What's the deal with Halloween candies & treats?

For parents worried about their kids going overboard on candies, sugar and other sweets, Halloween is a dreaded annual event (no pun intended).

All those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, but these treats are known to damage teeth, as well as your braces! With Halloween just two days away, Dr. Vickie Greenberg and our team know all that candy is making its rounds around Altadena, Pasadena and surrounding neighborhoods. Instead of telling kids to avoid candy altogether, one orthodontist decided to show his patients the good kinds of candy to eat with braces and the kind to avoid. We encourage you to check this video out and we hope everyone has a fun, safe and scary Halloween!

Ask Dr. Greenberg: Why visit the dentist during my orthodontic treatment?

Dr. Vickie Greenberg wants to know: Are you brushing your teeth twice a day during your orthodontic treatment? If the answer happens to be yes, that’s what we want to hear! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist every six months, in addition to brushing your teeth a couple times a day (and, of, course, seeing Dr. Greenberg during your treatment). Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health while you're in braces!

A dentist can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

During an oral exam your doctor can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing.

If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call, ask Dr. Greenberg during your next visit or ask us on Facebook! We'd be happy to recommend a dentist in Pasadena, Altadena and the greater San Gabriel Valley!

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

Absolutely not. At the orthodontic office of Dr. Vickie Greenberg, no one is "too old" for braces. Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile. In fact, one out of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over 21 and - not only that - but our staff recently read a statistic that the number of adults getting orthodontic treatment has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996!

Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great. 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—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Greenberg would love to have you visit for a consultation at our convenient Altadena office. Please give us a call at (626) 768-7766 to set one up!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

For those of our patients who don't know, October is National Orthodontic Health Month. This month-long event is organized by our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Dr. Vickie Greenberg and our staff realize this is a great opportunity for us and to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene. National Orthodontic Health Month also aims to recognize the dedicated work of orthodontists like Dr. Greenberg and other dental professional in Pasadena.

The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Taco chips
• Ice

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. Greenberg during your visit this month!