New Braces Friendly Recipes from Across the Pond

Our faithful leader and office manager found this fantastic link to Braces Friendly Recipes.  Our thanks to NowSmile.Org and the British Orthodontic Society for posting these recipes.  Here is just a 'taste' of what you'll find on this link:

BOWL YOU OVER ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

A brace friendly, warming, nutritious and delicious recipe which can be enjoyed by the whole family, not just the brace wearer!

Ingredients
4 large leeks
6 oz (175g) butternut squash
1 large onion, peeled
1 teaspoon butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil
1½ pints (850 ml) vegetable stock
10 fl oz (275 ml) semi-skimmed milk (1% milk)
1½ tablespoons snipped chives
Salt and freshly milled (that means ground for us Canadian's!) black pepper

After washing, slice the leeks lengthways and then across into 1 inch (2.5cm) slices. Next peel and chop the onion into slices of the same size, followed by the butternut squash (there is no need to peel it first) into 1 inch (2.5cm) cubes.

Turn the oven onto 400 degrees F. Toss the butternut squash in olive oil and roast on a baking tray for 45 minutes until the flesh is soft and has started to caramalise. Meanwhile melt the butter in a large saucepan, add the leeks and onions, stir them well and add some salt. Put a lid on the saucepan and, keeping the heat low, allow the vegetables to sweat and release their juices for 20 minutes.

Once it has caramalised add the roasted butternut squash to the other vegetables, add the stock and the milk and a little freshly milled pepper, then return the lid. Keep the heat low let the soup simmer very gently for another 20 minutes to allow the flavours of the vegetables to amalgamate.

Pour the soup into a blender and blend to a velvety smooth puree (you may have to do this in two or three batches, so it is good idea to have a large bowl to hand). Then return the soup to the saucepan, snip in some chives and gently re-heat without letting it boil (no more than a simmer) for a couple of minutes. Add more seasoning if you need to.

This recipe sounds good to all of us at Strathcona Orthodontics regardless of whether you have braces on or not!

Floride - Information for Health!

At Strathcona Orthodontics, we endeavour to keep patients and the public informed on topics of interest to those with braces and dental appliances, and also issues relating to your general health.
On the Alberta Dental Association and College website there are some very good articles from Alberta Health Services for the public regarding floride.  Check out 'Floride, What does the Science Say' and 'Floride Q & A's' by clicking on http://www.abda.ab.ca/youroralhealth/fluoride/tabid/94/default.aspx.  Check out the ADAandC website http://www.abda.ab.ca/ for other interesting and valuable resources.

Best Smoothie Recipes for People with Braces

Try some of these delicious smoothie's.  Smoothies are a quick and easy way to get some good vitamins and minerals when you have braces on.

PINEAPPLE BERRY SMOOTHIE

1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup pineapple juice
2 pineapple rings
6 fresh strawberries
12-15 frozen raspberries
8-10 frozen boysenberries
12-15 frozen blueberries
3 oz. non-fat yogurt, any flavor
Ice (however much you prefer for consistency)

Put all ingredients into blender. Blend until smoothie consistency is reached!

Nutritional Information:Serves 1, per serving:
Fat: 0 g
Calories: aprox. 185

STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE

5 large strawberries
6 oz. light (reduced sugar) fat-free strawberry yogurt (frozen)
4 oz. Juice of your choice

Put all ingredients into blender. Blend until smoothie consistency is reached!

Nutritional Information:
Serves 2, per serving:
Fat: 0 g
Calories: aprox. 70


STRAWBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE


1 banana
4 strawberries
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 cup apple juice

Put all ingredients into blender. Blend until smoothie consistency is reached!

Nutritional Information:
Serves 2, per serving:
Fat: .5 g
Calories: aprox. 125

Halloween Tips for People with Braces

October is the American Association of Orthodontists Orthodontic Health Month. It can be a particularly challenging time of year for patients with braces and appliances to maintain good oral health and protect braces and appliances from getting into a ‘sticky situation’.
At Strathcona Orthodontics, we recommend avoiding hard, sticky and chewy candies and snacks even at Halloween. These treats can damage braces and appliances and in the long run may prolong your treatment. In addition, eating too much candy of any kind can be hazardous to your oral hygiene and can lead to cavities and tooth decay. Establishing good eating and brushing habits not only protects your teeth and oral health for a lifetime, it helps your overall health by reducing the risk of many diseases.

A good rule of thumb is to follow Strathcona Orthodontics ‘Eating with Braces’ guide:

TOO BIG TO BITE - CUT IT UP! TOO HARD TO CHEW - DON’T EAT IT!

BEEF JERKY - do not eat

BREAD CRUST/PIZZA CRUST - cut into small bites

CANDIES - do not bite! Stay clear of licorice (Twizzlers™), hard caramels etc.

CHIPS - small pieces only

GUM - sugarless only, and no bubblegum (of any kind)

ICE - do not chew

MEATS - cut from the bone

NUTS - do not eat

PENS & PENCILS - do not chew

POPCORN - do not eat the kernels

RAW FRUITS & VEGETABLES - cut into small bites.

Here are some additional tips that will help patients and parents this Halloween:

Set aside an allotted time of day to let your kids enjoy their treats, and then send them to brush and floss right away.
Only have soft snacks available to hand out to trick or treaters and family members.
Increase your brushing and flossing during Halloween.
Carefully look through your child’s treat bag to discard any of the at-risk candy on the list. Think about substituting ice cream or frozen yogurt as a treat after returning home from trick or treating.

Thanks for your comments

Strathcona Orthodontics provides a number of avenues for our patients and former patients to connect and give us feedback.  For the last 2 years we have been following patients by sending them a survey by email link at 3 time points: at the initial exam, at about mid-treatment, and when the braces are removed and retention begins.  These surveys have been extremely valuable to our office in identifying and improving processes and responding to cares and concerns.  It has also shone a light on what definately doesn't need changing. It has been an overwhelmingly positive outlet for communication.

Our Facebook page is popular especially with the younger crowd.  It is a way to keep that immediate connection to our patients, hear their feedback, and to also keep our patients and the greater community aware of what Strathcona Orthodontics is up to.  It is a fast and fun way to keep in touch.

Another way we keep in touch is with a 'comment box' that is located in our lobby.  There are comment cards easily available to leave us a quick note and this has proved to be a fast, easy and immediate method of communication.  Below are some of the comments we have received from our comment box:

I love your fish. From Dixie

I love this place!  The staff is really nice & I got my teeth straight in no time.

I like the fish tank and I really like the purple fish.  And I like the puffer up fish.  He was really cool.  Thank you.  From Carys

Very efficient

All it means to me is now pain, but the staff are nice!

Thank you for the wonderful experience.  Such kind caring staff.  Keep smiling.  I wish every place of business had employee(s) like all of you :)

I like the new changes. From Miranda

I like the fish tank and the job you guys do.

I would like to thank Dr. Carlyle and the Staff for the continued great service and personal treatment we receive.  It has been a great 3 years so far and we are looking forward to more with our youngest daughter.  Again thank you.

We also survey dentists and dental specialists in our community and surrounding area.  We find out information that helps us work more efficiently and effectively to enhance patient care.  In the last survey there were questions and feedback on everything from technology in the office to our patient care.

At Strathcona Orthodontics it's all about our patients, how we can improve and keep growing our skills to anticipate patient needs.  We welcome any and all comments and feedback. It is our opportunity to learn, grow and provide the very best for our patients!

Operation Smile & Strathcona Orthodontics

Strathcona Orthodontic patients' are able to not only redeem their well-earned 'coins' for gift cards and novelties, they can choose to donate all or some of their coins to our current fundraising project:  Operation Smile.  'Operation Smile provides free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities for children around the globe'.   Our staff has also adopted this charity and we will be hosting a fundraising event later in 2010, details will be announced here on our blog and also on our website.

Since 1982, Operation Smile's dedicated medical volunteers have donate their time and expertise to travel to areas in the world where the need is greatest and these services are unavailable.  Through their website they state that there are more than 200,000 children born each year with facial deformities. In some areas of the world these children not only face physical challenges, but also social barriers and emotional trauma.  Operation Smile provides hope for a better future for each child that they are able to treat.  You can read Operation Smile's blog on the wonderful work they are doing in Haiti and around the world.

Other charities that we support through the coin club are the Strollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton Alberta Canada, The Hope Mission, and Santa's Anonymous.  We are proud to be able to support these worthwhile charities and we thank our patients for their generous donations.

Certified Orthodontist Is Your Best Choice

With so much choice out there, it's no wonder that people can be unsure about who to see for their orthodontic needs.  At Strathcona Orthodontics we believe that a Certified Orthodontic Specialist is your best option by far.

Certified Orthodontic Specialists have their degree in dentistry, as well have trained an additional 2 to 3 years at university to receive their specialization in orthodontics.   Most orthodontists ONLY do orthodontics, and provide a needed focus and committement to patients orthodontic and oral health well being.  Certified orthodontic specialists like our doctor, Terry Carlyle, take many hours of continuing education accreditation each year to stay current with new technology and emerging trends.

Certified Orthodontic Specialists work closely with other specialists such oral surgeons, prosthodontists, endodontists, ear - nose & throat specialists, and speech therapists.  Orthodontists also keep in close contact with the patient's dentist to ensure a continuum of care during treatment.

At Strathcona Orthodontics: 'Orthodontics is our passion and patients are our priority!'