National Orthodontic Health Month 

Right now may be the perfect time to improve your smile with orthodontics.   Whether you are 7 or 70 the doctors at LaFerla Ortho want to help.  The American Association of Orthodontics recommends all patients be seen by an orthodontist no later than age 7.  Early evaluations may prevent more serious problems from developing, may make treatment easier, may help achieve results that would not be possible once the patient has stopped growing, and may even decrease treatment time.  However, if you are an adult and were not fortunate enough to have braces as a child, or just don’t like your current smile, we can help.  Today 1 in 5 orthodontic patients are adults!

Caring for your investment

October is the perfect month to talk about braces! Halloween brings lots of treats that could damage your teeth or braces.  Always remember to brush twice a day, after treats, and floss once daily.  If you lose or damage a bracket call us as soon as possible so we can repair it.  Orthodontic problems left untreated may cause an increase in the time you have to wear your braces.

Treats that play tricks on your braces

In general, orthodontic patients should avoid treats that are sticky, hard, chewy or crunchy.

-   Caramels                                         -   Nuts (including candies that contain nuts)

-   Bubblegum                                      -   Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)

-   Candy corn                                      -   Licorice, jelly beans or taffy 

-   Hard pretzels                                  -   Taco chips

-   Lollipops                                          -   Ice

Treats
In general, orthodontic patients should look for foods that are soft and easy to chew.

-   Soft, melt-in-your-mouth chocolates

-   Peanut butter cups

-   Milk shakes

-   Gelatin

-   Peeled, thinly sliced apples

-   Ice cream

Check out this link for some braces friendly Halloween recipes. http://www.braces.org/NOHM/Orthodontic-Friendly-Recipes.cfm

Why see an orthodontist?

When it comes to getting a healthy straight smile, education is key. Orthodontists receive an additional 2-3 years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth. As experts in creating healthy, beautiful smiles, orthodontists have the education, experience and expertise to recommend the best treatment option.

Thank your orthodontist today

If you are lucky enough to be in braces, make sure you thank your orthodontist for the hard work they do every day to improve the world one smile at a time!

If you would like to join the fun and see how we can improve your smile call us today:  417-206-7770

Dazzle here.  For those of you that haven't met me yet, I'm the new mascot for LaFerla Ortho!  Look for me swimming around this blog, as well as, the LaFerla Ortho website and Facebook page.

It is my privilege to be able to tell you about our upcoming patient appreciation party!  The patients in our practice are amazing!  We just can't say "Thank you" enough.  You are the ones that keep us going with your great energy and smiles!

As a little token of our appreciation we will be throwing a tailgate party with free food and then free tickets to the Missouri Southern State football game for our patients and their families.  The fun takes place Saturday October 15th, 2011. 

Tail gating begins at Missouri Southern State University at 11am.  Bring your appetite cause we are bringing the food and fun!  Kickoff at is at 1pm.  We will be cheering on the MSSU Lions in a victory over the Truman State Bulldogs.  To keep you pumped up prizes will be randomly handed out throughout the game.  Make sure you don't leave before halftime.  This is when the chance to win an iPad 2 will take place!  In the end hopefully, we will have a MSSU victory, new friends, and lots of smiles and laughter. 

We can't wait to see you there!  Thank you for your trust and confidence in the services we provide to you and your families.  Seeing you smile is what makes us happy!

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. Please check back often for weekly updates on fun and exciting events happening at our office, important and interesting information about orthodontics and the dental industry, and the latest news about our practice.

Feel free to leave a comment or question for our doctors and staff – we hope this will be a valuable resource for our patients, their families, and friends!