November 16, 2015
At Fleming Orthodontics we love to celebrate the holidays in full force! Sometimes we get so caught up in the excitement that we forget what we are even celebrating. This month instead of blogging about braces we wanted to share some facts about Thanksgiving with you and your families.
According to National Geographic, Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez Coronado and his men celebrated Thanksgiving in Texas in 1541, giving Texas the distinction of being the first place where Thanksgiving was celebrated!
In the 1863 proclamation, Abraham Lincoln designated Thanksgiving to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. There are different types of celebrations such as, Native Americans having rituals which they celebrated in hopes of a bountiful harvest, the Pilgrims (not the Puritans) held a three day long non-religious Thanksgiving feast, but the focus of their celebration was on playing games and feasting.
The Plymouth Settlers had a day of thanks but it was nothing like what we do today. Their feast consisted of various types of fowl (including wild turkey), venison and Indian corn. “Traditional” foods such as, green bean casserole, cranberries, pecan pie have evolved over the years but were not part of the original celebration.
Below is a recipe we would like to share and want to encourage you all to feel free and post some of your favorite recipes for your families Thanksgiving!
Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/suzannes_old_fashioned_pumpkin_pie/
- 2 cups of pumpkin pulp purée from a sugar pumpkin* or from canned pumpkin purée (can also use puréed cooked butternut squash)
- 1 1/2 cup heavy cream or 1 12 oz. can of evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs plus the yolk of a third egg
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest
- 1 good crust*
To make pumpkin purée from scratch, cut a medium-small sugar pumpkin in half. Scrape out the insides (reserving the pumpkins seeds to toast) and discard. Line a baking sheet with Silpat or foil. Place the pumpkin halves cut side down on the lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F until a fork can easily pierce them, about an hour to an hour and a half. Remove from oven, let cool, scoop out the pulp. Alternatively you can cut the pumpkin into sections and steam in a saucepan with a couple inches of water at the bottom, until soft (strain before using). If you want the purée to be extra smooth, press the pulp through a food mill or chinois.
1 Preheat your oven to 425°F.
2 Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Mix in the sugars, salt, spices, and lemon zest. Mix in the pumpkin purée. Stir in the cream. Beat together until everything is well mixed.
3 Pour the filling into an uncooked pie shell. Bake at a high temperature of 425°F for 15 minutes. Then after 15 minutes, lower the temperature to 350°F. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes more, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. (About half-way through the baking, you may want to put foil around the edges or use a pie protector to keep the crust from getting too browned.)
4 Cool the pumpkin pie on a wire rack for 2 hours. Note that the pumpkin pie will come out of the oven all puffed up (from the leavening of the eggs), and will deflate as it cools.
Serve with whipped cream.
September 3, 2015
Welcome to the 2015/2016 school year! Now that the school year is in full swing, we wanted to give you a few tips on how to stay healthy during the year.
Reinstate a good routine
A good routine is necessary in keeping kids healthy. Kids who get less than 6 ½ hours of sleep are 2 ½ times more likely to have elevated blood pressure that kids who slept longer. It is recommended that children get at least 9 hours of sleep each night.
Also, it is important to stay on track with your orthodontic treatment. We know your schedules can get busy so make sure to check your calendars for conflicts. Our early morning and late afternoons are most popular however sometimes you will need to come during school hours. We will provide your child with their school excuse.
Getting enough physical activity
Kids should get at least one hour of physical activity per day. This will help your child feel less stressed, focus more on studies, feel better about themselves, build sturdy bones, joints and muscles, keep a healthy weight and sleep better at night. Limit time on the T.V. and electronics. Exercise with your child to encourage them to do the same.
Washing hands
#1 way to avoid spreading or catching germs is to encourage your child in a good hand washing routine. Simple water and soap is best but using a hand sanitizer is also effective. Washing fronts and backs of hands and in between fingers either singing aloud or in their head Happy Birthday to You or the ABC’s from start to finish.
We hope these tips help you stay healthy and help make your school year awesome! If you have any questions please contact our Garland office.
If you liked this blog post a comment below. Thank you!
July 13, 2015
Braces can present some challenges when it comes to oral hygiene. More specifically, preventing decay can be a challenge due to foods being trapped under wires and brackets. But have no worries, we will help you along the way! Here are a few tips to get you started…
1) Proper Brushing: Dr Fleming recommends a soft bristle brush with a smaller head. Orthodontic brushes are a great choice if you can find them. We also recommend electronic toothbrushes, such as a SoniCare over a traditional mechanical toothbrush. Focus on the area between the braces and gums and don’t be afraid to push the bristles under the gums and wires. Try starting at the furthest back both on the right and then move to the left one tooth at a time. Brushing methodically with a routine will ensure that you don’t miss any areas! We recommend any toothpaste with fluoride. Lastly, don’t forget to brush your tongue, too!
2) Cleanings with your dentist: Please make sure you see your dentist every 3-6 months for regular cleanings while in braces to make sure your teeth and gums stay healthy. We monitor your brushing at each visit and if we feel improvements can be made we will coach you.
3) Braces-Safe foods: Foods that are high in sugar or starch can cause more plaque which is difficult to remove while brushing. We ask that you stay away from foods that are sticky (such as caramel, starbursts, tootsie rolls and bubble gum) and hard/crunchy foods (such as whole nuts, pretzels and corn chips). These foods can break brackets and bend wires which will add time to your treatment. Please also keep in mind that fruits and vegetables can also cause harm to your braces. Cut fruits and veggies in small bite size pieces or cook them (ask us for a food list).
If you have any questions during your orthodontic treatment please do not hesitate to contact our office or ask us at your regular visits!
Dr Fleming provides orthdontics in the Garland, Richardson, Sachse, Wylie, Plano and surrounding areas.
June 3, 2015
It’s that time of year again for our annual Fleming Fun Day at the Falls!!! On June 11, 2015 Dr. Fleming and team have set aside time from 12-8:00 PM to say thank you for being our patient and allowing us to give you the smile you deserve! This is a special day for YOU! Current patients and one guest will receive a ticket to Hawaiian falls Garland, TX. If you would like to bring more than one guest, we will have discounted tickets for sale for $18.00 per ticket!!! These discounted tickets can be used throughout the season too! WHAT A STEAL!!! To make sure you get that discount, all of you come to our table and we will have all the tickets you need. We will only be able to accept cash or check. No need to RSVP, all tickets will be given at the time of the event. If you would like to bring a cooler with food and drink, Hawaiian Falls does charge a $10.00 fee (Contact Hawaiian Falls for more details). We hope to see all of you there!
We also have a fun contest going on for the whole summer with some pretty awesome prizes! There will be one winner every (June, July and August) month. The more entries you have the better chance you have of winning. You will not want to miss the chance to win! When you come in office you can do a word scramble for one entry. We also have more ways to enter, stop by or call to find out other ways to get the additional entries!
As always we welcome your feedback and would love for you to take a few minutes to help us and future patients. Follow this link to review us:
http://toreview.us/flemingorthodontics
April 29, 2015
As you may have seen on YouTube or in the news, there is a disturbing trend called “DIY braces”. People are watching YouTube videos on how to close gaps between their teeth using household items such as hair band elastics and paper clips. There are even companies 
where you can take a do it yourself impression and mail it in for “custom” in home braces… DON’T DO THIS! In order to have a great orthodontic result it is very important to have a board certified orthodontist such as, Dr. Fleming, perform a comprehensive initial exam and monitor your results throughout your treatment. During these exams, she will diagnose and monitor the straightening of your teeth as well as the health of your teeth and gums. DIY braces or simply closing a small gap between your 2 front teeth seems like a good idea until something goes terribly wrong. This form of “in home” orthodontics can cause permanent damage such as mouth sores, tooth decay, damage to your roots and even loss of teeth. Doesn’t sound so good now, does it?
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has issued a consumer warning about using elastics for at-home dental work. Part of their warning states:
“DIY” at-home treatments without orthodontic supervision, such as attempts to close gaps with rubber bands or paper clips, significantly increase the chances of irreparable harm. Orthodontic treatment is a complex medical procedure, and there is no “one size fits all” approach. Treatment is customized for each patient, taking into account all relevant information.”
At Fleming orthodontics we are dedicated to health of your teeth and gums, so if you are considering braces or invisalign please contact our office for your complimentary exam and a personalized treatment plan just for you! We look forward to hearing from you and your family.
April 21, 2015
Have you ever heard of people having “extra” teeth? The medical term for this condition is called Hyperdontia. You may also hear us call the extra teeth “supernumerary teeth”. Normally a child is born with 20 primary teeth and 32 adult teeth. Primary teeth are the first set of teeth that erupt and typically erupt between birth and age of 36 months. Permanent teeth then take the place of the primary teeth and are usually fully-erupted 21 years of age.
The cause of hyperdontia is not clear however, it is thought to be genetics. Hyperdontia affects between 1 and 4 percent of the population in the US, most cases are limited to a single tooth.
So, what is the best way to deal with hyperdontia? It really depends on the case. The treatment plan Dr. Fleming suggests will vary according to the potential problem posed by the supernumerary teeth, as well as their type. Orthodontic treatment certainly may help, but extraction of the extra tooth can also be a good option. We recommend a child receive an oral evaluation no later than the age of 7. This will help us to determine if your child has hyperdontia and the proper course of action.
If you suspect you or your child may be suffering from hyperdontia, please give Fleming Orthodontics a call to schedule a complimentary appointment.
