New Pumpkin Inspired Recipe

To help you start this positive orthodontic experience Beisiegel Orthodontics found a new recipe that is braces friendly and taste buds approved! Check it out below.

INGREDIENTS:
1 (15 oz) can Pumpkin
1 Egg yolk, large
2 Eggs, large

Baking & Spices
1 3/4 cups All purpose flour
1 tsp Baking soda
1/2 cup Brown sugar, packed
1 1/4 cup Granulated sugar
1 tbsp Pumpkin spice
1/2 tsp Salt
1 2/3 tbsp Vanilla

Oils & Vinegars
1/2 cup Vegetable oil

Dairy
8 oz Cream cheese

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Place paper baking cups into muffin pan. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda and salt until well combined. Set aside.
• In large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, sugar and brown sugar.
• Beat in eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Slowly whisk in the flour mixture, until there are no lumps. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full.
• In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
• Top each muffin with about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture and use a toothpick to swirl it into the batter. This will not look smooth, but it will bake up much prettier. (You can see exactly how I did this in the video at the top of the page.)
• Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Benefits of Braces

It’s no secret that a majority of those interested in orthodontic treatment are striving for a straighter smile that will make them more confident. Of course, the doctors and staff at Beisiegel Orthodontics delivers straight beautiful smiles to all of our patients, but we want to inform those who are looking into orthodontic treatment that there are greater benefits to wearing braces. Are you aware of the health benefits of braces?

Braces can do more than just give you an attractive smile. Check out the following oral health problems that can be assisted when being treated by an orthodontist.

• Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
• Digestion
• Difficulties with Speech
• Bone Erosion

Dr. Beisiegel and the Beisiegel Orthodontics staff are happy to explain more to you if you have further questions about the benefits of braces. Visit us for braces in Colchester, Vermont.

Love Your Braces

All relationships take work, and the relationship between you and your braces is no different.  You and your braces will become besties over the upcoming months. There will be some bad days, but there will be good days too. If you stick with it and work through those bad days, the good days will be that much better.

To prevent any ill feelings between you and your braces we recommend...

Avoiding sticky or hard foods. You don’t want to do anything that could cause your bestie harm. Even though it may seem like the best foods are the foods that are sticky and/or hard…sticky or hard foods can break a bracket or wire.

Chewing with your back teeth. Taking a large bite of food with your front teeth can leave your braces vulnerable to damage. Cut large foods into pieces and use your back teeth to chew.

Flossing. We know that it can be a pain to floss around your braces…your braces may even fight you on it. But flossing is the best way to prevent gum disease and other oral health problems. If you find flossing with braces difficult, don’t give up on it. There are tools that can help. Ask us about Floss Threaders. Floss Threaders definitely make flossing with braces much easier.

Smoothing things over. When you first get your braces, sore spots may develop on your cheeks. To protect your cheeks, place wax on the bracket or wire. Rinsing with warm salt water several times a day is also very soothing to your gum and cheek tissues. Don’t worry…the soreness from your braces won’t last long, so try your best not to get mad at your braces.

You and your braces will go through a lot together. When all is said and done, you’ll smile at yourself in the mirror one day, remembering your braces fondly and you'll know that the relationship was totally worth it.

Mini S'mores Recipe

Did you know today is National S'mores Day? If you're not familiar with this delicious treat, traditionally s'mores is a popular dessert amongst campers. Typically, you camp, sit around a fire, and toast marshmallows that you use to create a gooey scrumptious sandwich combined with chocolate bars and graham crackers.

If you want to celebrate National S'mores Day today, we encourage you to do so! Want to try something different? Add some flare to your s'mores! Try out this new s'more recipe and let us know what you think!

Mini S'mores Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 package (14.4 ounces) whole graham crackers, quartered
• 1 cup marshmallow creme
• 2 cartons (7 ounces each) milk chocolate for dipping
• 4 ounces white candy coating, melted, optional

Directions

1. Place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; stir with a whisk until smooth. Cool to room temperature or until mixture reaches a spreading consistency, about 10 minutes.
2. Spread chocolate mixture over half of the graham crackers. Spread marshmallow creme over remaining graham crackers; place over chocolate-covered crackers, pressing to adhere.
3. Melt dipping chocolate according to package directions. Dip each s'more halfway into dipping chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets; let stand until dipping chocolate is set.
4. If desired, drizzle tops with melted white candy coating; let stand until set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Yield:about 4 dozen.

Mini S'mores Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Choose The Correct Mouthwash

Mouthwash is an essential part of your oral hygiene routine, especially when being treated by an orthodontist. The process of using mouthwash seems pretty simple: swig, swish, gargle and spit. But, what most people misunderstand is not all mouthwash is created equal. In fact, do you know if you’re using the right kind of mouthwash while being treated at Beisiegel Orthodontics? And, are you sure you’re using it correctly?

Mouthwash Differences
The next time you’re ready to buy mouthwash, make sure you know your mouthwash and the differences between cosmetic mouthwashes and therapeutic mouthwashes. Just like toothpaste, there are different types of mouthwashes to do different things for your mouth. This is why it’s important to know the key differences between cosmetic & therapeutic mouthwashes.

Cosmetic mouthwashes act as a mask for bad breath or help whiten teeth. Similar to a mint, cosmetic mouthwashes will merely cover your bad breath and give you a more agreeable taste in your mouth. Aside from that, there are also some cosmetic mouthwashes that help give you a brighter whiter smile.

Therapeutic mouthwashes, however, have clinical purposes for oral hygiene that go beyond masking the smell of your breath. Therapeutic mouthwashes serve to fight plaque, attack bacteria and strengthen teeth with fluoride making them a better choice for our patients at Beisiegel Orthodontics.

What to Look For
When buying therapeutic mouthwash, be sure to look for the American Dental Association “Seal of Acceptance” logo on the bottle. All products that feature this logo have been evaluated by experts and approved to meet the safety and standards of effectiveness. Also, be sure to read the instructions very thoroughly and choose the best one for your specific needs.

• Fluoride-based mouthwash: Fluoride exists in most toothpaste and in some tap water. For this reason, it is usually an unnecessary ingredient. Nevertheless, it protects against cavities and strengthens enamel.

• Alcohol–based mouthwash: Alcohol kills bacteria and viruses harshly. It dries out the mouth, aggravates cuts or burns, and exacerbates inflammation. Anyone with sensitivities should avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes and seek natural ingredients like aloe.

• Antibacterial mouthwash: Without alcohol—or with a smaller quantity—antibacterial mouthwash fights infections and minimizes the risk of gum disease. Some patients will receive a prescription for such rinses after surgery.

If you are uncertain what therapeutic mouthwash applies to your needs, ask Dr. Beisiegel for help at your next appointment and he will give you a recommendation. Making sure you gargle and rinse with mouthwash as an additional part of your oral hygiene routine is an essential step to getting the smile of your dreams.

Easy Zucchini Bake For Those With Braces

INGREDIENTS:

• Butter (to grease)
• 2 teaspoons light olive oil
• 1/2 cup, firmly packed grated green zucchini
• 1/2 cup, firmly packed Grated carrot
• 2 green shallots, ends trimmed,finely chopped
• 3 eggs, lightly whisked
• 1/3 cup grated tasty cheese
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon plain flour, sifted

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a shallow baking tin. Line the base and 2 opposite sides with non-stick baking paper and allow it to overhang.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the zucchini, carrot, parsnip and shallots, and cook, stirring, for 4-5 minutes or until the vegetables soften. Remove from heat and set aside for 10 minutes to cool.
• Combine vegetable mixture, egg, cheese and flour in a large bowl and stir until well combined.
• Spoon vegetable mixture into prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake in oven for 12 minutes or until set. Remove from oven and set aside for 10 minutes to cool. Lift bake from pan and place on a plate to cool completely. 
• Cut into 12 slices to serve.

Altered recipe from taste.com

What is the Invisalign Aligner Cleaning System?

It’s extremely important to keep your aligners odor-free, hygienic and clear. If you’re not aware of the Invisalign Aligner Cleaning System, we want to introduce you to it. This system makes it easy to care and clean your aligners to ensure optimal results of treatment. Special Cleaning Crystals remove plaque from your Invisalign aligners within about 15 minutes.

The Cleaning System Contains:

Cleaning Tub + 50 pack of Cleaning Crystals.

This cleaning system can be purchased for $75, and is highly recommended. Available on Invisalignstore.com, as well as the refill 50 pack of cleaning crystals for $50.

For more information about this, or to schedule a consultation contact Beisiegel Orthodontics at (802) 658-4447.