Setting The Facts Straight

So we all know someone who has a friend who has a cousin who knows a guy...so the story must be true.

Oh those Urban Legends and how we love to believe them all. No...we aren't talking about mixing Pop Rocks candy with Coca-Cola, we're talking about the Urban Legends surrounding the Orthodontic World...you know, the really scary ones.

There are many legends and myths about orthodontics, some of which have become so commonplace that they are now believed to be legitimate. Well...guess what? Even if you know the guy who has the cousin who has the friend that the story happened to...it's false 

Here 3 facts we want to set straight!

1.

Fiction: Braces interfere with radio signals and electronic devices.

Fact: In theory any metal can act as an antenna, but braces are really bad ones. Radio signals are modulated electro-magnetic waves transmitted through the air. In order for these transmitted signals to travel well in air, they must be sent at high-frequencies. This is achieved through modulation. Even if someone's tooth could receive these frequencies, it would have to be decoded to actually hear real messages.

2.

Fiction: Braces are just for cosmetic purposes and aren’t necessary for your overall dental health.

Fact: While braces can definitely help you get that beautiful smile, they aren’t just for cosmetic improvement. Well aligned teeth can facilitate good oral hygiene making it easier to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, resolving certain orthodontic problems with the use of braces can improve your ability to speak, chew, and even breathe. 

3.

Fiction: Wearing braces will increase your chances of being struck by lightning?

Fact: The chances of a person getting struck by are the same, with or without braces. In the U.S. in any one year, the chance you will be struck by lighting is 1 in 700,000 no matter what you are wearing.

So fear no more...Orthodontic Urban Legends are just that...Legends. No matter what your friend's cousin's brother says.

Say NO to Plaque

Eating healthy is important for your entire body, including your teeth.

You’ve heard over and over about the basics of maintain good oral hygiene: brush twice a day, floss daily, visit your dentist twice a year and stay on top of orthodontic appointments. However, in between all of that an important way to keep your mouth healthy you must get foods that help main oral health.

When you eat foods that are not good for your teeth, like sugary foods, you are aiding the production of bacteria formally known as plaque. Plaque is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth and contains millions of bacteria. The bacteria in plaque cause tooth decay and gum disease if they are not removed regularly through brushing and flossing.

Here are some healthy foods to add to your diet to protect your teeth.

Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables:
These foods stimulate saliva flow which is the best defense your teeth has against cavities and gum disease.

Black and Green Tea:
Both teas contain polyphenols which can suppress or kill bacteria that could attack the teeth.

Foods with fluoride:
This includes drinking water and products you prepare with water like powder sugar-free juices and soups. Commercial prepared poultry, seafood and cereal also provide fluoride nutrients.

Dairy products: 
The calcium in dairy products helps put back minerals your teeth may have lost due to other foods.

Remember everything that goes into your mouth has an effect on your teeth, just make sure it is a positive effect. 

Great Smiles Have No Age Limit

Don't let age stop you from having the straight teeth you've always dreamed of. Braces aren't just for kids anymore. Parents are still making regular trips to the orthodontist's office, but these days more and more are leaving their kids in the waiting room.

Sad, but true…over time our bodies start to wear out, including our teeth. As you age, your teeth break down. Unfortunately, it's one of the most visible signs of aging. As teeth wear, the lower and the upper jaw move closer together. Shortening of your teeth causes your lips to change, creases to form on the sides of your nose and mouth, a deep crease develops between your chin and lower lip and jowls develop on the sides of your jaw. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can also contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay and abnormal wear of the tooth enamel.

Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem. Numerous technological advances have made braces less noticeable, less painful and even less time-consuming.

As America's baby boomers have become more health conscious, they're rejecting the notion that loosing teeth and dentures are a routine part of growing older. These days people are exercising more and eating healthier and braces are another way of demonstrating that you care about yourself and your overall health.

Don’t believe us? Still think you’re too old for braces? Check out these adults who decided it was time to improve their smiles…you might be surprised.

Faye Dunaway - Age 61

Tom Cruise - Age 40

                     

Gwen Stefani - Age 30  

 

For more information regarding adult braces treatment at Arango Orthodontics give us a call today!

National Children's Dental Health Month

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children to get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Here at Dr. Arango's office we understand the importance of making sure children have healthy teeth. Early intervention can make a dramatic impact on establishing the proper occlusal foundation. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontist by the time they reach age 7, for early detection of any potential problems. By the age 7, some of the permanent teeth have erupted, so that most children have a mix of adult and baby teeth. At this stage of mixed dentition, we can spot potential orthodontic problems related to jaw growth and eruption of adult teeth. Some growth-related orthodontic problems are easier to correct when they are identified early…while the facial bones are still growing.

An early orthodontic examination does not always result in immediate treatment. After evaluating your child, we may simply want to monitor your child periodically while the permanent teeth erupt and the jaws and face continue to develop. Contact our office today for more information regarding early intervention.

3 Healthy Snacks Kids Will Love

We know that getting kids and teens to eat healthy isn’t always an easy task, especially when they’re busy with school and other activities. And as parents…we’re even busier. It’s OK to admit that sometimes it’s just easier to grab fast food on the way home from work or toss our kids a couple bucks to purchase lunch in the school cafeteria. But proper nutrition not only insures that our kids will grow into healthy adults, it also insures that the money we spent on their orthodontic care does not go to waste.

Did you know that a proper diet provides all the essential nutrients to bones and tissues undergoing change? So, the healthier you are, the better the results of your orthodontic treatment.

Knowing this we thought we’d pass along 3 quick, delicious and nutritious snacks your kids are sure to love.


1. Cheese – Cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child’s teeth. In addition to providing
calcium, cheese also helps fight cavities. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Cheese stimulates the body’s salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris. This means cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Also…the Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese prevents decreases in the plaque’s ph level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child’s teeth. There are some many ways to incorporate cheese into a healthy snack.

2. Oatmeal - Instead of high-sugar, high-fat options from the grocery store, try baking a batch of low-fat oatmeal cookies. Raisins, cranberries, dried apricots and nuts can be great additions to the cookie dough because of their nutritional value & taste.


3. Yogurt - Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Consider Yogurt as an alternative to ice-cream for
dessert. When mixed with berries and granola…yogurt is a tasty treat.


For more information about which foods are best for keeping your kids and their teeth healthy…feel free to give us a call or check out Dr. Arango's Food's to Avoid list here to know what kids under treatment SHOULD'NT be eating.

Kids' Healthy Mouth Campaign

Seeking orthodontic treatment one way for you to make sure your oral health is in good shape. However, there are various factors that affect the health status of your teeth, such as: brushing, flossing and eating habits. When treating your teeth we want to be sure we are working with healthy teeth. Developing healthy habits start at a young age, so parents we must work together to teach children proper oral hygiene habits.

The Ad Council, a non-profit organization that helps promote public service campaigns, has started the 2min2x Children's Oral Health Campaign. 2min2x.org states:

The Children’s Oral Health campaign encourages parents to reduce their children’s risk of oral disease by making sure they're brushing for two minutes, twice a day.

The PSAs (Public Service Advertisements) aim to show that if parents spend just 2 minutes, twice a day making sure they brush, it can help save their children from a lifetime of tooth pain. The campaign demonstrates what a short amount of time 2 minutes is to accomplish such an important piece of parenting. We do this by showing parents trying to squeeze other parenting moments into just 2 minutes - and struggling in such a short period of time.

This website is a great tool for parents to refer to when looking for more information about taking care of their kids’ teeth, and it also has fun, entertaining 2 minute videos that kids can watch while brushing their teeth.

Here a PSA video for the campaign

For information regarding Oral Hygiene tips while under orthodontic treatment please visit arangoorthodontics.com/oral-hygiene.php

New Year, New You

It’s a new year…and you know what that means…a new start in all areas of your life!

Many of you may have already made your New Year’s resolutions, and those resolutions may have been something to the effect of…resolving to save money, spending more time with family and friends or losing weight. But why not make a resolution to improve your dental health?

Our smiles are much more important than many of us realize. Did you know that your smile can help you look younger, relieve stress and live longer? It’s true. The sad thing is...people who are unhappy with their smiles cover them up. And people who have lived their life being self-conscious about their smiles have actually learned to smile without even showing their teeth.

Dr. Arango is passionate about helping you take the steps you need to improve your smile because he understands how powerful it can be.  He takes pride in helping our patients improve their life experiences by helping them feel good about smiling. If you are one of those people who has been hiding their smile, this year is your time to shine! Make the best resolution you can make for yourself...achieve your goal of a beautiful, full, healthy smile!

Our smiles don’t only improve our lives; they improve the lives of those around us. As they say…a smile is contagious! Questions about how you can improve your oral health this year? Contact us today.

Welcome to our NEW blog!

Welcome to the blog of Dr. Jose Arango. 

Dr. Arango uses the latest in orthodontic technology and is one the premier Orthodontist in Colorado Spring. Dr. Arango is a member of The American Association of Orthodontics, The Rocky Mountain Society of Orthodontics, The American Dental Association, The Colorado Dental Association and The Colorado Springs Dental Association. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Orthodontic Department at the University of Colorado Dental School, where he teaches the Damon System.

Dr. Arango and his dedicated and experienced staff are committed to delivering the highest quality orthodontic care. This blog was created as an outlet to keep everyone informed on all of the new and exciting things happening with Dr. Arango and his team. Within this blog, you will be able to find office news, contests and events, education information and all of the fun things that happen along the way. So be sure to check back often.