September is National Childhood Injury Prevention Month

Fall is almost upon us, which means it's a great time for Dr. Gregory Scott and our staff to remind our patients (especially you athletes) to take care of both your mouth and appliances while participating in contact sports, as well as leisure sports this fall. Let's face it: this is a busy time of year sports-wise, whether you're playing soccer in the local park or preparing for high school football.

With September being National Childhood Injury Prevention Month, our entire staff at Scott Orthodontic Associates want you to know that only by using a mouth guard can athletes with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. So, the next time you're in for a visit at our convenient Lakeland office, we encourage you to ask Dr. Scott for a mouth guard, and we will provide one! For more info on sports injuries and how to avoid them, check out this article.

We hope you've had a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend!

Invisalign and your oral health, from Dr. Gregory Scott

When considering treatment options here in Lakeland, patients often ask Dr. Gregory Scott how Invisalign treatment is so different than wearing traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health.

Here's how:

*Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

*Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

*Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, please give us a call at (863) 709-1941. We look forward to hearing from you - have a great weekend.

Connect with us on Facebook!

At Scott Orthodontic Associates, we value the relationships we have developed with our patients in Lakeland and surrounding communities. Well, hey, we also enjoy connecting with them online. Even if you only see us for your appointment on a regular basis, did you know that you can now connect with Dr. Scott and staff on our Facebook page?

We invite you to “like” us at Facebook.com/LakelandOrthodontics. We share office news and updates on our Fan Page, so be sure to check it out! By Liking our page, you will receive updates from our office automatically in your news feed!

Happy Friday! Enjoy the weekend!

National Smile Week at Scott Orthodontic Associates

It’s National Smile Week, and a GREAT time to remind our patients at Scott Orthodontic Associates to practice good oral hygiene to keep those teeth shining during your orthodontic treatment! This includes brushing and flossing regularly, avoiding foods that can stain your teeth such as tea and coffee and visiting your general dentist as recommended.

There are two main reasons to maintain good oral hygiene during your treatment:

• To keep the teeth and gums clean so the teeth won't rot and the gums won't recede away (you'd want to keep your teeth clean for this reason whether or not you are having orthodontic treatment).

• Clean teeth and healthy gums will promote better tooth movement with a healthier result. It may sound absurd, but your body has only so much energy to spend on your mouth so when it is busy fighting decay and periodontal disease, tooth movement slows down considerably.

Another great reason to smile is this: smiling can actually help you live longer according to a new study! So keep smiling and have a great rest of the summer!

“Hey, Dr. Scott! Any truth to those rumors about orthodontics?”

Lakeland orthodontist Dr. Gregory Scott and our team know there are many myths circulating about orthodontics lately. However, before you buy into these myths, we think you should get the facts! Our staff came across a great site recently that helps set the record straight - literally. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has some great information on the myths and facts of orthodontics, and we encourage you to check them out!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here at Scott Orthodontic Associates, please feel free to give us a call at (863) 808-0126!

We hope you had a relaxing weekend!

Tell us: what's on your reading list this summer?

With summer 2010 in full swing, Dr. Scott and staff wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading and keeping your mind sharp. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading this time of year, but reading during the summer is a vital step in brain development and warding off the dreaded “summer slide.” Plus, reading is always fun!

Today, we thought we’d ask: What's on YOUR summer reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and we'd be happy to provide a few suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian here in Lakeland for some ideas or check out these summer reading ideas that we came across today, courtesy of Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading! We encourage you to share with us your summer picks or your all-time favorites on our Facebook page!

The Braces Brigade - be a part of it this summer! From Dr. Scott

Calling all past and current patients of Dr. Scott's! Have you ever thought about sharing your experience in braces in writing, then we've got the perfect opportunity for you! This summer, the American Association of Orthodontists is proud to offer its first annual Braces Brigade campaign, where you can blog about your experience in orthodontic treatment with millions of people and come away with a $100 American Express gift card!

To complete your Braces Brigade application, you'll need to provide the AAO with your:

* Name
* Age – Must be 14 years of age or older
* E-mail
* Phone number
* Stage of orthodontic treatment
* A photo of your braces/smile
* A sample blog post – picture yourself as a member of Braces Brigade and show off your writing skills! (100-word minimum)

In your blog, you may answer questions such as:

• Why did you decide to get orthodontic treatment at Scott Orthodontic Associates?
• What advice would you share with other orthodontic patients?
• What does it feel like to get braces on?
• What foods do you miss the most?
• What new foods have you discovered?
• Do your friends have braces or retainers?
• Where is the first place you’re going to show off your new, beautiful smile?
• How has your new smile changed your life?

All applicants must either be an orthodontic patient at Scott Orthodontic Associates or the parent of a patient (pre- and post- treatment stages are fine). If you happen to be under 18, your parents must fill out a consent form along with your official entry, giving you permission to enter the contest.

We encourage you to apply for the Braces Brigade today! GOOD LUCK and have a GREAT weekend!