History Behind The 4th

Every year on the 4th day of July we celebrate a great American holiday, Independence Day. This comes as summer is just heating up. Flags of bright red, white and blue appear everywhere you go. But, beyond fireworks and good food the 4th of July has a very rich history expanding back over 200 years ago.

Independence Day is celebrated on the 4th of July because it was on July 4, 1776, that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. Following its adoption, the Declaration was read to the public in various American cities. Whenever they heard it, patriots erupted in cheers and celebrations. While the Fourth is celebrated across the country, historic cities like Boston and Philadelphia draw huge crowds to their festivities.

What is the Declaration of Independence? Source: infoplease.com

Declaration of Independence, full and formal declaration adopted July 4, 1776, by representatives of the Thirteen Colonies in North America announcing the separation of those colonies from Great Britain and making them into the United States.

Need help explaining the meaning of this holiday to younger kiddies? Here’s a fun video for them to watch

We hope all of patients have a great 4th of July weekend, share your fun with us by posting photos on our Facebook wall and we'll be sure to share with everyone! 

Observation Patients Win While They Wait

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age 7. Our younger patients who have been seen by Dr. Beim, but are not quite ready to start treatment are called "Observation Patients". These patients are asked to return to our office every 6 months to monitor their progress. As a "Observation Patient", when you return to our office every 6 months to monitor your progress you are entered for a chance to win special prizes. Observation patients who visit our office from July-December will be entered in a drawing to win 2 tickets to Disney Quest! 

For more information about early orthodontic treatment please visit Beimortho.com or contact our office today.

Say to NO to Sticky and Chewy and Crunchy... During Treatment

Now that it's summer time sweet treats are everywhere, but remember if your under orthodontic treatment there are foods you have to avoid.

Braces are used as a treatment to bring out your best smile, and with that comes a lot of changes to your mouth including your daily oral hygiene activities and eating habits. While you have braces you will want to avoid certain types of foods. You basically have to steer clear of anything sticky, chewy, hard and crunchy.

Here’s a list of treats you will need to avoid during your braces treatment.

• Gum
• Hard Candy
• Sticky Candy
• Popcorn
• Nuts
• Ice
• Taffy
• Hard Chips
• Carrots
• Apples
• Hard/Thick Bread
• Large/Hard Pretzels
• Corn on a cob

It is important to not consume these foods, because eating anything sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy can damage your braces which could make your treatment longer than expected. We want you to have the best experience during your treatment. So here’s a list of great foods you can enjoy while wearing braces.

• Dairy - pudding, soft cheeses
• Breads – sliced lunch bread, soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins w/o nuts, biscuits
• Grains – noodles, pasta, soft-cooked rice
• Meats/poultry - soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
• Seafood - fish w/o bones, tuna, salmon, crab and crab cakes
• Vegetables - potatoes, peas, yams, steamed spinach, beans
• Fruits - applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
• Treats - ice cream w/o nuts, milkshakes, smoothies, Jell-O, cake
• Other – eggs, hot dogs, hamburgers, chili, beans and much more

Remember with braces, always be mindful of what you are eating, the wrong food can lead to a sooner than expected visit to our office.