Tell Whitlock Orthodontics what’s on your mind!

Week after week, our team at Whitlock Orthodontics blogs about important topics pertinent to orthodontic care and your well-being, including innovative orthodontic techniques Dr. Whitlock offers.

This week, however, our staff and Dr. Whitlock thought we’d step back and ask you, our great patients: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask us for a while now? Let us know by posting here or on our interactive Facebook page!

Smile for a Lifetime in the news! From Dr. Boyd Whitlock

You may remember our post from last week, when we discussed our involvement in Smile for a Lifetime, the outstanding program that is changing lives every day. Yesterday, we found a great article in DentistryIQ about Smile for a Lifetime, and thought we'd share this well-written piece with you.

Dr. Boyd Whitlock and Whitlock Orthodontics are proud partners with Smile for a Lifetime. Remember, to become a candidate at Whitlock Orthodontics, interested patients and their families must be at or below poverty level and must complete a one-page application for their child. The applications can be picked up at our Springdale location or by calling Vanessa, our treatment coordinator, at (479) 751-1103.

To learn more about Smile for a Lifetime, please visit www.S4L.org.

Whitlock Orthodontics, partnering with Smile for a Lifetime

Dr. Boyd Whitlock and our entire team at Whitlock Orthodontics are proud to partner with a nonprofit organization called Smile for a Lifetime. The organization helps under-privileged kids in Fayetteville and Springdale who can’t afford to have a not only a great-looking smile, but a smile that will be healthy and last a lifetime!

To become a candidate at Whitlock Orthodontics, interested families must be at or below poverty level and must complete a one-page application for their child or candidate. Smile for a Lifetime Foundation applications can be picked up at local school guidance offices, or at our Springdale location. You may also contact Vanessa at (479) 751-1103 or Vanessa@drwhitlock.com.

Have a great week!

Whitlock Orthodontics, supporting National Nutrition Month

March has arrived, and that can only mean one thing: it’s National Nutrition Month. Every March, Dr. Boyd Whitlock and thousands of dentists and orthodontists celebrate this occasion, and this year is no different. This March, Dr. Whitlock and our team want you to think diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve periodontal health.

At Whitlock Orthodontics, we know small changes really can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your diet this March:

• Focus on fruits and vegetables: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Think fresh, think local: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in Springdale and Fayetteville.

• Make every calorie count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• It’s tempting, but…: If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you or your little one craves a snack in the afternoon, enjoy some trail mix or nuts.

• Expand your horizons: Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new healthy favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

If you have additional questions about periodontal disease or keeping yourself and your mouth healthy, please give us a call!

This March, what are you up to? From Dr. W and Whitlock Orthodontics

It’s almost springtime. The daffodils and buttercups are on their way, fresh Rhubarb is ready to be picked, the birds are chirping, the sun is warming up (almost) and the smell of freshly-cut grass is wafting from baseball fields nearby. Our team at Whitlock Orthodontics thought this would be a good time to ask: What are your plans for March?

Are you ready for spring? Are you participating in school sports this year? Do you have exciting plans? We’d love to know them all! You may share your stories or plans with our team here, on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Have a great weekend!

Fun facts! From Whitlock Orthodontics

Everyone loves fun facts. Fun, fun, fun. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that Dr. Boyd Whitlock and our team at Whitlock Orthodontics thought you might enjoy.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.

• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

Getting social with Whitlock Orthodontics

Isn’t social media great? The team at Whitlock Orthodontics embrace technology and love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our Facebook page. For social media to work, conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social media is hugely popular these days, we know it is unpredictable and ever-changing.

While we’re taking a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Send us your thoughts or give us a call!