April is Facial Protection Month! From Dr. Robert Cram

You may remember that in early February, Dr. Cram and our staff blogged about the advantages of wearing a mouth guard when playing sports. Well, we thought a reminder today wouldn’t hurt. You see, April happens to be National Facial Protection Month, and it’s a good time to remind our young athletes about staying safe on the field this spring.

According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

That is simply unacceptable.

By simply wearing a properly fitted mouth guard, these accidents could prevent this along with other traumatic facial injuries. The above video from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists outlines five ways you can protect yourself this spring and summer. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact our team at Red Deer Orthodontics. And remember to stay safe and have fun!

Your turn! From Red Deer Orthodontics

By now, you’re probably used to our blog process: Week after week, Dr. Cram and our staff write about important topics pertinent to orthodontics and your well-being, including orthodontic treatments offered at Red Deer Orthodontics. This week, we thought we’d step back and ask you, our wonderful patients: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Cram or our team for a while now? Here’s your chance! Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook page!

Give us your best shot, and we’ll try to answer any question you may have!

Red Deer Orthodontics, supporting National Nutrition Month

March has arrived, and that can only mean one thing: it’s National Nutrition Month. Every March, Dr. Cram and thousands of orthodontists and hygienists celebrate National Nutrition Month. This March, Dr. Cram and our team want you to think diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve your periodontal health.

At Red Deer Orthodontics, we know small changes really can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association, or ADA, has some advice on ways to start improving your diet this March:

• Focus on fruits and vegetables: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Think fresh, think local: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, there are many options to find new, fresh foods here in Red Deer and surrounding communities.

• Make every calorie count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• Resist, resist: If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you crave a snack in the afternoon, enjoy some trail mix or nuts.

• Expand your horizons: Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new health favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

If you have additional questions about periodontal disease or keeping yourself and your mouth healthy, please give us a call! Dr. Cram and our team want to hear from you!

Ask Dr. Cram: Am I too old for braces?

Who’s afraid of “metal mouth” and the appearance of braces? Not adults, apparently. Recently, our staff at Red Deer Orthodontics read a fascinating statistic: adults getting braces has jumped 24 percent from just 14 years ago! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: cosmetics. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Dr. Robert Cram can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Cram would love to have you visit for a consultation. Give us a call to set one up!

At Red Deer Orthodontics, what puts you at ease?

Dr. Cram and our team understand not everyone always enjoys visiting the orthodontist. But at Red Deer Orthodontics, we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about our practice that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant office environment? Our amiable professional staff? Dr. Cram himself?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call!