The advantage of mouth guards, with Village ORTHOdontics

Let’s face it: sports-related injuries are common among children, let alone teens with braces. In a recent survey, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, discovered that 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports. That’s why Village Orthodontics are helping spread the word that many facial sports injuries can be prevented simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. Ask us—Drs. Murrell, Doucet, Kim or Kalbfleisch will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment. In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. Please remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements the team at Village Orthodontics is trying to achieve.

Village ORTHOdontics, helping you stay safe during the snow storm

With the intense weather conditions this week, the staff at Village ORTHOdontics thought it would be a good time to remind you, our valued patients (and parents) to be safe when out and about. We thought we'd share a few helpful tips to get you through the snow storm. Make sure you:

*Winterize your vehicle
*Drive, accelerate, and brake slowly
*Pack an emergency road kit and learn common emergency signs
*Install tire chains
*Learn how to fix a flat tire and jump start a car
*Stay safe!

If you don't feel safe going out, you can always reschedule your appointment. At Village ORTHOdontics, our patients' well-being is our primary concern, and that includes staying safe on the roads during this storm! If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call!