A braces-friendly recipe, in celebration of National Orthodontic Health Month!

In celebration of Halloween and National Orthodontic Health Month, our team at Davis and Davis Orthodontics would like to share a great braces-friendly fall recipe with all of our patients. These Witch’s Hat Cookies are delicious, and provided that you remember to brush and floss after indulging, this is a cookie that won’t bite back!

Witch’s Hat Cookies

Ingredients:
• 12 sugar ice cream cones, chocolate flavor
• 12 5-inch chhttp://www.eichelsmiles.com/blog/wp-admin/themes.phpocolate chocolate-chip cookies
• 1 cup royal icing
• 1 lb. JBz chocolate candies (or Halloween plain M&M’s)

Instructions:
1. Prepare royal icing with tint purple.
2. Fill pastry bag with decorating tip.
3. Mix flavors of JBz. Pour 1 Tablespoon of JBz into cone.
4. Pipe icing around edge. Top with cookie.
5. Flip upside down to rest on cookie.
6. Pipe more icing and decorate with candies.

Davis & Davis Orthodontics support National Orthodontic Health Month

Can you believe October is already upon us? October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and this month-long event is organized by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Many hard, sticky, and sugary treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are undergoing orthodontic treatment, and these treats may cause damage that could prolong treatment time. The AAO recommends patients avoid the following foods:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Taco chips
• Ice

Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis also recommend that patients drink lots of water and brush after every meal or snack. If you happen to damage your braces, please give Davis and Davis Orthodontics a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone. Loose brackets or wires can usually be made more comfortable by applying some wax until the you can come into our office.

Fluoride, your friend during orthodontic treatment

There are so many ways you protect your teeth throughout your orthodontic treatment with Drs. Davis and Davis. You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly and protect your mouth and appliances from being damaged. But did you know there is another, often forgotten about, way to keep your teeth clean and healthy during your treatment? Fluoride – a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay – can help keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is applied directly to the tooth. Topical fluoride includes toothpastes and mouth rinses. Systemic fluorides are swallowed in the form of a dietary supplement.

Fluoride used in the orthodontists’ office is often times a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask your doctor how to purchase professional strength fluoride). A fluoride treatment typically takes just a few minutes. After the treatment patients may be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

With Davis & Davis Orthodontics, 24/7 access to your account

At Davis & Davis Orthodontics, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Midland, MI.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! And, because we know folks sometimes forget, you can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

Take a look at a few patient reviews about this service:

"I love having the option to sign up for email reminders of appointments and the ability to see financial information online." ~Matthew

"It's great to look up financial information and my daughter's appointments. This way I don't have to call the office - I can access my information at any time of the day." ~Paul

"I can have my mom check my appointments and see my pictures online. My mom likes that she will be able to check her monthly balance on here too." ~Bobbi

You, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

What do you love about Davis & Davis Orthodontics?

From your very first visit to Davis & Davis Orthodontics our doctors and team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We understand the needs of both our child and adult orthodontic patients, which is why we offer a children's play area, a courtesy phone, news broadcasting, and a variety of refreshments including coffee, tea, and hot cocoa. We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by the work of Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. You can write a review here. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Thank you,

The team at Davis & Davis Orthodontics

Summer reading for the dads, from Davis & Davis Orthodontics

Hey Dads! Looking for a great book to read this summer? We’ve got some suggestions! Recently, we came across “A Guy’s Summer Book Guide,” which happens to be a pretty cool resource if you’re shopping around for a great summer read! If you’re still not satisfied, check out this complete list of reading ideas from Barnes & Noble. The list includes bestsellers, new releases, classics, as well as books designed for everyone in the family!

Happy reading! Be sure to share your favorite reads with us on our Facebook!

- Drs. Davis and team

Ask Davis & Davis Orthodontics: Who benefits from Incognito™?

Davis and Davis Orthodontics serving Midland, MI, is pleased to offer our patients Incognito (formerly known as iBraces). Dr. Dale J. Davis and Dr. Lisa M. Davis and our team are always receiving questions about Incognito, which is why we wanted to discuss today a few of the unique benefits of this new orthodontic treatment.

To begin, Incognito is placed behind your teeth, rather than in a visible area. Because of this, no one will ever know that you are wearing braces! This unique type of braces is created using state-of-the-art technology and is entirely customized to the shape of your teeth. Hence, you can improve your smile efficiently and effectively in a discreet new way.

Who especially benefits from Incognito?

• Athletes
• Models
• Actors
• Musicians, especially those who play wind instruments
• Adult professionals

For more information on Incognito and treatment options at Davis and Davis Orthodontics, please give us a call today to schedule your consultation!

Family comes first with Drs. Dale & Lisa Davis

From the moment you enter our office, our team at Davis and Davis Orthodontics makes every effort to provide you with the best orthodontic treatment in a pleasant family-oriented atmosphere. For us that means achieving consistently great results. There are many things that help Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis do just that. Some of them are:

1. Using the most up to date and proven technologies available, such as Invisalign and iBraces

2. Spending time and resources on continuing education to stay current and relevant

3. Training our entire team on new techniques

4. Educating our patients about the pursuit of excellence

If you or a family member has been thinking about orthodontic treatment, please give us a call. We look forward to seeing you.

More happy patients at Davis & Davis Orthodontics!

Midland orthodontists Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis love getting patient testimonials from current and former patients. In fact, here are a few reviews our office received recently. Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about your treatment at Davis & Davis Orthodontics!

"Everything, but ultimately they appear to have the patient in mind." ~ Jennifer S.

"Very "kid friendly" atmosphere. My daughter was very nervous about seeing an orthodontist. After we left out consult visit she told me "I'm not even nervous anymore. I love it there!" The staff were very friendly and informative. Very up to date equipment." ~ Ian D.

"When I saw Lisa Davis for the first time for a minor adjustment, she didn't try to sell me an entire set of braces...she offered 'removable' braces and they worked great. I liked that she found an affordable, flexible option for me." ~ Roger Y.

"Dr. Dale Davis has done a wonderful job with Lauren!! Her teeth are beautiful and have remained so for a number of years. She still comes in when her retainers need adjusting, etc. and Dr. Dale Davis is always willing to help even after Lauren's braces have been removed several years ago!!" ~ Paul M.

"Office staff is by far the best of any health care professional office I've ever dealt with in terms of friendliness, helpfulness knowledge and efficiency." ~ Cynthia M.

Tell Drs. Dale & Lisa: What are you up to this summer?

As the school year comes to an end for a lot of our patients, the days will get longer and the temperatures will begin to climb, and there’s no better way to beat the Michigan heat than jumping into a pool or cooling off under the shade with a beverage. For a lot of our patients in Tampa, summer brings a chance to get away from it all and escape every-day life, if only for a week or two. For others, it means a season of relief from homework and general relaxation

How about you?

What are your plans for summer? Do you have any interesting plans for a summer vacation? Does your family have a family reunion planned? Drs. Dale and Lisa want to see when and how you are all spending your summer vacations. If you’re going somewhere exotic, great! If you're going camping, terrific! Even if you're staying at home, that can be fun, too.

Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us on our Facebook page as the summer rolls along!

Davis & Davis Orthodontics, supporting National Smile Month

It's June already! Where does the time go?

Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis are excited to tell you June marks National Smile Month, a great time to remind our patients to brush, floss, practice good nutrition at home (and over the summer) to avoid cavities and gum disease, among other dental health issues.

After all, there's more and more evidence that suggests folks with gum disease are more at risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

Here are a few easy steps you can improve your oral health at home:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Here's a helpful video showing you how to brush with your braces on.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during treatment.
* Visit your dentist regularly (usually every six months apart).

If you have questions about any of the tips here, we encourage you to give us a call at 989.631.1334! We hope you had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

-- The team at Davis & Davis Orthodontics

Drs. Lisa and Dale discuss the importance of dairy

Drs. Lisa and Dale Davis want to know: is dairy a big part of your diet? If not, it probably should be! A study published just two years ago found that regular consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, can lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease, or gum disease.

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth that affects the gums and jaw. Gum disease results in a loss of teeth and bone, and has been connected in studies to certain cases of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and osteoporosis.

Results of the study show that adults who consume at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day are less at risk for gum disease. Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Next time you reach for a quick snack, choose some cheese, or a glass of milk, and remember with each bite and sip you are preserving your teeth for a lifetime of smiles!

For more information about the importance of dairy in your diet and keeping your teeth healthy, give us a call at 989.631.1334, and have a great rest of the weekend!

Write a review of Davis & Davis Orthodontics!

We think that you will find our Midland office to be very accommodating and relaxing. Our expert orthodontists and talented staff are very much a team and maintain a very cooperative spirit among doctors, staff, patients, and our patients' families. We are devoted to support in achieving the ultimate in clinical results for our patients while making certain that each find their orthodontic experience to be enjoyable and rewarding.

Whether you have visited Davis & Davis Orthodontics for a week or for years, we'd love to hear your feedback about your experience with us! Now with the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. We'd want to encourage you to write a review of us. It only takes a moment!

You may write a review here.

Thank you and have a great weekend! We look forward to reading your reviews!!

Check out our welcome video!

Have you seen the Davis & Davis Orthodontics welcome video? The video - just 1:12 long - discusses the treatments offered by Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis. It's pretty much everything you need to know about us in just over a minute! We are working on getting more videos to our YouTube channel, but for now enjoy this video!

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Drs. Dale and Lisa would love to have you in for a FREE consultation. Please give us a call at 989.631.1334 to set one up!

What do you love about Davis & Davis Orthodontics?

From your very first visit to Davis & Davis Orthodontics, our professional team strives to provide you superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis? Did our talented staff go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Our expert orthodontists and staff are very much a team and maintain a very cooperative spirit among doctors, staff, patients and our patients' families. We are devoted to support in achieving the ultimate in clinical results for our patients while making certain that each find their orthodontic experience to be enjoyable and rewarding.

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting Davis & Davis Orthodontics for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. Or, you can tell us by giving us a call or posting on our Facebook page!

We hope to post a few reviews next week! Have a great weekend!!

Ask Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis: Am I too old for braces?

At Davis & Davis Orthodontics, nobody is too old for braces! In fact, our staff recently read a fascinating statistic: the number of adults getting braces has climbed 24 percent since 1996! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

Tell Davis & Davis Orthodontics what’s on your mind!

You know how it works: Week after week, Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis, as well as our dedicated staff, write about topics related to orthodontics and your well-being. Well, this week, we thought we’d step back and ask you, our terrific patients: what’s on your mind? What would you like us to focus on our blog? What would you like to know about the exciting field of orthodontics? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Drs. Davis but couldn’t? Here’s your chance! Let us know by posting here on the blog or on our Facebook page!

Give us your best shot, and we’ll try to answer any question you may have!

Wishing you Happy St. Patty's Day, from Davis and Davis Orthodontics

Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis hope you remembered to dress in green when you stepped out the door this morning. Whether Irish or not, millions of people around the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day with toasts, parades and "the wearing of the green." Here are some fun facts about St. Patty’s Day our team knows you will enjoy:

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17th because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history.

• The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which simply means “shoemaker.”

• Some American towns have Irish names. They include: Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio and Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia

• Despite what you may have heard, St. Patrick never banished snakes from Ireland. In fact, no snakes exist or ever existed in Ireland. Ireland is surrounded by icy ocean waters, much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.

• St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated in Boston, in 1737. Approximately 34 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

Go Incognito™ with Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis!

Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis understand most orthodontic patients have an aversion to the idea of “metal mouth” during treatment. A lot of patients have found alternatives to the classic bracing system, instead choosing to strengthen their pearly whites with Incognito™, lingual orthodontic braces that are made for teens and adults, and are custom-made for each person. Because they are placed behind your teeth, they are hidden, and no one will ever know you are wearing braces unless you tell them.

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, or would like to learn more about Incognito orthodontic braces please visit our web site or contact Davis and Davis Orthodontics today!

This March, what are you up to? From Davis & Davis Orthodontics

It’s almost springtime. The daffodils and buttercups are on their way, fresh Rhubarb is ready to be picked, the birds are chirping, the sun is warming up and the smell of freshly-cut grass is wafting from a baseball field nearby. The team at Davis & Davis Orthodontics thought this would be a good time to ask: What are your plans for March?

Are you ready for spring? Are you participating in school sports this year? Do you have exciting plans? We’d love to know them all!

You may share your stories or plans with our team here, on our Facebook fan page or by giving us a call! Have a great weekend!