Ask Dr. Moles: What's the deal with Halloween candy?

For moms and dads worried about kids going overboard on sugar and other sweets, we know Halloween can be a dreaded annual event.

Dr. Moles and our team at Moles Orthodontics will tell you those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, but these treats can damage your teeth and braces too! 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!

Sour and fruity candy are the worst for your child’s teeth – these candies have a low pH value, which can ruin enamel. This Halloween season, try to limit the amount of these candies that your child eats, and when your child does eat them, either have him rinse his mouth with water afterward or have him drink some milk or eat some cheese. Or, try these braces-free Halloween treats!

Happy Halloween!

What's going on at Moles Orthodontics?

We are celebrating Halloween in our office on Thursday, Oct. 28th, and we are doing something pretty unique - no costumes, but we all had a 3D cat image taken of us and our “skull” picture is going to go on an iron on transfer and onto a white T-shirt! It's all part of getting people to know we have 3D imaging technology in our office.

Also, we strongly support Lee National Denim Day and all staff wore Pink Pins and donated $5 to the cause to wear jeans on Oct 7th in our office. We support this cause annually, and will be doing so again on Nov. 30th to try and raise even more money. The folks at Denim Day also sent us more Pink Breast Cancer Pins and we're going to put those at our front desk (in our Racine office) for patients to donate $1 or more for a pin. It’s a really good way to get more people involved and aware about breast cancer!

We should have some pics soon on our Facebook page! That's it for now, be sure to check back soon!

At Moles Orthodontics, October marks National Orthodontic Health Month!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have created a helpful website that provides important information on protecting your braces, including tips for trick-or-treaters, braces-friendly Halloween recipes, facts about braces and treats you should avoid while wearing braces.

Also, Dr. Moles and our team know there are many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through treatment at Moles Orthodontics, and these treats may cause damage that could prolong your treatment time. The AAO recommends our patients avoid the following Halloween treats:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Potato chips
• Ice

If you damage your braces, please give us a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved by calling and alerting us of the problem. Loose brackets or wires can usually be made more comfortable by applying some wax until the you can come into one of our three offices, located at Milwaukee, Racine or Brookfield.

What is Dr. Moles up to this month?

This month I'll be heading over to Poland and to Slovakia to give lectures on both Orthodontics and TMJ dysfunction (Jaw problems and headaches). This will be my fourth time speaking in Eastern Europe and as usual I am looking forward to it.

If you have never been to Poland let me assure you as a Wisconsinite you have already been there. If I dropped you off on a country road with no buildings around you, you would not be able to tell that you were not in Wisconsin. Literally, the land and the trees and the scenery are the same (and so is the weather!). It is an easy place for a Midwesterner to be comfortable in. Moreover the people are truly wonderful. They have been through so much and are so grateful to now have their freedom. They also love Americans and they look to us as a role model.

It's interesting to note that 80 percent of the dentists in Eastern Europe are female. Under Communism, dentistry was a low paying occupation so the men tended to gravitate to professions where it was easier to support a family. This is changing, and over the years I have seen more men in the courses. However all of the doctors that I have lectured to have been very eager to learn how we do things and they are quick students. They operate under a big handicap of not being able to afford or obtain some of the more sophisticated technology that we have available but given the vitality of their economies, they will eventually be able to provide this to their patients. I will share some of my experiences when I return.