. Collins and our team recommend that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It is important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum, disease? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

Be sure to give us a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health, or visit this helpful article from our friends at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). After all, we know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

Happy New Year!

-Your friends at Parker Orthodontics

Parker Orthodontics Wishes you Happy Holidays!!

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as the team at Parker Orthodontics reflects on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you love about the holidays? Being with your loved ones? Hitting the slopes? A clean slate for 2011? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food?

Please share your thoughts with us by either commenting on this post or on our Facebook Page. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

Carmel, Chocolate, and Candy Canes..Oh MY! Keep your BRACES Sparklin’ Clean this Holdiday Season.

Everyone here at Parker Orthodontics understands that with all these 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. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these tips:

One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.

It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.

The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.

Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.

Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.

Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.

Find the floss for you. 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.

Make time for the pros. 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!

Hope this helps!

-Dr. Collins and Team

Ask Dr. Collins: Do cold germs really live on toothbrushes?

You may have heard something about about the germs that supposedly live on your toothbrush and wondered if it's really a cause for concern. Fall is upon us, and with it comes the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Jeff Collins and our staff at Parker Orthodontics will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing

• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen

• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster

• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

Hope these tips help! Feel free to call us at Parker Orthodontics if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Parker Orthodontics want to know: How was your Halloween?

Happy November, everybody! Believe it or not, we’re almost in full holiday mode! But before we forget about the spooky month that was, we’d like to know how you celebrated Halloween! What did you wear? How much candy did you get? Did you have fun?

If you have any photos or videos from Halloween night that you would like to share with Dr. Collins and our staff, please send them our way or feel free to post them on our Facebook page! We hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween! Also, what are you up to this month? Anything exciting happening in your life? If so, we’d love to hear all about it.

Lastly, have you been in for a dental checkup lately? It’s important that you see your general dentist, as well as visiting Parker Orthodontics. If you have questions about your orthodontic treatment or just want some general information, give us a call or ask us during your next visit!

Have a great rest of the week!

Dr. Collins and Parker Orthodontics, dispelling the myths about braces

Happy Friday! Dr. Collins and our staff understand there are quite a few myths about orthodontists circulating around these days. Before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts! We came across a great site that helps set the record straight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts about braces - we encourage you to check them out today!


Hope this helps. Have a great weekend,

- Dr. Collins and the Parker Orthodontics team

Parker Orthodontics, supporting National Orthodontic Health Month!

For our staff at Parker Orthodontics, it's hard to believe October is already upon us! October marks National Orthodontic Health Month, and while month-long event is organized by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, it gives us a chance to remind our patients which foods they should avoid while wearing braces.

We know there are many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through treatment with Dr. Collins, and these treats may cause damage that could prolong your treatment time. The AAO recommends our patients avoid the following Halloween treats:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Taco chips
• Ice

If you damage your braces, please give us a call immediately at (303) 841-5500. Typically, minor problems can be solved over the phone. Loose brackets or wires can usually be made more comfortable by applying some wax until the you can come into one of our offices, located in Parker, Castle Rock or Elizabeth.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Reminder: Pet Contest at Parker Orthodontics!

We hope you're having a great Friday! We'd like to remind you that we're having a Pet Contest at our office through November 30th!

If you haven't already, post a photo of your pet on our Facebook page by 11/30 and you can win:

*$100.00 PetSmart gift card for the Grand Prize

*$50.00 to PetSmart for 2nd and 3rd-place winners

Please make sure to include the name of your pet with your photo!

Note: your friends will have to "Like" us on Facebook and vote for cutest pet. The winners will be from both offices (whoever gets the most votes).

GOOD LUCK and have a great weekend!

Ask Dr. Collins: Why the Damon System?

Dr. Jeffrey Collins and our dedicated team at Parker Orthodontics are pleased to offer The Damon® System for our patients in Parker, Castle Rock, Elizabeth and the greater Denver metro area. Damon braces allow your teeth to move more comfortably and easily than traditional braces. Thanks to these innovative new braces, achieving your perfect smile will be faster and easier than you ever thought possible.

Now, you're probably saying, "All right, Dr. Collins. Give me the specifics on how Damon braces are an advantage."

Time-Saving

Damon's innovative technology of self-ligating braces saves you time in orthodontic treatment. The Damon system allows for fewer trips to our office, as well as faster movement of your teeth than with traditional braces. The light forces applied by Damon braces are "biologically compatible" meaning that they work with your body for gentler and quicker tooth movement.

Comfortable

Damon System braces have a unique slide mechanism that allows Dr. Collins to use far lighter forces to move teeth to their correct positions. That makes your treatment not only shorter, but it is also far more comfortable.

Because of its unique sliding door, the Damon bracket allows us to use high-tech, light-force wires to achieve tooth movement. This means less pressure on your teeth for more comfortable treatment. Not every orthodontist uses Damon self-ligating braces. The reason Dr. Collins does is simple: it means your experience in uncovering your radiant new smile will be more comfortable and convenient than ever.

To learn more about the Damon System, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Collins, please give us a call at (303) 841-5500. Happy Wednesday and enjoy the rest of the week!

Reminder: Pet contest through Nov. 30th!

Happy Thursday! We'd like to remind all our wonderful patients to keep posting photos of their pets on our Facebook page!

If you haven't already, post a photo of your pet on our Facebook page through November 30th and you can win:

*$100.00 PetSmart gift card for the Grand Prize

*$50.00 to PetSmart for 2nd and 3rd-place winners

Please make sure to include the name of your pet and the office where you’re seen by Dr. Collins!

Note: your friends will have to "Like" us on Facebook and vote for cutest pet. The winners will be from both offices (who ever gets the most votes).

GOOD LUCK!

What's on your fall reading list?

It's almost fall, which means back to school time for most of our patients at Parker Orthodontics. Today, we wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading.

In addition to textbooks, it's always great to pick up a great novel or a comic book. Today, we thought we’d ask: What's on YOUR fall reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites?

Out of ideas for great fall reads? Ask us for suggestions, and Dr. Collins and staff would be happy to provide a few suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian for some ideas or check out these fall reading ideas that we came across today, courtesy of Borders.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your fall picks or your all-time favorites on our Facebook page!

Ask Dr. Collins: Why visit the dentist during my orthodontic treatment?

If you're brushing twice a day, as well as flossing during your orthodontic treatment, we think that's wonderful. But, remember that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist every six months in addition to brushing your teeth a couple times a day (and visiting Parker Orthodontics, of course). Our staff will tell you regular dental checkups are vital for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and signs of tooth decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth during your treatment

During an oral exam, your dentist will check the health of your child’s mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups also typically include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the past six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

If you don't have a general dentist in Parker, Castle Rock, Elizabeth, Denver or nearby communities, please ask us and Dr. Jeff Collins will be happy to provide a few great references! We hope you've had an amazing weekend! :)

Pet Contest at Parker Orthodontics!

Our staff at Parker Orthodontics is proud to unveil our new patient contest. Errr, pet contest!

Here’s how it works: Now through November 30th, submit a photo of your pet on our Facebook page and your friends will have to "Like" us on Facebook and vote for cutest pet. The winners will be from both offices (who ever gets the most votes).

By posting, you will be automatically entered for a chance to win:

*$100.00 PetSmart gift card for the Grand Prize

*$50.00 to PetSmart for 2nd and 3rd-place winners

Please make sure to include the name of your pet and the office where you’re seen by Dr. Collins!

GOOD LUCK!

National Smile Week at Parker Orthodontics!

It’s National Smile Week, and an ideal time for Dr. Collins and our dedicated staff at Parker Orthodontics to remind our patients to practice good oral hygiene to keep those teeth shining during your orthodontic treatment! That of course includes brushing and flossing regularly, avoiding foods that can stain your teeth such as tea and coffee and visiting your general dentist for checkups and cleanings.

And remember to smile at people you come across throughout the week, whether you know them or not! Smiles are contagious, and are GREAT to give and receive. In addition, did you know that smiling can actually help you live longer, according to a recent study? We hope you're having a wonderful summer! We have some great patient contests coming soon - stay tuned!