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General Health

Start Your Day Off with a (Healthy) Smile!

June 9th, 2021

If there’s one meal that can claim the title of “Sweetest Meal of the Day,” it’s almost certainly breakfast. Sugary cereals, syrup-covered waffles, oatmeal with honey, cinnamon toast (which is literally sugar poured on toast)—it’s hard to imagine another menu even coming close. But you’re trying to keep your diet as healthy as possible. What to do?

First, no need to deprive yourself of the occasional pastry or stack of pancakes. The real problem with breakfast isn’t so much sugar as it is added sugar.

  • Just a Spoonful of Sugar? What’s So Bad About That?

Nothing! Many healthy foods have natural sugars. Milk contains lactose sugar, and it also contains calcium and is enriched with vitamin D—both of which are essential for strong bones and teeth. Fruits get their sweetness from a sugar called fructose, and deliciously provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber to our diets.

Even processed sugar is surprisingly low in calories. In fact, a teaspoon of white sugar has only about 15 calories. But this teaspoon is also rich in nutrients for cavity-causing bacteria. The oral bacteria in plaque use sugars and carbohydrates from food particles as a fuel source to produce acids. These acids erode enamel and lead to cavities.

Choosing breakfast foods without additional sugars, then, is an easy way to reduce the number of empty calories in your diet while safeguarding the health of your teeth. We have a few suggestions.

  • Be Selective with Cereals

If the word “sugar” or “honey” or appears on the box, that’s a hint that your favorite cereal is heavy on the sugar. But there’s a more scientific way to tell just how much sugar is in that spoonful.

While the colorful packaging and playful mascots are eye-catching, check the black-and-white panel with nutritional facts found on every box. If one serving equals 27 grams, and the sugar in that serving equals 15 grams, you know you have a problem. And cereals marketed to children are especially “rich” in added sugar.

But luckily, you don’t need to give up your morning bowl. Many cold cereals are available that offer whole grains, protein, and fiber without a lot of added sugar. Spend some time in the cereal aisle comparing, or, to make life easier, there are many online sites which recommend the best (and worst) cereals in terms of sugar content.

  • Use Your Judgment with Juices

Fruits are packed with important nutrients. Not only do they provide essential vitamins and minerals, they’re a great source of water and fiber. If you drink 100% fruit juice, you are getting the benefit of most of the vitamins and minerals found in fruit. (You’re also getting less of the fruit’s natural fiber, and more of the fruit’s natural sugar, so consider fresh fruit as an option occasionally.)

But when fruit juice comes with “cocktail,” or “punch,” or “ade” attached to the end of it, there’s often something else attached—added sugar. For natural fruit flavor and the least amount of sugar, stay with 100% unsweetened fruit juice.

  • Search Out “Surprise” Sugars

Remember the childhood excitement of searching through your cereal box for the prize inside? Fun! What’s not so much fun? The surprises you might find when you search through the labels on your favorite breakfast items—because added sugars make their stealthy way into many of our morning favorites.

When you compare plain, Greek, and low-fat yogurts, for example, the low-fat options are often higher in added sugar. A container of low-fat yogurt can provide 19 grams of sugar—that’s a tablespoon and a half!

And while you’re at it, be sure to compare the sugar content in granola bars. Some are full of nuts and grains, and some are full of added sugar.

Going out for a breakfast smoothie? Those can contain 70 grams of sugar and more. Making your own at home might be a little more time-consuming, but if you use fresh fruit as your sweetener, you can make sure that what you’re not consuming is added sugar. If you’re on the go, check out all-fruit options at your favorite smoothie shop.

Our team isn't asking you to eliminate sugar from your breakfast diet altogether. (Everyone loves a doughnut now and again.) But substituting some alternatives for your regular menu choices can reduce the amount of added sugars by tablespoons every meal. That’s another great reason to greet the morning with a smile!

How Your Pearly Whites Can Help You in Life

May 19th, 2021

At Bethesda Orthodontics, we have found that patients who like their smiles have better self-esteem. People who don’t like their smiles are often skittish about talking to other people. According to the National Women’s Health Resource Center, when women are asked about what they’d most like to change about themselves, many point to their smile. Despite wanting to change their smiles, quite a few of the people who are unhappy about that part of themselves won’t consider getting braces.

Most Americans Don’t Have Straight Teeth

The American Association of Orthodontics estimates that 4.5 million Americans wear braces or other orthodontic equipment to straighten their teeth and to get a healthier mouth. One in five of those braces wearers are women. The organization’s statistics also show that about 75 percent of the population doesn’t have straight teeth, and those people would benefit from getting braces.

While the main benefit of braces is straight teeth, and to improve the look of your smile, there are other benefits that make braces even more useful, including:

  • Straighter teeth help people chew better.
  • Straighter teeth give people a proper bite.
  • People speak better when they have straighter teeth.
  • When people have straight teeth, they have better overall gum and mouth health. A healthier mouth means flossing and brushing are easier, and that means your entire mouth stays healthy.
  • A healthy mouth is also linked to a healthy body.

When you feel proud of those pearly whites, you feel better about your smile, and that contributes to a better self-image and improved self-esteem. Ultimately, that can lead to greater career success and a more fulfilling social life.

Your Smile Impacts Your Self Confidence

May 16th, 2021

I was not your typical teen. My mom was a pediatric dentist. I watched as she helped thousands of kids get, and keep, their beautiful smiles. Braces excited me. Even the idea of headgear was appealing. I begged for it!

Like I said: not your typical teen.

One reason for my orthodontic appliance excitement was that, because of the work my mom and her colleagues did, I could easily see a result. I heard endless stories about how patients were more confident after all the hard work was over. As a teen, I associated braces with confidence, not disaster. (Breakouts before the big dance? That was another story.)

Our teens and children could use a confidence boost these days. According to DoSomething.org, an organization that helps young people create social change:

  • Three-quarters of girls with low self-esteem reported engaging in negative activities like cutting, bullying, smoking, drinking, or disordered eating.
  • More than 40 percent of boys in middle and high school regularly exercise with the expressing goal of increasing muscle mass (not being healthy).
  • About 20 percent of teens experience depression before they reach adulthood.

The power and relentlessness of social media makes it even more difficult for teens to feel confident, but there is another issue that worries me. Boys and girls are able to rely on camera filters to hide every flaw. If they can change their appearance with an app, why explore changes that actually would improve their health and wellbeing?

Getting braces, Invisalign, and BRIUS are not just about creating a better selfie — it’s about creating a strong smile that reflects better health. As the American Association of Orthodontists says, “Oral health is a window into your overall health. … A good bite makes it easier for you to bite, chew and speak.” We even know now that routine dental care might protect against severe cases of COVID-19.

My young patients’ glee often is infectious once their orthodontic appliance comes off. But that glee is not confined to the kiddos.

I’ve been welcoming more and more adults into my office who are exploring orthodontia. These men and women either skipped braces as kids, or need a little tune up because they didn’t wear their retainers to keep their teeth in place. Often they are not just looking for a better smile, though. Perhaps a bite that has been off is now causing severe jaw pain.

There are many reasons people pursue orthodontia as an adult. Whatever the reason, they are as happy with the results as teens. I want my patients to walk out of the office feeling like they can do anything.

That is the power of good self-esteem. I love this line from Confidence Code authors Claire Shipman, Katty Kay, and Jillellyn Riley in The Atlantic: “Confidence is an essential ingredient for turning thoughts into action, wishes into reality.”

Having a beautiful smile obviously is not the single ingredient we need to build young peoples’ confidence, but it helps. As a recent article in Shape explained:

“Research suggests that dental disorders such as malocclusion (misaligned teeth) can cause a ‘profound impact’ on self-esteem, thereby negatively affecting the overall quality of life. While studies show this to be more common in adolescents (especially given their age and ‘increased aesthetic desire’ and ‘unique social and physiological needs’), a 2019 poll of 2,000 people emphasizes that adults are also subject to insecurities around their teeth. The study, conducted by OnePull and funded by teeth-whitening company Snow, found that seven in 10 Americans are self-conscious about their teeth, and 50 percent try to smile with their mouths closed (perhaps as a result).”

In addition to improving health and self-confidence, we know that straighter, whiter teeth can impact employment prospects and perceptions of leadership capability.

According to a survey by Kelton and Invisalign, Americans perceive those with straight teeth to be 45 percent more likely than those with crooked teeth to get a job when competing with someone who has a similar skill set and experience. Additionally, 73 percent of Americans would be more likely to trust someone with a straight smile than someone with a good job, outfit, or car.

So, skip the trendy new shoes. Come in for a consult instead so we can discuss how to create lasting confidence.

 

Every Day is Earth Day

April 21st, 2021

During the early days of the environmental awareness movement, those who demonstrated against pollution, toxic chemicals, and the general public health were known as hippies. The early 1970s were a time of change, and assertions that we needed to pay more attention to the Earth's atmosphere were generally dismissed. But within a couple decades, it had become clear that the previous generation was right; the citizens of the world needed to become more environmentally conscious.

Many people feel that they can't make a difference if they don't do something big. But caring for the environment doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing concept. In fact, the little things you do can add up to make a great impact, especially in our community. Here are a few ways you can help the environment on Earth Day, April 22nd and all year around.

Four Small Ways to be Environmentally Friendly

  • Recycle Your Textiles. Nearly 21 million tons of textiles are added to American landfills each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Donating your unwanted clothing to a secondhand store or an organization that repurposes fabric helps cut down on solid waste and conserves natural resources.
  • Reduce Usage of Disposables. Plastic bottles and bags, disposable diapers and other things we can use and toss out are convenient, but they're not necessary. Simply choosing to replace one of type of disposable with a reusable product can help you cut down on waste that has a large negative impact on our environment.
  • Conserve Water. If everyone in the United States turned off the water while brushing their teeth, more than 1.5 million gallons of water could be conserved. Turn the water on long enough to wet your toothbrush for brushing and rinsing, and then immediately turn the water off again.
  • Turn Off the Lights. Flip the light switch to "Off" if you're going to leave a particular room for 15 minutes or more. This will conserve energy on incandescent light bulbs and cut down on cooling costs.

It's not necessary to be an activist or install solar panels all over your home to help the environment. Although you can do these things, the little everyday measures make a big difference in helping to conserve energy and the environment, while reducing your carbon footprint. Our team at Bethesda Orthodontics wants to remind you to celebrate Earth Day and help the environment, knowing that it will benefit your and your children's generation.

Yes, It’s Safe To See Your Orthodontist During COVID-19

March 11th, 2021

We are about to mark the one-year anniversary of our nation’s collective COVID-19 shutdown. Montgomery County, Md. and Washington, D.C. – where my two practices reside – went into lockdown on March 13, 2020.

Resilience is a word that is sometimes overused, but it was definitely more appropriate than ever in 2020. I am so proud of the schoolchildren who are my patients. They learned to … well … learn in a whole different way over the last 12 months. And parents? They are my superheroes! I cannot imagine working from home while monitoring schoolwork.

I am also proud of my staff and my fellow orthodontists and dentists. Even though we know the care we provide is essential, last spring we were kept for many weeks from doing what we love and what we know is a vital service to our community. We didn’t know when our livelihoods would bounce back … or if they would.

I’m especially proud that, since our practices opened up again last summer, we have proven that our offices are safe places where patients can get routine and emergency care in a COVID-free environment.

According to a new study published in The Journal of Dental Hygiene, the estimated prevalence rate of COVID-19 in U.S. dental hygienists is low. In fact, a survey of nearly 5,000 hygienists revealed only 3.1 percent had ever tested positive or been diagnosed with the virus. Masking up keeps the virus from spreading!

That study came after one published in October 2020 in The Journal of the American Dental Association that indicated fewer than one percent of U.S. dentists had been diagnosed with COVID-19. That result was far below the rate of other U.S. health professionals. The Journal also reported 99 percent of dentists were using enhanced infection control procedures such as screening protocols when treating patients.

We are committed to patient safety.

My practices not only have increased screening protocols and disinfection practices – I am scrubbing and hand sanitizing so much now that I sleep with gloves and moisturizer on my hands! – we have altered our personal behavior outside of the office to ensure our offices stay COVID-free.

I love to travel and have not been on a plane since last February. We are not carpooling with friends and neighbors – and we are not taking car or ride shares either – and we are celebrating birthdays and other family milestones from the safety of our own homes, with only those who live under our roofs. And, of course, we are excited to report that, as frontline healthcare workers, most of us have received our COVID-19 vaccines!

We miss social interaction and vacations just like everyone else, but with so many people still unvaccinated, going on a little weekend jaunt is not worth the risk.

While our practices were deemed non-essential at the beginning of the pandemic, we also know now that dentists, orthodontists, and other oral health experts actually can help diagnose COVID-19. According to Dr. Aravindhan Karunakaran, the virus can cause lesions on the tongue that might be the only symptom of COVID-19.

I hope these measures and this academic research will reassure parents and caregivers. According to a survey by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, 40 percent of parents have avoided seeking dental care for their children during the pandemic, citing concerns about infection, office closures, and cost.

Not only does this set a bad precedent about how children will view dentists and orthodontists long-term (they’re scary or non-essential), it threatens overall health. What happens with your teeth can impact everything from quality of sleep to heart health. And, according to a report in Dentistry Today, patients with COVID-19 and gum disease were 4.5 times more likely to need a ventilator, and almost nine times more likely to die than those without gum disease.

Dental care is essential. And during COVID-19, it is safe.

 

Short on Time? Let's Use Tech to Connect

February 14th, 2021

Time.

There really does not seem to be enough of it these days and, with all due respect to the fathers who come through my office door (and there are a lot of them!), balancing work from home and school from home is taking the harshest toll on mothers.

Consider this telling statistic: in December 2020, the American economy lost a net 140,000 jobs. Men actually gained 16,000 jobs, but women lost 156,000. Last fall, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, and founder of the LeanIn.Org, Sheryl Sandberg urged companies to be more flexible – or risk losing their top female talent.

I hear the stress in the voices of the mothers who come into my office, whether they hold jobs outside of being wife and parent or not. This crisis has taken a toll.

The medical community can make things just a tiny bit easier by embracing digital technologies that allow us to check in and follow up with our patients virtually.

Both of my offices use Dental Monitoring by DentalMind, for example. With the app on iOS and Android, patients capture their treatment progress, communicate them to my office, and receive any necessary instructions or changes directly from me. This technology allows me and my patients to maintain consistent contact between appointments in a safe, seamless, and time-saving way.

I also offer virtual consults. Patients take a few snaps of their smiles and, based on these photos alone, I can come up with a preliminary treatment plan. We will meet face to face as a next step, but there is no reason not to use technology to get things started.

Digital technologies also are super convenient in a pinch.

A couple of weeks ago, my front desk fielded a call from a mom in Middleburg, Va. who was supposed to bring her teenage son in that day for an in-person consult. Even under normal circumstances, Middleburg is quite a drive to the Washington, D.C. area and, on this particular day, everyone was just running behind.

I could hear the relief in mom’s voice when I told her the consult could be done digitally. After all, why do we carry around high-resolution cameras and computers in our purses if we can’t use them to save ourselves a few minutes? I hope that mom was reassured, too, that if she chose our office for her son, many of our follow-ups could be completed from her own living room.

Smartphones also can be incredibly helpful when assessing emergency situations with your dentist or orthodontist. A friend of mine who is a pediatric dentist evaluated a young patient on a Friday night who fallen (err, jumped) off a couch and landed on a set of drums. (Ouch!) Teeth were broken, but the dentist also clearly could see that stiches were needed. While mom still was not happy with the stage dive, at least her dentist-by-iPhone gave her a clear path forward and at least some reassurance.

Telehealth not only saves time, it saves money. According to an April 2020 article in U.S. News & World Report, for medical visits, “The national median cost for a video-based virtual visit is $50, compared to $85 for low-severity treatment at a doctor’s office, $130 for an urgent care facility visit, and $740 for an emergency room visit.”

One more benefit?

Telehealth also is good for the environment. When researchers from the University of California at Davis studied the use of telehealth in the Golden State, they found “telemedicine utilization saved the air almost 2,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, 50 metric tons of carbon monoxide, 3.7 metric tons of nitrogen oxides and 5.5 metric tons of volatile organic compounds.”

Digital health: good for the planet … easy on your schedule.

So, take an easy breath next time you’re worried about making time for your appointment. Give us a call, and we’ll determine if we can do it virtually instead.

Questions About the COVID Vaccines

January 6th, 2021

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now has approved not one, but two, vaccines for COVID-19 and we could see final data on a few others later this winter. This news is good … very good … but I do want our patients to know that things still won’t be completely back to normal for some time. If you have questions about what’s coming next, or about the vaccine, I hope you’ll ask our team, or your family practitioner.

In the meantime, let’s going to try to answer a few common questions.

People Are Having Reactions To The Vaccine – Doesn’t That Indicate It’s Unsafe?

In short: no. In fact, if the reaction is a fever or aches and pains those actually are a sign that your body is processing the vaccine correctly. That discomfort means you’re building immunity. Truly adverse reactions to reactions to vaccines are rare. If your pain or fever hasn’t subsided after a day or two, give your doctor a call, but chances are, just like with the regular flu vaccine, you’ll feel better in no time.

Trying to explain how aches and pains mean a vaccine is working? Check out the August 14 episode of But Why? A Podcast for Curious Kids for an engaging, kid-appropriate discussion with your little ones.

When Will I Get The Vaccine?

That question is up to each state to answer. In Maryland, there will be three phases of delivery:

  • Phase 1A: health care workers, long-term facility care staff, and first responders;
  • Phase 1B: high-risk individuals, including those with underlying conditions, and adults who live in congregate settings (e.g., homeless shelters or long-term care homes);
  • Phase 2: individuals who work in “essential industries”; and
  • Phase 3: the general population.

Right now, Maryland is in phase 1A, which as WBAL-TV explained, includes hundreds of thousands of individuals.

According to WUSA-9, the District of Columbia’s plan is very similar to Maryland’s except that individuals at long-term care facilities are in the first group of recipients.

Will My Doctor Give Me The Vaccine? How About My Dentist Or Orthodontist?

Perhaps. Each state, each city, and each local health system will determine how, to whom, and where the vaccine will be administered. Because the goal is to get the vaccine as quickly as possible to as many people as possible, it is likely that you’ll see it being administered in places where you wouldn’t usually go for healthcare.

Businesses might be able to offer the vaccine onsite to employees, for example, or schools or even malls and convention centers could become vaccine sites. We certainly are looking into the possibility of offering our patients the vaccine when supplies are more plentiful. Stay tuned, but please also remember that the two current vaccines are not yet approved for use in individuals under the age of 16. Chances are mom and dad will be inoculated well before the kiddos. 

How Long Does The Vaccine Provide Protection?

The short answer is: we do not know. We know the individuals who participated in the vaccine trials continue to be evaluated and, so far, it looks like the drugs are working even months after being administered, but it’s impossible to know how long that will last.

We’re watching this question closely, so feel free to discuss it during your next visit!

Can I Take Off My Mask Once I Have The Vaccine?

The short answer is: no. As noted above, because it will take a while for everyone to receive the vaccine, things still will not look “normal” for some time. And while we know that the vaccine does a very good job of protecting you from getting sick, we are not sure yet if it prevents you from spreading the virus.

Dr. Purvi Parikh, an immunologist with the Allergy and Asthma Network who was a co-investigator for the Pfizer vaccine trials, explained why to the data analysis website FiveThirtyEight. She said, “Theoretically, a vaccine should stop both the infection as well as the transmission and spread,” but noted, because the focus of these clinical trials was narrow, scientists only looked at whether the vaccines prevented illness and were safe, not into other questions like whether vaccinated people can still spread the virus.

We wear masks to protect our loved ones, our neighbors, our teachers, and, yes, our orthodontists and dentists. We’ll be asking you to wear masks in our office even if you have received the vaccine.

If you have other questions, please don’t hesitate to raise them during your next visit, or to give us a call. We’re here for you.

Cancelling Appointments During COVID-19

December 29th, 2020

“I think I have to cancel my appointment.”

Our office has gotten that call more than once in the last several weeks, sometimes just hours before a scheduled visit. Under normal circumstances, we discourage these last-minute cancellations, but these days? Well, we certainly understand when it comes to COVID. In fact, we want you to act with extreme caution.

It is one way that you can help us keep our offices safe and help prevent community spread of this deadly virus.

As you and your family probably have seen, our offices have increased the amount of personal protective equipment we are wearing – sometimes we even don more than one mask! You’ve seen face shields (which are added protection, but should not be relied on instead of a mask) and certainly more hand sanitizer.

Dentist and orthodontist offices always are always fanatical about infection control, but we are even more so now.

And, the good news: we know it’s working.

According to a study from the American Dental Association (ADA), while dentists and orthodontist offices were shut down at the beginning of the pandemic due to fears about COVID spread, less than one percent of dentists have had the virus. That result is far below the rate of other health professionals in the United States. The ADA also noted that “99 percent of dentists are using enhanced infection control procedures such as screening protocols and enhanced disinfection practices when treating patients.”

If you are feeling well, you should feel confident about keeping your regular dentist and orthodontist appointments.

What can you do to help keep our offices free of COVID?

At home and wherever you go:

  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or, if you don’t have access to soap and water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
  • Maintain at least six feet of distance between yourself and anyone else, especially if they are coughing or sneezing;
  • Limit interaction with individuals outside of your household;
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
  • Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze – do not use your hands; and
  • Wear a mask whenever you are outside of your household.

Obviously, if you have a fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or have lost your sense of taste or smell, call our office. We’ll discuss your health status, the dental treatment you require, and whether or not visiting our office will be safe for you, our other patients, and our staff. Please also give us a call if you’ve been exposed to someone that has had a positive COVID-19 test. That’s helpful information and we can always see you after you’ve had time to quarantine.

Third, while we know the early bird gets the worm, it also can cause crowding in our waiting rooms. Please be on time, but if you’re more than five minutes early, wait in your car or call to see if we can safety seat you.

Finally, a note about travel, which my patients know that I love! I have not enjoyed being grounded, but COVID-19 can travel with us wherever we go. If you have been out of the area in the last 14 days – anywhere – or if someone in your household has traveled, please let us know. Again, we can always reschedule!

At the heart of every doctor-patient relationship is trust and good communication. If you’re worried about coming in, or wondering if you should keep your appointment, just give us a call and we’ll talk through it. Remember: our job is to keep you and your family smiling and healthy.

Especially, in these times, we’ll understand if you need to reschedule.

Halloween Doesn't Have To Be Scary

October 15th, 2020

By Dr. Negaar Sagafi

As my patients know, I have opinions about Halloween. More specifically, I have opinions about Halloween candy, which is hard on braces and brackets. Orthodontia and Jolly Ranchers simply do not mix. In fact, the results often are terrifying.

This year, Halloween is scarier than usual. Coronavirus threatens to steal more happy moments from our children and while I’d prefer that kiddos stay away from hard candy, I want them to celebrate. I want them to have fun.

How can they do that?

First, let’s remember that some of the most active participants in our Halloween traditions are our elderly neighbors. Who doesn’t get excited to see a sweet little Hermione or Harry Potter at their door? As we have for the last eight months, we must think first of the health and safety of our most vulnerable friends and family. Every piece of advice below is an effort to keep them – and you – safe.

But if you are someone who falls into the “vulnerable” category, there are still ways to celebrate – without even opening your door. Try:

  • Putting a spin on the “garden walk.” Establish a list of neighbors that will commit to putting out the spookiest decorations. Create a map, post it on your local listserv, and encourage families to drive the route during an established time on October 31.
  • Channeling your inner Willie Wonka. Willie Wonka didn’t just make candy … he made candy an experience. Get creative about delivery. Leaving out a bowl rarely works (teenagers always take it all, right?), so create a scavenger hunt. Leave clues to where you’ve hidden morsels around your yard. Or do what this dad featured in The Washington Post did: create a candy chute.
  • Boo’ing your neighbors. This tradition is perfect for our current times. Boo’ing involves placing a basket of goodies on a neighbor’s porch and disappearing. The candy comes with a note instructing your neighbor to “boo” someone else. If your home has been boo’d, put a sign out so as many children as possible receive sweet treats.

The Centers for Disease Control, along with Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Md. public officials, also have released guidance on how to celebrate Halloween this year. As a healthcare provider, I agree with it, but I also recognize that families have approached this pandemic differently. While officials do not recommend traditional trick-or-treating, some parents will allow this tradition, so the question is: what are some smart tactics that will keep children safe.

First, remember that costume masks will not protect your child from getting the virus, or spreading it. Adequate face coverings are not optional. The CDC’s advice on choosing masks is here.

Second, do not allow children to pop a piece of candy into their mouths while trick or treating, even if they have used hand sanitizer. Your child should not touch their face until their hands have been thoroughly washed. We still do not know everything there is to know about COVID-19 transmits, but we do know it is a respiratory disease. Keeping masks on and keeping interactions short are two of the best steps a person can take to protect themselves.

Third, travel the neighborhood only as a family. For many children, Halloween will be their first big event in eight months. It will be hard, if not impossible, to contain their considerable excitement, but it will be easier if a group is small. And, of course, it is easier to stay at least six feet away if you’re travelling as a small unit. Remember: the six foot rule applies especially when individuals are talking, eating, and drinking … which we do a lot of on Halloween.

Other steps to take include:

  • Carrying a bell or noisemaker instead of ringing the doorbell.
  • Sanitizing the candy. I recommend creating your own “candy wipes” using gauze and Cavicide, a safe disinfectant we use in our office that is available on Amazon.
  • Keeping interactions as brief as possible. If a friend opens the door, stay six feet away, say thank you, and politely move on.

These steps should mitigate risk, but, they will not eliminate it. To keep Halloween as safe as possible, stay home. While bobbing for apples is a bad idea, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday, including:

  • Going on a ghost hunt by downloading an online game like Phasmophobia and playing it virtually with friends or family;
  • Holding a family Halloween movie night;
  • Decorating your home (inside and out) with Halloween-themed arts and crafts;
  • Finding an outdoor restaurant with a Halloween-themed meal, or cooking one at home;
  • Using an online meeting platform to host a costume contest or pumpkin carving contest; or
  • Dressing up your pups for a Halloween parade around the neighborhood.

One of my favorite ideas? The Switch Witch … with a pandemic twist. Leave candy on the kitchen counter for the good witch Switch. She will swoop in during the night on her mighty broom, grab the sugar, and leave a new toy in its place! (Normally Switch claims the candy trick or treaters amass on October 31, but with this spin anyone can play during COVID.)

Another smart idea is reverse trick or treating, which combines the fun of a Fourth of July parade with Halloween’s creativity. With this option, children dress up, but stay on their own lawns and porches. Adults who parade through the neighborhood on foot or decorated bikes and vehicles while throwing candy. Staying safe this Halloween is all about proper mask-wearing, mitigating contact, and maintaining a safe social distance. Reverse trick-or-treating, when properly supervised by mom and dad, achieves all that.

Just remember to brush those teeth!

Going Beyond Braces

July 15th, 2020

At Bethesda Orthodontics, we aren’t just concerned with straightening your teeth and giving you the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. We are also committed improving the oral health and the well-being of all our patients. We strive to serve our patients by educating them about their treatments, as well as making them feel as comfortable as possible during their initial consultations up until the day they complete their treatments.

Making our patients more comfortable with taking care of their braces in between visits increases the likelihood that they will complete their treatments successfully. We want you to know that if you should ever have any questions about your orthodontic treatment, whether it’s during your adjustment appointment or after hours, we are always here for you and your family.

Please do not hesitate to give us a call or ask us any questions you may have on our Facebook page! We can’t wait to hear from you!

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