A New Year With Albrecthsen Orthodontics

Here we are again at the start of a new year.  We look forward to 2011 with new hopes and dreams for our practice and our families.  As patients and parents, here's what you can look forward to for this year.  


Quarterly Good Patient Contests:  Every quarter we give away a fun prize to those we feel have done their very best at being a Good Patient.  Of course, they must follow our rules; be on time, have excellent brushing, wear appliances as instructed, and never have any loose or broken brackets or appliances.  We do understand if a broken appliance is not the patients' fault.  We always take this into consideration.  


Annual Patient Appreciation Party:  Dr. Albrechtsen and his team always look forward to our fun summer party at Surf N' Swim.  Here, we can kick back, soak up the sun, hang out with friends and family, and not worry about your braces for a few hours.


Monthly Fun Contests:  Every month we have a contest that everyone is sure to participate in.  Whether it's answering silly questions, finding the celebrity smile or testing your social media knowledge, there's always a game for someone.  Whenever you come to our office, make sure you ask what the Fun Contest for the month is.  


$50 Club:  Any time you refer a friend to our office for treatment, you get rewarded.  If a friend that you've referred starts a full set of braces and they mention your name, you get $50.  It's that simple!  Not only does Dr. Albrechtsen give you the best smile anyone could ask for, but he rewards you for spreading the word about it.


Watch for our quarterly newsletters! If we have your e-mail address, you have given us permission to send you a newsletter.  If you don't want the newsletter, it's easy to opt out...just click on the link when you receive your newsletter.

Annual Christmas Food Drive

Bring your non-perishable food items to our office so we can donate them to the Utah Food Bank for those less fortunate.  We want everyone to have a happy holiday season!

Facebook Boo

We love getting fun messages from our patients on our Facebook wall, but right now, we want to get "BOOED".  Become a fan of Albrechtsen Orthodontics on Facebook and post "BOO" on our wall. Every booer will be entered ina weekly drawing for a booootiful $25 cash treat from now until Halloween!

Congratulations to our Shrek Trivia Winners!

Congratulations to our Shrek Trivia Contest Winners...Britain, Stetson and Mykol.  They won $50 to Fandango!

Diet

The primary cause of cavities, gingivitis and periodontal disease is accumulation of plaque and tartar on your teeth. The bacteria normally present in your mouth converts the food you eat into acid, which in turn combines with bacteria and leftover food to form a sticky substance called plaque. Plaque accumulation can begin on your teeth in as little as 20 minutes after you've eaten. If not removed, the acid in the plaque dissolves tooth enamel and creates a cavity.

The way you eat and the things you eat will either aid your body in fighting cavities and gum disease, or make you more likely to develop them. While your grandmother would have probably told you that eating candy was bad for your teeth, today's dental nutritionists know that she was only partly right. Yes, sugary snacks are one of the culprits that set up the right conditions for development of plaque, but did you know that carbohydrates, such as bread or potatoes, are just as bad for your teeth as a candy bar? And did you know you can combat these conditions by eating your food in the right combinations?

The two main factors that make a food a bad snack is the amount of sugar in the food and the length of time the food stays in your mouth. Strangely enough, the sugar and chocolate in a candy bar will actually be washed out of your mouth faster than the sugars from some fruits or the bread from your pizza. So it's the frequency of meals and snacks and the way foods are combined that increase the risk for cavities. Any food or beverage, even a healthy one, will be converted into acid if it stays in your mouth long enough. When eaten with a healthy meal, sugary or starchy foods will be washed away by the protein and fat in the meal, leaving your teeth cleaner and healthier.

Here are a few suggestions that will help you eat healthy for your teeth...

• Eat a moderate, balanced diet using the Food Guide Pyramid
• Combine sweet or starchy foods with protein rich foods, so that the sweets and starches will have less chance of sticking around
• Chewing sugarless gum after meals and snacks can help the pH (acidity/alkalinity) balance in your mouth and also increases the production of saliva, which helps wash food off your teeth
• Only drink sweet or acidic beverages with meals and snacks to buffer their effect on your teeth
• When planning your diet, choose foods and meal patterns that give you the energy you need to get through the day, provide the nutrients your body needs, and promote oral and general health

Remember that your teeth are essential, not just for smiling, but for biting and chewing food. They're a very important part of physical growth and health. Brush and floss every day, and eat a diet that keeps your body functioning properly and keeps your teeth and gums their healthiest.

Surf N Swim 2010

Thanks everyone who came to our Surf N Swim party!  We had a blast!

Congratulations to our Celebrity Smiles Contest Winners!

We're so excited that Sadie, Braden and Michelle won our contest last month.  Sadie won 1st prize: $50, Michelle won 2nd prize: 2 movie passes, and Braden won 3rd prize: a Jamba Juice gift card.  These contests are so much fun for us.  We love that everyone is so enthusiastic about it!