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We've all heard the old saying, "You are what you eat", but did you know that it's just as important for your teeth as it is your body. Your choice of drink has a big impact on your waistline as well as your dental health.  A study from the University of Maryland Dental School  found that soft drinks (diet or regular soda), fruit drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks weaken tooth enamel. They are even harder on your teeth if your are wearing orthodontic appliances such as braces, retainers or aligners.

According to the study, it's the acid in these drinks that dissolves tooth enamel. Once enamel dissolves, it does not come back. Having a sugary beverage every now and then isn't the problem. It's when you sip it continuously that you get the constant breakdown of enamel.  To keep your teeth healthy and strong, Dr. Godwin recommends that you avoid soda and sports drinks and reach for water to keep you hydrated.  If you do occasionally indulge in a soda or sports drinks, drink it quickly rather than taking a swig every few minutes. It's also a good idea to use a straw to reduce exposure to your teeth. Brushing your teeth afterwards, or at least swishing with water, can help remove the sugar from your teeth.

To learn more about the dangerous pH levels of soft drinks and what you can do to avoid damage to your teeth, download this flyer courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontists.

Soft Drinks + Orthodontic Treatment = A Recipe For Disaster

It's that time of year again; a time when we're thinking about those all too familiar New Year's resolutions. Promising to spend less, exercise more and clear the clutter are often at the top of our list, but this year the team at Bel Air Orthodontics has decided to keep our New Year's resolutions easy and entertaining. We've vowed to laugh more, smile often and have more fun. In the spirit of that fun, we came up with a few resolutions for our patients in orthodontic treatment. Tell us what you think, and share your own New Year's resolutions with us on our Facebook page!

• I will wear my elastics religiously.

• I will not flick my elastics at my brother or sister!

• I won't call my orthodontist during the Super Bowl with an emergency.

• I will brush my teeth at least twice a day for no less than two minutes. (Five minutes would be better!)

• I won't eat jolly ranchers or other sticky, chewy foods while I have braces.

• I won't gross out my parents or friends by smiling with food in my braces.

• I will not lie to my mom when she asks about my brushing.

• I won't let the dog wear my retainer (or eat it for that matter!)

• I will remember to wear a mouthguard when playing sports.

• I will simply stop complaining about my braces!

Happy New Year from the team at Bel Air Orthodontics.

With the holidays just around the corner, we decided to have a little fun with one of the oldest and well-known Christmas poems around, the classic "Twas the Night Before Christmas".  Legend says that the original version of the poem was written by Clement Clarke Moore on Christmas Eve in 1822 during a sleigh ride home from Greenwich Village after buying a turkey for his family.

Our orthodontic version, on the other hand, was inspired by our love of the holidays and our desire to keep things fun for our patients. We hope you enjoy it . . . Happy Holidays from all of us at Bel Air Orthodontics!

With the busy holiday season upon us, we'd like to remind everyone about the importance of maintaining your orthodontic appointments. We understand that the hustle and bustle of daily activities, holiday shopping, and family responsibilities can often leave your calendars full and your energy drained. Remembering your orthodontic appointment is just one of many obligations, and we appreciate your efforts to keep your appointments as scheduled.

Access Your Account - Any Day, Any Time, Anywhere

Whether you're in pretreatment guidance, active treatment or retention,  keeping track of  your appointments is important to the success of your orthodontic care.  At Bel Air Orthodontics, we're doing our best to make that easy for you. Did you know that patients at our office have access to their appointment information 24 hours a day, seven days a week? From our website's Patient Portal, you can look up your appointments, access your account details, and establish email and/or text reminder preferences with a touch of the screen or a click of the mouse. If you haven't already signed up for this convenient service, simply call to provide us with your email contact information.

Setting Up Your Email And/Or Text Reminder Preferences

If you haven't already accessed our portal, setting up you email and/or text appointment reminders is simple. You must first establish a Patient Portal account. To access the portal, visit our website and click on the patient portal tab in the upper right corner of the homepage. You will be prompted for a user name and password. To established an account, simply follow the easy online prompts. Once you are logged into the portal, your email and text preferences can be updated or changed at the Account Setting Tab. You'll receive two email and/or text reminders prior to your scheduled appointment.

To Stay On Track - Plan Ahead

To stay on track with your treatment, remember to plan ahead and schedule your next appointment before leaving the office. After-school appointments are typically filled a month or more in advance so scheduling ahead will help you find a day and time that  best suits your needs. While some orthodontic procedures have special time requirements, we'll do our very best to find an appointment time that is convenient for you. As always, please remember to give us advance notice if you're unable to make your regularly scheduled appointment. Early notification allows us to offer your reserved time slot to other patients and permits us to effectively accommodate your busy schedule.

If you have any questions regarding our online patient portal or appointment scheduling, feel free to give us a call. We hope you have a great holiday season!