Baker Orthodontics supports National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!

Did you know the month of May is designated National Physical Fitness and Sports Month? In 1983, President Ronald Reagan encouraged Americans to incorporate more physical activity into their lives, and the reminder is even more significant in this day and age, as kids everywhere are distracted more and more by television, social networking and video games. Kids living an active lifestyle can improve their health, productivity and overall well-being, and best of all? It doesn’t have to take a lot of time!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided these public health guidelines for your convenience. The guidelines call for children and teens to exercise for at least one hour each day of moderate intensity physical activity (such as playing sports or brisk walking) or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity (jogging, dancing and jumping rope).

At Baker Orthodontics, we always encourage our patients to stay fit by exercising or participating in sports. However, we want to remind you to always wear a mouth guard or other forms of facial protection when playing sports. To learn more about how often your child should exercise, we recommend you check out this series of helpful articles about kids and exercise, courtesy of our friends at KidsHealth.org.

What Will YOUR Smile Look Like After Orthodontic Treatment?

It is sometimes hard to believe the transformation your smile undergoes during orthodontic treatment. Baker Orthodontics loves to see our patients’ smiles light up when they see their new smile in the mirror for the first time. For those of you who haven’t yet started or finished your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Baker, have you ever wondered what your new smile might look like after treatment?

The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO for short, has recently launched a new tool called “Virtual Smiles”, which shows what your smile might look like after orthodontic treatment. Using the tool will also earn you a free orthodontic consultation coupon, which can be redeemed at our office by yourself, a family member or friend.

Check out the Virtual Smiles tool, and call Baker Orthodontics to get started on improving your smile today!

American Idol: Who is Hollywood-bound?

How well are you keeping up with this season's American Idol buzz? Our office is really enjoying Season 10 of American Idol, which is why we're hosting an American Idol contest. To enter, simply answer eight questions about the show during your next appointment. If your entry is drawn and you have 6 of 8 questions correct, you could be the winner of $25 iTunes gift card!

Debunking the rumors about orthodontics

Trust us when we say Dr. Bradford Baker and our staff know there are quite a few myths about orthodontics (and orthodontists) floating around these days. But before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists set the record straight (no pun intended) and have provided some information that sheds some light on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here at Baker Orthodontics, feel free to give us a call.

April is National Facial Protection Month

With spring here, many children, teens and adults in Escondido, California will once again pick up the ball, bring the bat out of seasonal retirement, and lace up their cleats to hit the fields for the return of spring sports! April is National Facial Protection Month, and during this time, Dr. Baker and our dedicated team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Baker Orthodontics. Stay safe and have fun!

Are there teeth grinders in your house?

Grind, grind, grind. If you live with a teeth grinder, you may be familiar with this unpleasant sound. A recent study published in the journal Head & Face Medicine suggests that people—adults and kids—faced with stress tend to cope by grinding their teeth.

During stressful times, teeth grinding can be a nuisance that causes headaches and sleep problems, but it also can cause lasting problems for your teeth and gums, including chipped teeth, worn enamel, chronic pain, or even TMD, a painful jaw disorder.

The first step of recovering from teeth grinding is noticing the problem, says Dr. Baker. Symptoms of teeth grinding include:

• Sensitivity in the teeth
• Tightness or pain in the jaw
• Dull headaches, earaches, or facial pain
• Chipped, worn down, or loose teeth

An important thing to remember is that people frequently grind their teeth in response to stress, and taking measures to reduce or eliminate stress can help solve the problem. If the teeth-grinder in your house can’t stop, schedule an appointment to see us by giving us a call. Dr. Baker and our team at Baker Orthodontics can help determine the cause of the problem.

Lifting the tobacco smoke screen, from Dr. Baker and Healthy Smiles

Dr. Bradford Baker and our team participate in the San Diego State University’s health program, “Healthy Smiles.” This month’s topic is other forms of tobacco, such as hookah. This form of tobacco is relatively new in the U.S. and we wanted to provide our patients with some current information about hookah.

Hookah or the “water pipe” refers to the use of tobacco in a method by which the smoke passes through water prior to entering the smoker’s body.

Passing smoke through water does NOT make it healthier or safer. In fact, smoking hookah is just as harmful and addictive as cigarettes!

Smoke from a single hookah session contains approximately 36 times the tar, 8.3 times the carbon monoxide and 1.7 times the nicotine of the smoke produced by 1 cigarette.

Smoking hookah has been linked to lung cancer, oral cancer, and respiratory, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Shared mouthpieces pose a health risk for infectious diseases such tuberculosis.

Hookah bars expose non-smokers to second hand smoke risks including high levels of fine particles known to cause cardio-respiratory problems.

The tobacco industry markets hookah to teens and young-adults and portray tobacco as exotic, sophisticated and fun. Hookah is usually available at bars or lounges around college campuses, even in San Diego, CA!