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If you recently completed treatment at Tavarez Orthodontics, our entire staff would like to congratulate you, again! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Kathleen Tavarez will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Tavarez is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for an entire lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment, please visit our website for instructions and read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth. You may also give us a call at our San Carlos or Menlo Park office!

We hope you all have a great weekend!

Dr. Kathleen Tavarez and team understand not everyone is always thrilled about visiting their orthodontist. But here at Tavarez 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 Menlo Park or San Carlos offices that makes you comfortable or puts you or your child at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our courteous staff? Dr. Tavarez herself?

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

Ask us, and our staff at Tavarez Orthodontics will always tell you that braces are cool, hip and pretty fun nowadays. In fact, new technologies such as Invisalign and invisible ceramic braces, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Serena Williams and Dakota Fanning, to name a few—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s kids.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Has your child visited Tavarez Orthodontics for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let Dr. Kathleen Tavarez help you or your child begin the journey to a beautiful new smile this summer!

Dr. Kathleen Tavarez and team want to know: is dairy a big part of your overall diet? If not, it probably should be. A 2008 study revealed that regular consumption of dairy, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, can lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease (also known as gum disease).

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth that affects the gums and jaw. Gum disease results in a loss of teeth and bone, and has been connected in studies to certain cases of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and, of course, osteoporosis.

Results of the study show that adults who consume at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day are less at risk for gum disease. Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Next time you reach for a quick snack, choose some cheese, or a glass of milk, and remember with each bite and sip, you are preserving your teeth for great oral health and a lifetime of smiles!

For more information about the importance of including dairy foods in your diet or gum disease, we invite you to give us a call at either or San Carlos or Menlo Park office. Have a great weekend!