Who Wants to Win an iPad??

It's that time of year - time for YOU to win an iPad!! We are giving away TWO and here are the ways our patients can enter:



Important reminders regarding the contest!!
-In order to receive points by referring a friend to our Facebook page, they MUST also "like" us when writing on our wall. Be sure to let your friends and family know this important step to ensure you will receive credit!

-Due to the vast number of tweets that we have received and our inability to track them accurately, we are limiting tweets to ONE PER DAY, per person. We apologize for the inconvenience, but in order to ensure that we can give you proper credit for your entries, please limit your entry to one a day. Remeber to use the hashtag (#valerianorocks) to gain points!

We are VERY excited to see all of the participation thus far!! Keep up the great work and we wish you GOOD LUCK! Now go win an iPad!!!

Keep your teeth Clean & Healthy

If you are looking for a great way to keep your teeth clean and healthy in addition to brushing and flossing, we recommend using new MI Paste. This product has the ability to deliver calcium phosphate and fluoride directly to the teeth, helps prevent tooth decalcification, can repair any permanent stains, and can also reduce tooth sensitivity.

So how do you use MI Paste?

• Apply the paste at bed time after a thorough brushing

• Place a pea sized amount on your finger and rub onto teeth at the gum line and areas of decalcification (permanent staining). Repeat for other arch

• Leave the paste in place for 3 minutes and then rub the teeth with your tongue

• Do NOT eat, drink or rinse after use for at least 8 hours

This product is not recommended for anyone with an allergy to milk protein or hydroxybenzoates.

Lactose intolerant patients CAN use MI Paste.

MI Paste is not to be used in place of your regular toothpaste. This is a wonderful product that can give great results if used regularly. This product is available for all of our patients to purchase in our office, and makes a wonderful stocking stuffer!

And we have a WINNER!

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the Loaves & Fishes food drive! Because of YOU it was a huge success! Your donations of 13,902 food items will help many of those who are in need.

So with great joy we would like to congratulate Sharon Elementary School as the winner of a new Smart Board for collecting 5,301 food items!


One of Sharon Elementary's many donations!


Many thanks again to all for all your donations!

Why are Elastics necessary?

Elastics are often necessary to correct your bite during treatment.
Unless directed otherwise, elastics should be worn all the time. Since you can take them out to eat and to brush your teeth., this means we expect at least 20 hrs/day, 7 days/week. Consistency is the key to achieving the movement we are looking for.
It is also extremely important that you wear your elastics exactly as prescribed. You should never "double up" elastics and wear 2 at a time. This could actually cause damage to the roots of your teeth.
When you first begin wearing your elastics, soreness can be very common. Be sure to continue to wear your elastics and you should find that the discomfort should diminish within the next few days. If needed, you can take headache medication, such as Tylenol or Advil, while you are getting used to your new elastics.
While I know that wearing elastics can be a challenge, they are an important tool in helping you achieve your beautiful new smile.

We want CANDY!

It's that almost that time...for HALLOWEEN CANDY! That's right, we are partnering up with our friends at Operation Gratitude again this year. Bring in all your extra Halloween Candy on November 2nd and receive $1 per pound of donated candy. Not only will you have some extra cash in your pocket, but you'll be extending your thanks to all of our men and women serving our country overseas in our military as they will get all of your candy!

It's that almost that time...for HALLOWEEN CANDY!

Enjoy a fall treat!

Fall is in full swing in the Queen City so while the leaves are changing and we are finally escaping the heat of summer, enjoy this recipe to get you in the Fall spirit!




Marvelous Molasses Cookies

They smell wonderful even before baking, they melt in your mouth, and they are perfectly safe for braces! Yum – the best of gingerbread and ginger snaps in one!

* 1 cup shortening
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 1 egg
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 1/2 cup molasses
* 1/2 cup warm water
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1 tsp cinnamon
* 1/2 tsp ginger
* 2 1/2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Baking time 11 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine shortening, brown sugar, egg, salt and molasses, using an electric mixer and beating until fluffy. Add cinnamon and ginger. In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir the baking soda into the warm water; add water mixture to the molasses mixture alternately with the flour until well blended.

Drop by tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for 11 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes about four dozen. Store in a covered container.

Enjoy from Valeriano Orthodontics

How are Orthodontists different than Dentists?

"Dentists, Orthodontists, they're all the same right?" We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. Valeriano started out in dental school and earned a DDS (dental degree), just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Valeriano decided he wanted to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So he stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics; which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites.

Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth).

Isn't it nice to know there's a dental expert here to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

Toothbrush Trivia!

Before the toothbrush was invented, many people actually brushed their teeth with sticks!

The first time in history that people actively cleaned their teeth was between 4000 and 3000 BC in ancient Babylon (the site where Iraq is now). The Babylonians used “chew sticks” – thin twigs or tree roots that were chewed at the end to loosen the fibers and then used like brushes.

Between 2000 and 1000 BC the ancient Chinese used similar twigs to clean their teeth. But the Chinese took it one step further and used twigs from trees with a nice smell. (Perhaps this was an early attempt at breath freshening?)

The next time you brush your teeth, take a moment to be thankful that you have a nice, clean toothbrush with soft bristles – instead of a stick!

School Contest Update

Only a few weeks in and we already have one full bin and then some! Can you guess what school is in the lead?? Check on our Facebook page periodically for updates on who is winning!

Gather your guesses...

Clue #8

Clue #6

Clue #4

Clue #3

Clue #1

Mooooove over Gum Disease!

Is dairy a major part of your diet? If not, it should be! A recent study from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) has found that regular consumption of dairy products, 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 to certain cases of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and 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 every sip you are preserving your teeth for a lifetime of smiles and good oral health!

For more information about keeping your teeth healthy, call us at 704-364-6544 or visit www.valerianoorthodontics.com.

We take your health seriously!

Do you ever wonder about the sterilization and
infection control policies of your doctor offices?
Well, we would like to tell you about our practices.
In addition to following OSHA guidelines we hire
an outside firm, Total Medical Compliance, to
train and evaluate our protocols. At our most recent
evaluation in February, we were given a
“Clean Bill of Health!”

Do you know why your Retainer is important?

Once we have removed your braces, it's easy to think all the work is done and your teeth need little further attention. But don't underestimate the importance of a retainer. Take this quick quiz to find out exactly why a retainer is important, and more:

1. A retainer is more of a formality than a necessity.
A. True
B. False

2. When should I wear my retainer?
A. As often as my doctor tells me to
B. I should wear it all the time to speed up my treatment

3. How should I clean my retainer?
A. Toothpaste and a brush
B. As long as I brush and floss my teeth, I won't need to wear my retainer
C. A cleaner made specifically for retainers

4. Using my retainer properly will prevent the need to wear braces again.
A. True
B. False


SO, how did you do?
Answers:

1. The answer is B- False. Because a retainer is removable, it is easy to think of it as being less important that your permanent braces were. The truth is that all the work accomplished by your braces could be for nothing without a reatiner. Your braces actively moved your teeth into their proper alignment, but a retainer holds your teeth in place and allows them to settle into position next to eachother.

2. The answer is A- As often as my doctor tells me. We set up a treatment plan tailored to you and your teeth, and every set of retainer instructions in unique, just as each of our patients is unique. We will determine how often you must wear your retainer depending on the particulars of your situation.

3. The answer is A or C- Toothpaste and a brush OR a special-made reatiner cleaner: it depends on the type of retainer you have. Make sure to clean your retainer atleast twice everyday. Don't clean with soap and water- you don't want soap in your mouth! If you use either a Hawley or bonded retainer you should clean it the same way you clean your teeth, by brushing it thoroughly with toothpaste. If you use an Essix retainer we recommend you clean it with a product such as SoncBrite or Reatiner Brite, both of which are made just for this purpose.

4. The answer is A- True. Your braces worked to move your teeth into place and a retainer compliments them by keeping those teeth in order. If you do not use your retainer as prescribed, you risk letting your teeth once again shift out of place.

Questions about your retainer? Call us!
Valeriano Othodontics- 704-364-6544

Harry Potter- A HUGE SUCCESS!

Sending a Thank You to our friends at Regal Cinemas and our GREAT patients for making our Harry Potter movie premiere a great success!

Candy Buy-Back Success!

We would like to thank all of our great patients and the people of the Charlotte community for coming to our office on November 3rd to give us their unwanted Halloween Candy!

This year, we partnered up with Operation Gratitude to collect Halloween Candy that will then be packaged and sent to our amazing men and women who are serving overseas.

We are so thankful for everyone who donated to this great cause- as we collected over 300 pounds of candy! As an incentive we offered $1 per pound of candy brought in- and found that most just wanted to donate their hard-earned dollars back to the cost of shipping! THANK YOU!