Halloween TIPS from the American Association of Orthodontists

It’s almost that spooky time of year again and Palm Harbor and New Port Richey orthodontist, Dr. Jeffrey Stein, and our team thought we’d share some Halloween tips from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

Trick-or-treating safety guidelines:

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

To protect your braces, steer clear of the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• All hard candies
• All chewy candies
• Caramel
• Nuts
• Licorice
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Bubblegum
• Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)
• Ice

Of course, Halloween does not have to be completely treat-less. Braces-friendly Halloween treats can help you enjoy the “spook-ta-cular” holiday. For example, plain chocolate candy is okay, provided you remember to brush and floss afterwards. Bobbing for apples as well as caramel apples are not recommended. However, you can enjoy thinly sliced apples, dipped in yogurt or creamy chocolate sauce.

Dr. Stein suggests looking for foods that are soft, such as soft chocolate that can melt in one’s mouth or peanut butter cups. Overall, candies that aren’t sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy are generally acceptable.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the entire team at the orthodontic office of Dr. Stein!

Celebrities get braces, too!

Did you know that back in 2002, Tom Cruise had braces? During this time, he was 40 years old and filmed Minority Report, Austin Powers in Goldmember and the Last Samurai. Check out his smile in Jerry Maguire, Rain Man or The Firm and compare to the post-braces Tom Cruise in Valkyrie or Tropic Thunder. The fact is, movie stars need to look their best for the silver screen, and it wouldn't be possible without orthodontists like Dr. Stein.
In fact, lots of Hollywood stars have had orthodontic treatment. Check out this slideshow of famous faces with braces. If you’ve thought about getting the perfect smile you’ve always wanted, please give the office of Dr. Jeffrey M. Stein a call.

Pasta pomodorini, a delicious and braces-friendly summer recipe!

Summer is finally here, and that means it’s time for some refreshing recipes! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) summer dish that is sure to delight during the long, hot summer days. Palm Harbor and New Port Richey, Florida orthodontist Dr. Jeffrey Stein wants you to remember that a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment at Braces by Stein.

Pasta Pomodorini

Ingredients:
• ¾ pound spaghetti or spaghetti
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• ¼ cup sliced garlic
• ½ teaspoon finely minced Calabrian chilies, or 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 pint small cherry tomatoes, stems removed, crushed between your thumb and forefinger
• Sea salt, preferably gray salt
• ½ cup fresh basil leaves, each torn into 2 or 3 pieces
• Wedge of Parmesan cheese

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta. While the pasta cooks, heat the 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over moderate heat. Add the garlic and cook until the slivers are golden brown and crisp, then add the chilies and cook for about 30 seconds. Raise the heat to high and add the tomatoes. Simmer briskly to soften the tomatoes and thicken the juices, about 3 minutes. Season with salt.

When the pasta is al dente, scoop out about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta. Return the pasta to the warm pot off the heat. Add the sauce and the basil and mix well. Add some of the reserved cooking water if the pasta seems dry. Transfer to a warmed serving bowl and grate Parmesan over the top to taste. Drizzle with a little more olive oil. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

Enjoy this great summer dish and have a great rest of the week!

Dr. Stein wants to know: what's on your summer reading list?

Traveling this summer? Heading on a camping trip? Lying on a hammock resting in your backyard? With summer only weeks away, some of us at Dr. Stein's office have been thinking increasingly about the importance of reading.

Sure it’s easier to go play ball or lie back and watch some TV, but Dr. Jeffrey Stein will tell you that reading during the summer is a vital step in being prepared for classes in the fall and maintaining your skill level.

Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff (and Dr. Stein) would be happy to provide a few titles. You may also ask a local librarian here in Palm Harbor or New Port Richey for some ideas or check out some summer reading lists we came across recently.

"Hey, Dr. Stein! When should my kid come in for a visit?"

Many parents in New Port Richey and Palm Harbor assume they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Dr. Stein, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started sooner. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. Consequently, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

That's right - you read that correctly: age seven.

So, what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Stein to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or what Dr. Stein calls “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides at least two positive outcomes for our young patients: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age seven, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

This March, what are you up to? From Dr. Stein

It’s almost springtime. The daffodils and buttercups are on their way, the birds are chirping, the sun is warming up and the smell of freshly-cut grass is wafting from baseball fields across Florida. Dr. Stein and team thought this would be a good time to ask: What are your plans for March?

Are you ready for spring? Are you participating in school sports this year? Do you have exciting plans? We’d love to know them all!

You may share your stories or plans with our team here, on our Facebook fan page or by giving us a call!

P.S. While you’re on our Facebook page, become a fan of us! Have a terrific weekend!

New YouTube patient testimonial from Danielle!

Have you visited our YouTube page recently? Last week, we uploaded a few interesting videos, including a patient testimonial from Danielle, who happens to be one of our patients!

Head over to our page and let us know what you think! Dr. Stein and team always enjoy hearing from our patients!

What puts you at ease at Braces by Stein?

Dr. Stein understands not everyone is thrilled to see their orthodontist. But he wants you, our wonderful patients, to know that our team strives to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about our office that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our friendly staff? Dr. Stein himself?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call! Have a great weekend!