HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE DOCTORS AND STAFF AT OASECT

Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays in the United States today. No matter what you are giving thanks for this year, it's a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends!

While the harvest has been celebrated since time immemorial, the modern holiday that we call Thanksgiving dates back to 1621. The Pilgrims celebrated their first successful harvest in the New World with a Thanksgiving feast. Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln officially established the last Thursday in Novemebr as such.

Over 84% of adults in the United States will attend Thanksgiving dinners this year. Over 94% of those dinners will include cranberry sauce.

TURKEY TRIVIA...*Can fly up to 55 MPH over short distances. *Run up to 25 MPH on the ground. *Have excellent hearing but no ears. *Have a poor sense of smell. *Can see in color. *Have a 270 degree field of vision, making them difficult to sneak up on. *Sometimes sleep in trees.

Over 45 million turkeys are prepared and eaten in the United States for Thanksgiving each year. The five most popular ways to eat leftover turkey from your holiday dinner includes: soups/stews, sandwiches, casseroles, stir-fry, and salads.

"GOBBLE GOBBLE"

Handling Orthodontic Emergencies at Home

What can you eat??? Lots of things, so let's talk about what you shouldn't eat! During your time in braces avoid food that you have to bite into: corn on the cob, whole apples, and raw carrots. You may cut the corn off of the cob and eat it that way. With other items, slice into very small pieces and place in your mouth. Also avoid hard and sticky foods like gum, caramels, nuts, and popcorn. Chewing on hard items (pens, pencils, fingernails) and the foods mentioned above can damage your braces and wires. This can cause treatment to take longer. Of course from time to time a bracket may become loose or a wire is poking. Always call us and we will promptly schedule you an appointment for necessary repairs. There are some things you can do at home to stay comfortable until your appointment.

Poking Wire: Occasionally the end of a wire will work itself out of place and irritate the patient's mouth. Use a Q-tip or pencil eraser to push the wire so that it is flat against the tooth. If the wire cannot be moved into a comfortable position, cover it with some dental wax.

Irritation of Lips or Cheeks: Sometimes new braces can be irritating to the mouth, especially when the patient is eating. A small amount of relief wax makes an excellent bufer between metal and mouth. Simply pinch off a small piece and roll into a ball the size of a small pea. Flatten the ball and place it completely over the area of the braces causing irritation. Not to worry if the wax is accidentally ingested. The wax is harmless.

Remember: Always give us a call and we will get you scheduled to make you comfortable!