Halloween TIPS from the American Association of Orthodontists

It’s almost that spooky time of year again and Gresham and Sandy orthodontist, Dr. Tod Hardin, and our team thought we’d share some Halloween tips from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

Trick-or-treating safety guidelines:

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

To protect your braces, steer clear of the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• All hard candies
• All chewy candies
• Caramel
• Nuts
• Licorice
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Bubblegum
• Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)
• Ice

Of course, Halloween does not have to be completely treat-less. Braces-friendly Halloween treats can help you enjoy the “spook-ta-cular” holiday. For example, plain chocolate candy is okay, provided you remember to brush and floss afterwards. Bobbing for apples as well as caramel apples are not recommended. However, you can enjoy thinly sliced apples, dipped in yogurt or creamy chocolate sauce.

Dr. Hardin suggests looking for foods that are soft, such as soft chocolate that can melt in one’s mouth or peanut butter cups. Overall, candies that aren’t sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy are generally acceptable.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the entire team at Hardin Orthodontics!

A Halloween Treat at Hardin Orthodontics!

This Halloween, October 31st, the Hardin Orthodontics’ team will be decorating our Sandy office to look like the Emerald City and Dr. Tod Hardin and the entire team will be dressed up like characters from Wizard of Oz. We would also like to invite all of you to come by for a Halloween treat between the hours of 8am-1pm and 2pm-4:30pm.

We have a history of going all out when Halloween falls on a work day! If you want proof, here are a couple photos of Halloween a few years ago where we decided on a jungle theme. Can you spot Dr. Hardin?

Do you want to WIN an iPad2?

Awaken those craft skills and creativity with our new t-shirt contest. All you have to do is decorate a white Hardin Ortho t-shirt as creatively as you can, and then post a photo of your shirt to our facebook page.

Here’s how you can win: after you post a photo of your shirt, you need to get your friends and family to go onto our facebook page and click the “like” button by your photo. The person with the most “likes” by midnight December 19th wins an iPad2!

So stop by the office to pick up a shirt and recruit your friends to vote for you!

At Hardin Orthodontics, October means National Orthodontic Health Month!

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

Dr. Tod Hardin and our team realize that this is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene. National Orthodontic Health Month also aims to recognize the dedicated work of orthodontists like Dr. Hardin and other dental professionals in Gresham, Sandy, Troutdale, and other East County Oregon areas.

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
• Ice

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