Are you wearing your mouthguard this summer?

With summer in full force, our team at Cottingham Orthodontics thought today would be a great time to remind all our young athletes in treatment to take care of both their mouth and appliances while participating in sports – especially contact sports – this summer.
Only by using a mouth guard can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. The next time you’re in for a visit with Dr. Cottingham, we encourage you to ask us for a mouth guard! In addition, the American Association of Orthodontists has five quick tips for keeping kids safe during sport activities.

• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eyewear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant, even as a spectator

We hope you’re enjoying your summer, and invite you all to share your summer photos on our Facebook page!

What are you up to this summer?

Summer is only halfway through, which means that another eight weeks of vacations, adventures and great memories are ahead of us. Whether you’re headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, hitting the open road with family, watching the Colts practice or just having fun in the sun, Dr. Karen Cottingham and our staff want to hear all about it! We encourage you to leave a comment on our Facebook fan page and tell us about your summer adventures!

We also encourage you to post any photos from your summer to our Facebook wall!

Happy (and safe) travels,

The Cottingham Orthodontics team

Straight talk with Dr. Cottingham

Patients ask us why Dr. Karen Cottingham and our team at Cottingham Orthodontics work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Cottingham Orthodontics can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean! We want to give you and your family the total orthodontic experience you expect, with the amazing smiles you deserve! If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Cottingham can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment at Cottingham Orthodontics.

What’s on your summer reading list?

With summer finally here, some of us at Cottingham Orthodontics wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading this time of year, but reading during the summer is a vital step in brain development and warding off the dreaded “summer slide.” Plus, it's fun!

Today, we thought we’d ask: What's on YOUR summer 2011 reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff would be happy to provide a few suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian here in the Indianapolis area for some ideas or check out these summer reading ideas that we came across today, courtesy of Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your summer picks or your all-time favorites on our Facebook page!

June is also National Dairy Month!

You may remember our post from last week, when we talked about June being "National Smile Month." Well, June is also known well for being National Dairy Month. A 2008 study by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) 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 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!

The food pyramid also says that, ideally, you should try to have two 8-ounce glasses of milk a day. Try not to always drink whole milk as this will add unnecessary fat to your diet. Drink 1 or 2% milk if you can. Of course, you can substitute other things from the milk food group, such as cheese and yogurt or other foods high in calcium and vitamin D.

For more information about which dairy foods are best for keeping your teeth healthy, please give us a call or ask Dr. Cottingham on Facebook.

Smile wide! June is National Smile Month!

Now that June is here, our team at Cottingham Orthodontics thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to our convenient Indianapolis or Avon offices, as well as your general dentist to avoid cavities and gum disease, among other dental health issues.

That means you too, parents! After all, there's more and more evidence that suggests folks with gum disease are more at risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth and braces.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment
* Visit your dentist regularly (every 6 months or as recommended by your dentist)!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call, ask Dr. Cottingham during your next visit. Or, you may ask us on Facebook!

Access your account—any day, any time, anywhere!

At Cottingham Orthodontics we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern offices conveniently located in Indianapolis and Avon.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! And, because we know folks sometimes forget, you can even receive appointment reminders through email, text messages and more!

You, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started or ask us on Facebook!