Happy Halloween from Gerlein Orthodontics!

As Halloween nears closer and closer, our staff at Gerlein Orthodontics know a lot parents here in Chevy Chase are worried about their kids going overboard on candies this weekend.

All those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, but these treats are known to damage teeth, as well as braces! Did you know sour candies can be acidic to your teeth, and actually wear down the enamel that protects them? This can cause tooth decay and cavities! In addition, we also want your child to steer clear of sticky, chewy, gummy and nutty goodies.

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists recommend softer treats, such as soft chocolate or peanut butter cups, or melt-in-your-mouth foods. Trick-or-treaters who indulge should make sure they brush and floss between teeth, around brackets and at the gum line. If damage occurs, call Dr. Gerlein as soon as possible.

We hope everyone has a fun, safe and scary Halloween!

How do we reward our patients at Gerlein Orthodontics?

At Gerlein Orthodontics we offer a Rewards Program that encourages and makes young patients eager to come for their visits. When they come in, they can accumulate points for good oral hygiene, brushing their teeth before the appointment, having nothing broken or loose and other things so they can receive a gift card of their choice when they reach a certain amount of points.

We also allow patients to use their iPods while they are waiting or in the chair for a long procedure. Another thing we do to make young patients visits’ more exciting is having a monthly contest where kids can win a prize at the end of the month. Last month, we had patients design a potential T-shirt for our office, and for October we are having them guess the weight of a pumpkin, and the winner will receive 4 movie passes to a movie of their choice.

Straight talk with Dr. Gerlein

People ask our staff at Gerlein Orthodontics why we work so tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s great to have a smile full of evenly-aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at our Chevy Chase office can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean! If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call at (301) 951-4114 to set up a consultation. Dr. Eduardo Gerlein can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

We've made it our priority to help keep our great town smiling! Our practice utilizes the newest, state-of-the-art technology to give our patients the top-notch, quality care they deserve.

At Gerlein Orthodontics, rewards for keeping your braces in tip-top shape!

Dr. Gerlein and team know how difficult it can be to get patients, especially the young ones, to take good care of their teeth between visits during their orthodontic treatment.

At Dr. Gerlein’s Orthodontics there are several ways we encourage our young patients to take good care of their teeth between visits to our Chevy Chase office.

We have a point rewarding system in which kids can accumulate points by doing things such as brushing their teeth in the office before they are seen, and for great oral hygiene and having no broken or loose bands or wires.

Another way we promote good oral hygiene between visits is offering Sonicare toothbrushes to purchase through our office.

Be sure to ask Dr. Gerlein or one of our team members during your next visit!

At Gerlein Orthodontics, October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and we wanted to remind our patients at Gerlein Orthodontics to be extra careful when they bite into their treats.

Remember, caramels, taffy, nuts, chewing gum, popcorn kernels, suckers or sticky, chewy and hard candy are foods you should be avoiding this Halloween Season! Indulging in these foods can break your braces and lengthen your treatment time!

Of course, Halloween doesn’t have to be completely treat-less. Plain chocolate candy should be fine, as long as you remember to brush afterward!

Lastly, we are having a "guess the weight of the pumpkin contest" this month, and will be having a candy buy back next month.

See you soon!

- The Gerlein Orthodontics staff

Books of the month at Gerlein Orthodontics!

Attention all readers! Our books of the month at Gerlein Orthodontics are "The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes" by Marlane Kennedy and "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins. Have fun and earn Patient Reward points for reading these books this month! Also, did you know October is National Orthodontic Health Month? Here are some braces-friendly recipes we know you'll enjoy!