Mark your calendars for the Underwood Orthodontics Patient Appreciation Party!

This September, Dr. Underwood and our team will be hosting our Patient Appreciation Party! We will have a magician, contests and prizes, three bounce houses, and face painting! City BBQ and Dairy Queen will both be served. Please RSVP by September 5th. We look forward to seeing everyone at our Patient Appreciation Party!

Underwood Orthodontics Patient Appreciation Party

Who: All of our patients and their families & all of the DDS we work with and their staff and families!

What: Underwood Orthodontics Patient Appreciation Party

Where: Coffman Park Shelter House West

When: Sunday, September 19 from 1:00-4:00pm

Why: To have a great afternoon with all of our amazing patients!

Moooooove over gum disease!

Dr. Underwood wants to know: Is dairy a major part of your diet? If not, it should be! A 2008 study from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) has found that regular consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, can actually lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease (also known as gum disease). Results of the study also showed that adults who consume at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day are less at risk for gum disease.

Cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child's teeth. In addition to providing large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also does its part to fight cavities. Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, and Monterey Jack all stimulate the body's salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris and protect them from acids that weaken them, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. This means cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque's ph level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child's teeth.

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth that affects the gums and jaw. Gum disease results in a loss of teeth and bone, and has been connected to certain cases of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and osteoporosis.

Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Next time you reach for a quick snack, choose some cheese, or a glass of milk, and remember with each bite, and every sip you are preserving your teeth for a lifetime of smiles and good oral health!

For more information about which dairy foods are best for keeping your teeth healthy, please give us a call.

Underwood Orthodontics, supporter of the AAO Style 'N Smile fashion show!

The Style 'N Smile fashion show, sponsored by the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, promotes self esteem, while displaying the newest back to school fashions. Most importantly, the fashion show emphasizes how beautiful and healthy smiles never goes out of style. To learn more about the Style 'N Smile fashion show, take a look at this short video clip from 90210 pop culture icon Jennie Garth. In the video, she shares how being self conscious is a rite of passage, and that’s why giving younger (and older) people the opportunity to improve their smile goes hand in hand with improving self esteem.

With SureSmile and Invisalign treatment options, Underwood Orthodontics has what it takes to make you smile! Give us a call today if you have any questions about the Style 'N Smile fashion show, or if you would like to schedule your complimentary consultation!

Distinguishing the myths and facts about orthodontics, from Dr. Underwood

Trust us when we say Dr. Underwood and our professional staff knows there are quite a few myths about orthodontics (and orthodontists) floating around these days. But before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists set the record straight (no pun intended) and have provided some information that sheds some light on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here at Underwood Orthodontics, feel free to give us a call.

The importance of retainers, from Underwood Orthodontics

If you recently completed treatment at Underwood Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Underwood 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. Underwood 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 Underwood Orthodontics, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!