October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

Happy October! For those who don't know, it’s National Orthodontic Health Month. This month-long event is organized by our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Dr. Dudley Hodgkins and our team realize that this is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene. National Orthodontic Health Month also aims to recognize the dedicated work of orthodontists like Dr. Hodgkins and other dental professionals in Cedar Park, TX.

The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

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

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call, ask us on Facebook, or ask us at Hodgkins Orthodontics during your visit this month!

What's so important about retainers?

If you recently completed treatment at Hodgkins Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Hodgkins will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, always provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Hodgkins is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Hodgkins, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or ask us on Facebook!

When should you call Hodgkins Orthodontics?

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. Dudley Hodgkins. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give us a call as soon as possible!

Hope this helps,

The team at Hodgkins Orthodontics

The Go-To Mom Talks Invisalign

Our team at Hodgkins Orthodontics found a great video that discusses the advantages of Invisalign. In the video, Kimberley Clayton Blaine, "The Go-To Mom," discusses the Invisalign treatment and her personal experience with Invisalign.

To determine if Invisalign is right for you, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Dudley Hodgkins. We hope you're having a great week!

Info Surf Contest at Hodgkins Orthodontics

We are excited to announce our Info Surf Contest at Hodgkins Orthodontics! The contest will begin on September 23rd, the first day of Autumn.

How to Play: Go to our website and find the answers to all 10 questions (listed below). Email your answers to janie@10grin.com. Everyone with the correct answers will be entered in a drawing for a grand prize :)

Prize: One Free Teeth Cleaning for the winner and their immediate family, plus one adult and one child Sonicare toothbrush!

Questions:

1. Where was Dr. Hodgkins raised?
2. What are Dr. Hodgkins' hobbies?
3. What is Bea's favorite football team?
4. What does Deborah love to do?
5. When did Janie join Hodgkins Orthodontics?
6. What was Kathy's job prior to working for Hodgkins Orthodontics?
7. What sport does Pam play as often as she can?
8. What is Susie's dog's name?
9. What is Tina's most secret desire?
10. Which employee was a former patient of Hodgkins Orthodontics?

Good luck everyone!

A few helpful webisodes about orthodontics

Dr. Dudley Hodgkins and his team at Hodgkins Orthodontics would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at Hodgkins Orthodontics, please give us a call.

Breaking bad habits

At Hodgkins Orthodontics, we know good dental health requires only a few minutes a day. We thought we’d provide some practical advice on how to improve your or your child’s smile between your adjustment visits with Dr. Dudley Hodgkins.

Start by brushing your teeth twice a day. Proper brushing techniques are an essential part of maintaining good oral health during your orthodontic treatment, as well as preventing gum disease. More care and time are needed to adequately brush your teeth when you are wearing braces. Brushing daily helps remove decay-causing plaque from tooth surfaces. Please consult Dr. Hodgkins if you would like us to review brushing techniques with you or your child. The use of a mechanical toothbrush such as a Sonicare or Oral B can aid in removing plaque around braces. Flossing daily will also prevent plaque to build up between the teeth and prevent stains between your teeth. Research has shown the bacteria of gum disease has been linked to coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and memory loss. Lastly, we encourage you to throw away old toothbrushes and replace them every 2 or 3 months, or after an illness.

We hope this helps! If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Hodgkins Orthodontics or ask your general dentist during your next scheduled visit! Or, ask us on Facebook!