Super Bowl Snacks Safe For Braces

Super Bowl LI is just around the corner and there is more to be excited for than just the big game. Almost all of us have 4 things on our mind when it comes to the Super Bowl: the game, new commercials, the half-time show, and the food! Just because you have braces, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all the yummy game food you will be surrounded by. We understand chicken wings and popcorn may not be the best choices, but there are so many other treats you can indulge in as you enjoy the action. The staff at Kemp Orthodontics compiled a list of their favorite braces-friendly super bowl treats just for you!

Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Hummus and Cucumber Bites

Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Loaded Potato Skins

These are just a few of our favorite braces friendly Super Bowl food options. Get creative and find ways to take your off limit treats and recreate them into braces approved eats!

Deciding Between Types Of Floss

How are you doing with your New Year’s Resolution? Many of our Kemp Orthodontics patients made a commitment in 2017 to improve their oral hygiene so their smiles will be radiant when their braces are removed. We live in a time when we have a vast assortment of tools to keep our smiles healthy. From toothbrushes to toothpastes to water flossers to basic dental floss, the choices open to us are many. If you are one of our Kemp Orthodontics patients who committed to improve your flossing skills, then you know you have lots of options that all give you a healthy smile. The choice is completely dependent on your preference. You can choose from an assortment of flavors, coatings, and other variations. Essentially, they all do the same thing. The most important thing to remember is to buy the most functional floss for your teeth and to use it daily. If you want to know what the best dental floss is, then the answer is -- the kind that enables you to clean the areas between your teeth thoroughly and regularly. To help you find the right type of floss for you, here are some options.

Flossers
Flossers usually consist of a plastic instrument with a floss strip on one end and a pick on the opposite end. Flossers can be both effective at cleaning the areas in between your teeth as well as scraping off plaque. Flossers also come in flavors like mint or cinnamon. Lots of Kemp Orthodontics patients love their flossers.

Gentle Dental Floss
Some people find that standard dental floss is too harsh on their gums. For that reason, some companies make floss with soft coatings that are less abrasive on the gums. Typically, these types of floss are just as effective as the more rigid floss and are ideal for those people looking for a more sensitive approach to flossing.

Flavored Dental Floss
Most people buy flavored dental floss because it freshens their breath even more than unscented floss. The unscented floss can sometimes take on the smells associated with the bacteria in your mouth, which can sometimes be pretty stinky. So, pick your favorite flavor of dental floss and use it to floss your teeth every day.

When it comes to choosing the best dental floss, it is hard to make a bad choice. Pick the gentle minty floss or the unwaxed cinnamon floss. Just pick it and use it every day. All the team at Kemp Orthodontics, including Dr. Kemp and Dr. Rice, say that the best floss is the one you will use regularly. For more information on floss or flossing with braces, contact Kemp Orthodontics located in Brentwood and Franklin, TN.

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies | NEW HOLIDAY RECIPE

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder*
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 Tbsp milk or buttermilk
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 5 tsp red food coloring
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt for 30 seconds, set aside. 
2. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy. Mix in eggs 1 at a time, blending until combined after each addition. Mix in milk, vanilla bean paste, lemon juice and red food coloring. With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Stir in white chocolate chips. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill 2 hours or until firm enough to shape into balls.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
4. Pour powdered sugar into a bowl. 
5. Remove dough from refrigerator, scoop dough out and with buttered hands, shape into medium balls (about 2 1/2 Tbsp each). 
6. Roll cookie dough balls into powdered sugar and evenly coat. 
7. Transfer to parchment paper lined baking sheets and flatten slightly, then bake in preheated oven 13 - 14 minutes. 
8. Allow to rest on cookie sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 
9. Store in an airtight container.

*If you want them a little more chocolatey you can replace 2 - 3 Tbsp of the flour with 2 - 3 additional Tbsp of cocoa powder.

Protect Your Smile This Christmas

The Christmas holiday season is here with all its festive parties and family gatherings. One of our favorite parts of celebrating Christmas involves enjoying the wonderful foods that are unique to this holiday season. Christmas time means home-baked cookies and cakes, often filled with gooey, chewy ingredients or crunchy toffees and nuts. Who doesn’t think of candy canes and chocolate covered peppermint bark at Christmas?

This year’s Christmas celebrations will give you an opportunity to share your new smile, too. As you smile and show off those beautiful teeth, be sure to keep in mind the good health of those beautiful braces that are helping create your beautiful smile. Remember that most foods are fine to eat with your braces. Foods like puddings, ice cream, pies, and cakes are just a few holiday favorites that are A-OK! Healthy meats and vegetables that are cut into small, bite-sized pieces are also on Santa’s Good List. Be mindful that there are a few foods to avoid to protect your braces, including these categories:

1. Crunchy foods – Crusty breads (like some pizza crusts), pretzels, ice, and chips can all cause wires and brackets to break, so avoid foods that are too crunchy. 
2. Hard foods – Before you reach for the veggie plate, cut any hard vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Avoid foods like nuts, popcorn, and hard candies that can break or bend the brackets or wires. 
3. Sticky, chewy foods – Caramel, licorice, taffy, and toffee, can all pull on your brackets and cause damage. 

This Christmas is a great time to spread some love and cheer, especially with your beautiful new smile. Protect your teeth and your braces by following these simple guidelines. Enjoy the holidays and SMILE!

Merry Christmas from all the team at Kemp Orthodontics!

Happy Thanksgiving

For most of us, Thanksgiving means time with family, eating tons of turkey, and a chance to reflect on what we’re thankful for from the past year. When we look back on this year, we can’t help but be thankful for some amazing patients whose lives we've been a part of.  We are so grateful for all of you. Your support, your focus on personal growth and health, and your willingness to journey with us as we create healthy beautiful smiles is appreciated.

Wishing you all a luxurious holiday filled with love, joy, great food and wonderful company. Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at Kemp Orthodontics!

#CarveForKO Contest Winner

Congratulations to Molly Carneal (@molly_carneal) for being our contest winner! Your Chewbacca pumpkin has been crowned winner and you will receive a certificate for $1000 toward future orthodontic treatment at Kemp Orthodontics!!

Thanks for showing your support for The Cooper Trooper Foundation! #CTFPumpkinPatch #CarveForKO #KempOrthodontics

Carve Out Your Perfect Smile