Orthodontic Partners Has A Fun New Soda Pop Quiz

Orthodontic Partners wants to know, where does all that soda pop go?

On average, the typical person consumes over 50 gallons of soda pop per year! The amount of acid and sugar found in a can of soda can cause serious tooth decay and lead to cavities, gum disease, and even tooth loss!

We at Orthodontic Partners know that you don’t want to lose your teeth, so take the soda pop quiz, presented by the Minnesota Dental Association, and learn more about how to keep your smile healthy.

It’s a fun interactive quiz, so enjoy! From Orthodontic Partners.

Gummy Tummy: Orthodontic Partners Talk About Chewing Gum

We know the rumors going around – mostly among young people – that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, Orthodontic Partners wants you to know that there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing from Orthodontic Partners!

The Tooth Fairy in Reno, Nevada

At Orthodontic Partners, we know that losing your first tooth, or any baby tooth for that matter, can be exciting! Your baby tooth may be gone, but in no time you will have a bigger, “grown-up” tooth in its place. So what do you do with the lost tooth? That’s simple…place it under your pillow at night and when you are fast asleep the tooth fairy will come and whisk your tooth away leaving behind a special gift just for you! Here’s a simple craft project we found at Orthodontic Partners a little while back that will help make the tooth fairy’s job a little easier and give your tooth a special place to stay until it is taken away. Please click on the link for instructions and pictures!

Tooth Fairy “Tooth” Box

(remember to ask your parents for help when using hot glue and scissors)

What you will need

--I large empty match box
--Enough felt to wrap the box and inside sliding tray
--Ribbon
--Glue (tacky glue or a hot glue gun)
--Markers
--White, pink and blue (or your favorite color) felt for decorating the matchbox
--Scissors

Step 1: Pull the inner tray out of the box and line the inside with glue and felt as shown. Wrap the outside of the box with felt and glue it in place.

Step 2: Glue ribbon to the outside of the box in a hanging loop shape. Fold another piece of ribbon in half and glue it to the bottom of the inner tray to create a handle for sliding it in and out.

Step 3: Draw a tooth shape on paper, cut it out, and trace it onto the white felt twice. Cut out the teeth and face details.

Step 4: Decorate the teeth with the eyes and cheeks and draw on a mouth. Glue one tooth to the outside of the box.

Step 5: Create a tooth pocket by applying glue to the sides and bottom of the remaining tooth as shown, leaving an opening at the top. Glue the pocket to the inside tray. Once the glue dries, the box is Tooth Fairy-ready. Have your child put the tooth inside the inner pocket and hang it outside their door before your child goes to bed!

Enjoy from Orthodontic Partners!

When is Thumb-sucking a Cause for Worry? Orthodontic Partners Explain

Lots of you have asked us at Orthodontic Partners about whether it’s healthy for children to suck thumbs (or, less frequently, fingers). If you’ve got a thumb-sucker in the house, you are not alone. Research tells us that between 75% and 95% of infants suck their thumbs. Is this anything to worry about?

In most cases, no. Sucking is a natural reflex for an infant, and can provide security and contentment as well as relaxation for your little one. It’s a habit that most children grow out of between the ages of 2 and 4.

However, if your child keeps sucking after he’s gotten his permanent teeth, it’s time to take a closer look. If your child sucks his thumb aggressively, putting pressure on the inside of his mouth or his teeth, it could cause problems with tooth alignment and proper mouth growth. If you’re worried, give us a call at Orthodontic Partners and we will help assess the situation, and, if necessary, provide tips for how to help your child break the habit.

Don't Miss Your Last Chance to Enter Orthodontic Partner's April Contest

Hurry in to Orthodontic Partners before the end of April for your chance to win a $25 gift card to iTunes!

If you remember, there are three ways to win...

1--Add Orthodontic Partners as a friend on MySpace.

2--Become a fan of Orthodontic Partners on Facebook.

3--Go to our website and answer this question, "Which high schools did Dr. Lohse, Dr. Corbridge, and Dr. Bruntz attend? There is a link on our site to email your answer.

There are three prizes, one for each category. Make sure to enter all before the end of April for three chances to win!

Just One Way We Show Our Appreciation at Orthodontic Partners in Reno, Nevada

It means a lot to us at Orthodontic Partners when you refer your friends and family. We would like to show our appreciation by sending you a $20 gift card to the movies for every friend or family member that comes in for an exam.

Just make sure they let us know you referred them when they come in for their exam. As an additional thank you, your name will go into a quarterly drawing for an I-Pod. For your convenience our front desk has referral cards available.

Once again, thank You for the confidence you show in us.

--Orthodontic Partners

Thumbs Up To Anderson School's Top Readers From Orthodontic Partners

Orthodontic Partners is pleased to give a big Thumbs Up to the 20 top readers of Anderson School. Orthodontic Partners has been a Partner in Education with Anderson School since 1991 and recently sponsored their “Reading Counts Challenge” and hosted a pizza party for the top readers. As part of the festivities impressions were taken of the student’s thumbs and poured in plaster so each student would have a remembrance to take home.