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Budding trees, blooming flowers and warmer weather...the signs of spring all around us are hard to miss! Many of us see these first signs of spring and take to our yards and homes in a cleaning frenzy. What else could use a little sprucing up? Your smiles! So, before you grab your mops or garden rakes, Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells would like you take a moment to think about your braces and your dental health routine. They've asked us to share a few tips to "spring clean" your dental routine so that your smile is vibrant, healthy and ready for the new season!

Replace your toothbrush

The American Dental Association recommends you replace your toothbrush (or brush head, if you use an electric toothbrush) every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed or if you have been ill. While wearing orthodontic braces and appliances, you may notice your toothbrush bristles begin to fray more frequently. When was the last time you replaced YOUR toothbrush?

Since we're on the topic of toothbrushes, here are a few additional tips from the ADA to keep your family safe and healthy:

• Never share your toothbrush.
• Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly with tap water after use.
• Store toothbrushes upright, if possible so they can air dry faster after use.
• Children's and orthodontic patient's toothbrushes may need to be replaced more often than every three months. Replace once you observe the bristles have begun to fray.

Flossing refreshed!

Do you find it tough to floss every day? You may be more likely to stick to your flossing routine if you keep things fresh and easily accessible. Consider trying a new type of dental floss to make it more interesting:

• Super Floss: Super Floss comes in waxed, un-waxed and minty varieties. The box of floss comes pre-cut in individual strands with one stiff end made especially to work around appliances. This makes it almost effortless to floss under arch wires with for our braces-wearing patients!
• Dental tape: Dental tape is a thin "ribbon" of floss that slides easily between teeth. Did you know that Glide, comes individually packaged too? These pre-cut strands also have a "workable" end that can be used to ease under arch wires. So easy to use!
• Though SmilesForever Orthodontics doesn't recommend using floss picks with braces and arch wires, we do recommend using floss threaders if you are having difficulty getting used to guiding under your wires to floss. If you need floss threaders, please ask us for them at your next adjustment.

Visit your regular dentist

As you begin to check things off your spring cleaning list, don't forget to make sure your dental visit is scheduled. The ADA recommends visiting your general dentist every six months. Dr. Wells and Dr. Gilbert strongly encourage our braces-wearing patients to keep to their regular checkup and cleaning schedules. They, along with our orthodontic clinicians, will go over oral hygiene routines if they notice any gum irritation or plaque buildup at your adjustment appointments. They'll be sure to point out any hard to reach areas in need of cleaning adjustments, and make sure you know the necessary steps to keeping your teeth and gums healthy while in orthodontic treatment. We want you to have only the healthiest of smiles!

Spiffing up your dental health routine is quick and easy!

Spring is often referred to as a time for new beginnings. If your dental health routine has suffered through the winter, now is the perfect time to get things back on track with new floss options, a fresh toothbrush and visiting your regular dentist for your cleaning and checkup. These quick and easy steps can help you enjoy a healthy smile throughout the season and be ready to greet the summer with your best smile!

Dr. Brad Gilbert, Dr. Adam Wells and our team are happily seeing patient's today as many of our patient's have the day off from school and work. It's not a snow day with our 70 degree Gwinnett weather today - this day is set aside each year to honor our very first President of the United States. SmilesForever Orthodontics would like to wish you all a Happy President's Day!

Have you ever wondered how "President's Day" came about or why it became a Federal as well as a national holiday? Why do we always celebrate on the third Monday of February?

Presidents Day (also referred to as President's Day) has its roots in one of the oldest American holiday observances: George Washington’s Birthday.

In 1796, the final year of George Washington’s administration, Americans chose to honor their beloved president by celebrating his birthday in all thirteen states. They did not all mark the same day, however. In the year of 1731 when Washington was born, the colonies had used a Julian calendar. According to that calendar, Washington was born on February 11, 1731. Some two decades later, however, Britain and her colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar. This new calendar moved dates 11 days forward. Thus, under the Gregorian calendar, Washington’s birthday fell on February 22.

By the early 1800s, Washington’s Birthday had become a common observance, but an official date still had not been adopted. Some towns observed February 11, while others set aside February 22 to honor America’s Founding Father. Finally, in 1879, Congress declared Washington’s Birthday a federal holiday. The legislation that made Washington’s Birthday a national holiday also stipulated that it was to be observed on February 22, the anniversary of his birth according to the calendar now in use.

Washington’s Birthday continued to be observed on February 22 throughout much of the 20th century. Then, in 1968, Congress passed the Monday Holiday Act. This act moved certain federal holidays from fixed dates to the Monday following those dates in order to create more three-day weekends. Under the Monday Holiday Act, the official observance of Washington’s Birthday was moved to the third Monday of February. The change began with the 1971 calendar and continues to this day.

So how did Washington’s Birthday come to be known as Presidents Day?

Washington shared the month of February with another notable U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln. Following Lincoln’s 1865 assassination, many chose to observe Lincoln’s birthday — February 12th — as well as Washington’s. In the years to come, a number of states made Lincoln’s birthday a state holiday. Unlike Washington’s birthday, however, Lincoln’s birthday never became a federal holiday.

Urban legend claims that at the time the observance of Washington’s Birthday was moved to the third Monday of February, then-President Richard Nixon hoped to consolidate observances of both Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays into a single federal holiday. According to legend, Nixon issued a presidential proclamation dubbing the third Monday of February “Presidents Day” in honor of all U.S. Presidents.

In fact, Nixon issued an executive order on February 11, 1971, proclaiming the third Monday of February a holiday. That order, however, referred to the holiday as nothing other than Washington’s Birthday. Claims that Nixon had changed the holiday to the more generic Presidents Day apparently stemmed from an inaccurate newspaper account.

Nonetheless, in the final decades of the 20th century, an increasing number of people embraced the term “Presidents Day.” Some states have even adopted Presidents Day as a state holiday in lieu of Washington’s Birthday. Still, the federal holiday on the third Monday of February legally remains “Washington’s Birthday” to this day.

Article first appeared on www.mydentists.info

SmilesForever Orthodontics has been chosen "Best" Orthodontic Practice!

As large as Gwinnett County has become, with so many options, you may wonder how you can trust that you are choosing the best businesses, service providers and health, medical and dental professionals for your families.

Each year, the readers of Gwinnett Magazine vote for their favorite businesses in a number of categories. The result of this voting is Gwinnett Magazine’s “Best of Gwinnett” awards. A list of the best places to dine, relax, work, play and get the qualified healthcare you are looking for. The 2016 votes were cast and tallied as thousands of voters logged online to share their thoughts.

The Results Are In

With your confidence and trust in us - we’ve been chosen “Best” 2016 Orthodontic Practice and have received the Best of Gwinnett award the past EIGHT years running! This is one of the awards we are most proud of! Why? Because our patients, have voted for us!

As we have for the past 30+ years, we remain committed to providing the highest quality of clinical care and personalized service. We truly enjoy getting to know each of our patients and your families. Along with beautiful, confident smiles, we love creating relationships that last multiple generations.

Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells along with our entire team THANK YOU for taking your valuable time to cast your votes, and most especially, for your continued confidence and trust in us!

Are you someone who wishes you could have straight teeth and a perfect smile without traditional braces? Do you worry about having to give up your favorite foods while straightening your teeth or adding time to your brushing routine? If you aren't satisfied with your smile because of crowding, spacing problems or tooth alignment, metal and clear braces aren't the only way to get straight, gorgeous teeth.

What Is  Invisalign^® And How Does It Work?

Invisalign^® is a treatment system that uses a series of clear, transparent aligner trays to gradually re-position problem teeth. Invisalign^® aligners are worn on top of your natural teeth. Because the trays are transparent and not visible, they are a preferred choice for orthodontics among adults. SmilesForever Orthodontics offers both traditional braces and Invisalign^®. When chosen, Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells use the Invisalign^® treatment option to correct several types of orthodontic problems including  spacing between teeth, crowding, to correct bites and to re-position crooked teeth.

Approximately every two weeks, you will begin wearing a new set of aligners, advancing you to the next stage of your treatment. To monitor your progress, you will also have occasional checkups with your doctor, usually only every six weeks or so. You may remove your aligners when brushing and eating. For best results and a timely outcome, you should wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day, throughout your entire treatment. At each stage, you will be able to see how much closer you are to having the smile that reflects the real you.

What Benefits Does Invisalign^® Offer To Adults Over Braces?

Most typical orthodontic problems are just as easily treated with Invisalign^® as with traditional braces. If your orthodontist determines that more extreme problems exist, traditional braces may be a better option. Drs. Gilbert and Wells can help you choose the best treatment solution for your needs.

With Invisalign^® you can achieve having straight teeth, without having to worry about brackets and arch wires. Invisalign^®allows patients to have dental braces that are made of strong, clear acrylic known as aligners. They are similar to a mouth guard but are thinner and less noticeable. If you have children who have completed their orthodontic treatment at SmilesForever Orthodontics, Invisalign^® aligners are very similar to the retainers that Dr. Brad Gilbert and Dr. Adam Wells prescribe at the end of orthodontic treatment.

If our orthodontists decide you are a candidate and that both treatment options will work equally well for you, consider the perks and benefits of choosing Invisalign^® over traditional braces.

• They can correct small underbites and overbites and help with spacing, crowding and alignment of crooked teeth.
• They are removable which makes it easier for you to eat and drink everything that you love.
• Also, since you will not have metal in your mouth you can brush and floss more easily.
• They are transparent, making them virtually unnoticeable as your teeth are being straightened. The fact that they are so discreet makes them the preferred orthodontic treatment choice for many adults.
• The perfect smile that you have always wanted!

Still unsure if Invisalign^® is really as effective as traditional braces? Visit our webpage to see transforming before and after Invisalign smiles!

Are You Ready To Straighten Your Teeth And Transform Your Smile?

Our doctors at SmilesForever Orthodontics have created thousands of confidant, beautiful smiles over the past thirty years using Traditional Braces and Invisalign^®. In our practice, a large number of adults prefer Invisalign^® over traditional braces. It’s one of the reasons Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Wells have achieved being chosen as Preferred Invisalign^® Providers. Call our convenient Duluth, Dacula, Flowery Branch or Loganville, GA offices or click here to make an appointment today for your FREE consultation to see if you are a candidate for Invisalign^® treatment!