Stay Cool with a Braces-Friendly Summer Treat!

Summer is here! Kids and adults alike will now be spending more time outside being active and enjoying the hotter temperatures. What’s better on a hot summer day than a delicious treat that will cool you down after doing something active in the summer sun? Luckily, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have just the thing, Watermelon Sorbet! You can find the complete recipe below:

Watermelon Sorbet

Ingredients

• ¾ cup water
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 2 to 3 cups watermelon, diced, no seeds or rind

Directions

In a small saucepan, heat the water, sugar, and lime juice on medium high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Chill this “syrup” at least 20 minutes. In the meantime, place the watermelon chunks in a food processor or blender and liquefy them. Add the chilled syrup to the watermelon puree and blend. Freeze sorbet in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions. Serve immediately.

Happy Summer!

-Dr. Joel Brodsky, Dr. Charles Brodsky, Dr. Miriam Van Allen and team

Meet Marisa, our new orthodontic assistant (RDA)

Some of you may have noticed a new face in our office the last time you came in for an appointment. We would like to introduce you to our newest staff member, Marisa.

From the first minute we met with Marisa, we felt comfortable with her outgoing and friendly demeanor. She has a wonderful down-to-earth inviting personality that makes everyone feel like they have known her for years. She wears her heart on her sleeve and is willing to go out of her way to help others.

Marisa is a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and has worked in the orthodontic field for over five years. Her favorite orthodontic procedure is removing braces because she says, “I get so excited to see their beautiful smile without their braces on for the very first time.”

A couple of her favorite things to do (outside of work) include watching movies and going out to listen to Reggae Bands perform with her friends and family. In addition, she loves to sing and listen to music with her little pet Chihuahua, Lulu.

We hope that you get to meet Marisa in the office soon. She certainly is a true professional. We are happy to add her to our outstanding staff.

Ask Dr. Brodsky: Do cold germs live on toothbrushes?

Fall is here, and so is the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, our staff at Brodsky Orthodontics will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

Hope this tip helps! Feel free to give us a call or ask us on Facebook if you have any questions!

More happy smiles at Brodsky Orthodontics!

Check out what a few of our patients are saying about our staff and Brodsky Orthodontics lately! Thanks for writing in, everyone!

"Dr. Brodsky was my orthodontist 20+ years ago. He is the nicest man and always cared about how I was doing. Two of my three children are now in treatment with him. I am still impressed with how professional his office is and the fun environment he is able to create. My teeth are still perfectly straight and I can't wait for my children to have straight teeth too :)" ~ Jenn

"I am 11 years old and I don't like people looling at my teeth or in my mouth and my mom told me that when I went to the doctor's he would probably tell me that I had to quit sucking my thumb. When I did go, the young Dr. Brodsky was so nice! I also like putting my finger on the computer (when I check in) and all my friends go here. I'm still afraid but everyone is so nice and it is fun and I have finally stopped sucking my thumb." ~ Cory

"I just started my 3rd child in braces treatment with Dr. Brodsky. Every time I enter that office I am amazed at how professional and cheerful the staff are. The doctors always run on-time (yes no waiting in the reception area). The best part is that the doctors really care about the wellbeing of everyone. My son and daughter both have a magnificent smile and are much more self-confident. They also gave me a real nice family discount for my 3rd child. I trust Dr. Brodsky with my family." ~ Francis

"Dr. Brodsky's office is fantastic!‎‎ Both my sister and I are patients of Dr. Brodsky. We love the way we are treated when we go to our appointments. We love the office with all the great things for kids. Everyone at his office is friendly, efficient and professional. We highly recommend Dr. Brodsky for your braces!!!" ~ Brandon and Brianna

The common cold is back, from Brodsky Orthodontics

Here we go again: it's officially cold and flu season, and once again time to remind our patients at Brodsky Orthodontics to try and steer clear of that cold that's been going around lately.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, we give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our Lakewood office at all times, as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces.

For the protection of other patients, Drs. Brodsky and Van Allen and our staff, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

Maintaining and protecting oral hygiene equipment is also important this flu season. To protect your toothbrush from bacteria follow these steps:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing

• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen

• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster

• Replace toothbrush after every cold or flu or every 3-4 months when bristles appear worn

Hope this helps! Stay healthy!

- The Brodsky Orthodontics team

Dr. Charles is getting married!

Dr. Charles's and Vicky's wedding weekend is about to begin.....stay tuned!

At Brodsky Orthodontics, October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

Happy Friday! For our staff at Brodsky Orthodontics, October means National Orthodontic Health Month. Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment, and these treats may cause damage that could prolong your treatment time. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have provided a helpful list of tips and recipes for the Halloween Season.

Here is a brief list of foods we'd like you to avoid:

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

Our staff at Brodsky Orthodontics encourage you to give us a call, ask us on Facebook or ask Drs. Joel or Charles or Dr. Van Allen during your next visit if you have any questions!