Rad Orthodontics present: the importance of mouth guards

Are you remembering to wear your mouth guard when playing sports? Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, say children up to 14 years old account for 80 percent of all sports-related emergency room visits. Here are five tips to save face while having fun on the field.

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

Did you know Rad Orthodontics now offers Under Armour Performance Mouthwear powered by Armourbite Technology? The custom-built mouthguards improve performance for athletes in any sport, from soccer to hockey to golf! The benefits include increased strength due to improved airflow and less stress from clenching, increased endurance by reducing lactic acid build-up, faster reaction times, reduced athletic stress and reduced impact.

Learn more by visiting Under Armour's official website. We hope that helps - never forget those mouth guards!

Gummy Tummy? From Rad Orthodontics

At Rad Orthodontics, we know the rumors going around that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Give us a call at our convenient College Park or Potomac office if you have any questions!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing from Dr. Rad and our entire staff!

Connect with the Braces Brigade!

At Rad Orthodontics, we know our patients want to get as much out of their treatment as possible. That includes asking a lot of questions and making sure they take care of both their appliances and oral health.

Would you like to learn more about what to expect during orthodontic treatment, from someone with firsthand experience? Well, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recently developed the Braces Brigade blog, where past, present, as well as future orthodontic patients from coast to coast document their (or their child’s) orthodontic journeys. The blog will serve as a source of guidance for others as the patients undergo orthodontic care.

We encourage you to visit the Braces Brigade blog to read these great and informative blogs—who knows, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two! As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call at our Potomac or College Park offices if you have any questions about the Braces Brigade or your own orthodontic treatment with Dr. Rad!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Rad Orthodontics!

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We hope everyone had a great Christmas! The year is almost over, so Dr. Rad & our team thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you most looking forward to in 2011? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year, to all our patients, friends, family, and all our dental and medical colleagues in College Park, Potomac and the greater Washington D.C. area.

See you in 2011 everyone!

What helps you or your child relax at Rad Orthodontics?

Drs. Mehdy and David Rad and team understand not everyone is always thrilled about visiting their orthodontist. But here at Rad Orthodontics, we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. Today, we’d like to know: What is it about our College Park and Potomac, MD offices that makes you comfortable or puts you or your child at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our courteous staff? Dr. Rad himself?

Let us know by posting on Facebook or by giving us a call! Happy holidays!

Share your winter break plans with us!

Dr. Rad and our team at Rad Orthodontics want to know: what do your winter plans look like? Do you have any plans for an exciting family vacation? Are you hanging out around town? Catching up on sleep? None of the above? Let us know!

Please feel free to share your exciting winter plans and experiences with us here or on our Facebook page! We would like to wish all of our patients and their families a safe and fun holiday season!

NEW smiles at Rad Orthodontics!

Cindy, Chika and Chantel all received their beautiful smiles recently! Check out our Facebook page for more! Serving College Park, Potomac and Washington D.C., our staff at Rad Orthodontics focuses on making sure that his patients have a positive, rewarding, fun experience that leaves them smiling for years to come.

Please contact our practice at (301) 299-3993 to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Rad.