3 Summer Health Tips for Your Smile

Summer is officially here! That means summer vacation, kids are at home and some free time for your family. Summer is the perfect time to schedule orthodontic appointments or to begin treatment. Summer can also be a hard time to keep up with oral hygiene routines. According to a nationwide survey by Delta Dental, nearly 30% of parents say summer vacation is the most difficult time to get their children to keep up good oral health.

Here are three tips to help keep your smile and teeth healthy all summer long.

Replace Your Toothbrush - Toothbrushes should be replaced every 3-4 months, so summer is the perfect opportunity to get a new one. A new toothbrush will help you ensure your teeth are being brushed and cleaned properly.

Stock Healthy Snacks - With kids at home and some free time, sugary treats are bound to end up in our diet. Stay ahead of the curve and stock some healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables already cut up and within reach. Additionally, avoid sugary drinks such as soda, lemonade and sports drinks which can damage your teeth.

Travel Set: Grab a travel size toothbrush, toothpaste and floss to keep handy for vacations, slumber parties and day trips.

At Hinesly Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering the most beautiful smiles and we are confident that you will receive orthodontic care that will truly make a difference in your life. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for those who come to us for their orthodontic health care.

Invisalign - Over and Under Bite

Did you know Dr. Hinesly is an Invisalign Platinum Provider? This is perfect for anyone who is searching to improve their smile in the Ann Arbor and Tecumseh communities. Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth, giving you a beautiful smile. Using a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you, Invisalign, aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements that Dr. Hinesly plans out for you.

Invisalign can help treat abnormal bites such as overbites and underbites. An underbite is when you close your mouth and your lower front teeth are in front of your upper teeth. In many cases, this is actually a problem with your lower jaw being too far forward. An underbite can make it hard for one to chew properly and speak clearly.

An Overbite is when your upper front teeth overlap with your lower front teeth. Most people have at least a little overbite. However this can cause problems, from your teeth wearing down to pain in your jaw, if your overbite is too deep.



Based upon our treatment plan, customized Aligners will be constructed for each individual situation. Full treatment averages 6-15 months. Call or schedule for your complimentary orthodontic evaluation at our Ann Arbor or Tecumseh communities, and see how easy and convenient Invisalign can be for you!

Get Movin'

Photo provided by acceledent.com

Did you know that there is a faster way to get the smile you have always wanted? 

It's true...you can actually speed up your treatment time by 38 to 50%! You're not going to believe it when we tell you, but there is new technology designed to decrease the time you are in braces or Invisalign by increasing the rate of your tooth movement...and all you have to do is wear a mouthpiece for 20 minutes a day! 

This new technology is called AcceleDent and Hinesly Orthodontics excited offer this revolutionary new treatment to our patients. AcceleDent is an easy-to-use, hands-free device that uses gentle micropulses to accelerate bone remodeling and move teeth faster than with just braces or Invisalign alone. 

And the best part...AcceleDent is both non-invasive and non-surgical! You can continue to do your regular daily activities while wearing AcceleDent...watching TV, doing homework...even while reading our Blog.

You Can't See My Braces

Photo provided by invisalign.com

If you're like most adults, you probably had braces when you were in High School. But as you have aged, your teeth have started to shift and your smile may not be as perfect as it once was. Maybe you look at yourself in the mirror and think...not the best smile, but I don't want to go through braces again. 

Well guess what? You can get that perfect smile back in just a few months and no one will know your wearing braces. It's true...if you're an adult and all you need is a little cosmetic improvement and you'd prefer not to have braces...let us introduce you to Invisalign. 

Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth, using a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements that Dr. Hinesly plans out for you. There are no metal brackets to attach and no wires to tighten. You just pop in a new set of aligners approximately every two weeks, until your treatment is complete. 

You’ll achieve a great smile with little interference in your daily life. The best part about the whole process is that most people won't even know you're straightening your teeth. A quick evaluation by Dr. Hinesly will tell if you are a candidate for this convenient treatment.

We know that many adults are eager to achieve a beautiful smile without wearing braces and that's why the Invisalign system is so great! Invisalign is an aligner system that corrects the minor imperfections in your smile in about 6 to 15 months. If you want straighter teeth but are concerned about how you'll look in braces...talk to us about Invisalign!

More Than Just a Beautiful Smile

Dr. Hinesly and all the Hinesly Orthodontics team want to remind you that orthodontic health is much more than straight teeth. When Dr. Hinesly creates beautiful smiles for our patients, he places all the elements of the face into their perfect alignment for a healthy as well as beautiful smile. Orthodontic treatment at Hinesly Orthodontics also provides many additional health benefits. Here are just a few you might not realize:

Prevent TMJ: TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) Disorders occur from stress on the jaw joint. Often, people who suffer from TMJ have an incorrect bite pattern or a misalignment of their bite. Orthodontic treatment can align the teeth and bite to remove the stress on the joints that causes TMJ Disorder.

Aid Digestive Health: Perfectly aligned teeth help you chew your food more effectively, which helps your digestive health.

Avoid Tooth Decay and Gum Disease: Crowded and misaligned teeth make it difficult to clean your teeth and gums, which can lead to food and bacteria build-up. It's much easier to brush and floss your teeth when they are in healthy alignment.

Correct some speech impediments: Sometimes when your teeth and joints are misaligned, this misalignment causes speech impediments. The teeth and tongue are important tools in our speech process, and it is extremely important that these tools be in their perfect alignment to speak our best.

If you have any questions about the health and aesthetic benefits of orthodontic treatment, feel free to contact us today. At Hinesly Orthodontics our goal is for our patients to feel that their experience with our office is remarkable, unique, and pleasurable. You can learn more about the options available and what to expect during your treatment right on our website. We have two convenient office locations in Ann Arbor and Tecumseh. 

Eating With Braces

Hinesly Orthodontics

Now that you have your braces, what foods can you still enjoy? While some foods are off limits, don't worry, you'll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

Foods to AVOID with braces:

• Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
• Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
• Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
• Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
• Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Foods you CAN eat with braces:

• Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
• Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
• Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
• Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
• Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
• Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
• Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
• Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

Crowd Pleasing Braces Friendly Game Day Recipes

If you're still searching for a few more snacks to add to your Super Bowl menu, we've got two that will be sure to score with your friends & family.

Hot Ham & Cheese Party Rolls

• 1 can refrigerated pizza crust
• 1 lb. deli ham (thinly sliced, but not shaved)
• 12 slices Swiss cheese

Glaze:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray
2. Unroll the pizza dough onto a cutting board. Press into an approximately 13x18-inch rectangle. Top with ham and cheese slices. Starting on the longer side of the rectangle, roll up the edge tightly. When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face side down. Cut into 12 slices. Arrange in the prepared baking dish. 
3. Next combine the butter, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and poppy seeds in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until the butter is melted and glaze is smooth. Pour evenly over the top of the rolls.
4. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until golden brown. 

Tip: Make these rolls a day ahead! Refrigerate rolls up to 24 hours before baking. Just make sure to warm up the glaze so you're able to pour it on top of the rolls!

Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs

• 1 bag frozen meatballs (any brand)
• 1 jar chili sauce
• 1 can jellied cranberry sauce

Directions:

1. Add chili sauce and cranberry sauce to a medium mixing bowl. Use a whisk to mix ingredients until semi-smooth.
2. Add half the bag of meatballs to your crockpot. Top with half of the sauce mixture. Repeat with remaining meatballs and sauce. 
3. Cook on low until heated through, typically 3-4 hours. 

This crowd-pleasing favorite can easily be adapted for a larger group! Just double the recipe and increase your heating time to 5-6 hours. In a time crunch? Heat meatballs and sauce on your stovetop until warm. Transfer to your crockpot for a quick, delicious addition to your game day party!

The Benefits of Braces

Photo provided by 3m.com

Our dedication to providing extraordinary personal service with compassion and consideration to the unique needs of each of our patients is our top priority. We feel open communication is extremely important in creating a positive environment for our patients and ensuring a successful treatment outcome. Here at Hinesly Orthodontics, we consider dental health to be an integral part of overall good health. We believe that good dental health can instill a sense of well-being, provide a lifelong smile, and promote good overall health.

To that note, let’s talk about the truth about our teeth. Our bone and gum tissues are supported by our teeth. If this support is lost or is poorly aligned, then our bone and gums can begin to erode. If the teeth are properly aligned the bone and gums are less likely to erode.

Your teeth play an important role in digestion. Before your food ever enters your stomach, it has to be chewed by your teeth. This process is called mastication. The food has to be partially broken down before entering your stomach to be properly digested. Braces straighten your teeth and give you the alignment you need to properly chew your food. 

If you are concerned about your alignment, or simply have questions on how to improve your dental health, let’s talk! Our caring team takes pride in providing exceptional care to patients of all ages. 

Four Flavorful Fall Smoothies

With Fall in full swing and with it the hectic holidays just a step further down the road, we thought we’d put together a list of a few fall-themed smoothies that can serve as a great (and easy!) breakfast or after school snack.

Pumpkin Banana Smoothie
If you’re a pumpkin fan, this smoothie is for you! While pumpkin is a trendy item, especially this time of year, what you might not know is pumpkin has both fiber and protein which makes for a healthy and filling smoothie.

• 2 tablespoons canned pure pumpkin
• 5 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
• 1 banana, frozen
• ½ teaspoon honey
• ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• ¼ cup ice

Helpful tip: If you’re finding that you have several over ripened bananas that you aren’t able to eat in time, toss them in a freezer bag! Frozen bananas are the perfect addition to smoothies and help make preparation even easier for those hectic weekday mornings. 

Cranberry, Pear, & Orange Smoothie
That’s quite a mouthful, and trust us, you’ll love this nutrient-packed smoothie!  It chocked full of filling fiber from the pear, Vitamin C from the orange, and antioxidants from the cranberries. If you’re using whole cranberries for the first time, this smoothie might be a bit tart! Add a bit of extra honey to tone down the tart zing.

• ¾ cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 pear, core removed & chopped
• 1 small orange
• ½ cup low-fat plain yogurt (or Greek yogurt)
• 1 teaspoon honey

Feeling adventurous? Add in any of the items below to give this smoothie even MORE flavor!

• A handful of fresh spinach
• A frozen or fresh banana
• A few frozen strawberries, blueberries, mango, or pineapple
• 1 teaspoon of chia seeds

Caramel Apple Smoothie
This smoothie is a great alternative to the traditional sticky treat and delivers all of the delicious flavor! Smoothie staples Greek yogurt and almond milk add filling protein and frozen banana adds plenty of sweetness.

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 frozen banana
• ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• ½ cup applesauce
• ¼  tsp caramel extract
• Caramel sauce & cinnamon for topping

Recipe swap: This recipe is very adaptable - the trick is to use what you have! Experiment with different types of milk and yogurt. If you don’t have caramel extract on hand, add a bit of caramel sauce right to the blender! Many of the applesauce pouches that are so popular with kids come in fun flavors too. The options are endless, have some fun with it!

Green Monster Smoothie
When you are ready to move on from using spinach in your green smoothies, Swiss chard is a great next step. Swiss chard has a delicate flavor and softer leaves that blend well in most blenders. It is actually in the same family (amaranthaceae) as spinach and beets!

• 2-3 cups Swiss chard, destemmed and roughly chopped
• 2-3 ripe bananas, fresh or frozen
• 1 tart green apple, chopped
• 1 medium whole grapefruit, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup white cranberry juice or water
• 2 cups ice

This recipe makes plenty, so freeze individual portions for those extra hectic mornings!