Are You Ready for Some Cheesecake?!

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Monday, July 30th is National Cheesecake Day, a day to treat yourself with a slice (or two) of this delicious (braces friendly) dessert. We can't figure out who created this wonderful National Holiday but we sincerely thank them…from the bottom of our hearts to the top of our full bellys. 

Baked Chocolate Cheesecake

We don’t know about you, but for us, baking the perfect cheesecake can sometimes be a difficult task. So here are some Tips and Tricks to help you bake the Perfect Cheesecake every time. 

Banoffee Cheesecake

Tip 1: Room temperate ingredients are key for a smooth texture. 

Tip 2: Beat the cream cheese and sugar as much as you want, make it smooth, but once you add the eggs, do NOT overbeat, just mix on low until they are barely incorporated, beating after you add the eggs is what often leads to cracking.

Cheesecake Pops

Tip 3: Make sure your oven is the correct temperature.

Tip 4: TRY not to open the oven door. Cook your cheesecake until it’s still a bit jiggly in the center, like a loose jello jiggler, but not liquid, in the center 2-3 inches.  It will keep cooking afterwards a bit, and it's better to be slightly under cooked than overcooked. 

Dense & Creamy Cheesecake

Tip 5: Turn off the oven and crack open the oven door to let it cool slowly, this will help it finish cooking but not cool TOO fast and crack. 

Tip 6: This tip is a hard one...Do NOT eat it right away, cheesecake sets and gets BETTER with time in the fridge, at LEAST 8 hours.

Mini Cookies & Cream Cheesecakes

Checkout these amazing recipes! One, if not all, will certainly get you in the cheesecake mood (as if you are ever not in the cheesecake mood). 

Happy National Cheesecake Day from all of your friends at Spannhake Orthodontics!

Summertime Smiles

Spannhake Orthodontics

Summer is here and that means it’s time to get out there and have some fun in the sun! At Spannhake Orthodontics, we believe in protecting your smile all year-round, however, summer is a time when playing outside is turned up a notch. 

Here are a few tips for enjoying your summer while protecting those amazing smiles.   

Stay Hydrated 

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Make sure you are drinking fluids that are good for you and your smile. Sports drinks that claim to help you with endurance usually are high in sugar and sugary drinks are not the best for you or your teeth. To stay hydrated, your best option is to drink plenty of water. 

Eat Healthy

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Summer is filled with sweet treats, but you need to remember that while in orthodontic treatment you should avoid certain foods. To protect your orthodontic appliances, stay away from sticky, hard and crunchy treats. Find healthier foods you can snack on that are tasty and good for you. 

Guard Your Grill 

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Summer is filled with physical activities for kids and families. While participating in physical activities you will need to protect your mouth with a mouth guard. Feel free to contact us if you would like information regarding custom mouth guards. 

Keep Your Appointments 

Contact Spannhake Orthodontics

Summer time equals free time. Now is the perfect time to get in a dental check-up to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy. Don't forget how important it is to keep all of your scheduled orthodontic appointments with Dr. Spannhake to ensure you stay on track with your treatment. 

Enjoy your summer and smile!

Invisible Braces...The Clear Choice

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If you're like most adults, you probably had braces when you were in High School, but as you have aged, your teeth have started to shift and your smile may not be as perfect as it once was. Maybe you look at yourself in the mirror and think...”Not the best smile, but I don't want to go through braces again. I’m not a teenager anymore.” 

Spannhake Orthodontics is here to tell you that you can have that perfect smile again and no one will know your wearing braces. 

If you're an adult and all you need is a little cosmetic improvement but you would prefer not to wear braces, the Invisalign aligner system may be the treatment for you. A quick evaluation by Dr. Spannhake will tell if you are a candidate for this convenient orthodontic option. 

Image provided by invisalign.com

While every case is unique, treatment typically takes approximately 12 to 18 months. Based on your individual treatment plan, a series of clear aligners will be created specifically for you. As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth gently and gradually begin to shift into place. 

We know that many adults are eager to achieve a beautiful smile without wearing braces and that's why Invisalign is so great! No matter what stage you're at in life, you'll appreciate how our cutting-edge approach to treatment has minimal interference in how you live but has a significant positive impact on how you look and feel about yourself. 

If you want straighter teeth but are concerned about how you'll look in braces...talk to us about Invisalign!

Summer Spectacular

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"There's nothing to do", "I'm Bored", "We never get to do anything fun"…says every child, everywhere, every summer.

No worries, your friends at Spannhake Orthodontics are here to help beat those summertime blues before they start! Did you know that there is fun to be had all summer long, right in our own backyard? 

Hampton National Historic Site 

photo provided by nps

Just 10 minutes away from Towson…visiting the Hampton National Historic Site is a great way to spend the day. Guided tours of the eighteenth-century mansion are available Thursday through Sunday. The scenic grounds and gardens are open daily for visitors to enjoy at their own pace. Best part is…Hampton does not charge any entrance or visitor fees. 

Breakout Games 

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1 hour, 1 team, 1 chance to escape. If you haven't done an escape room yet, you have no idea how much fun you've been missing out on. Escape games are real life adventures where you and your teammates have an hour to break out of a room by finding clues and cracking codes. Located in Timonium and Columbia, Breakout Games is guaranteed summer fun for all! 

Carroll County Arts Council 

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The Carroll County Arts Council is located in the renovated Carroll Theatre in downtown Westminster. The art deco building houses a 263-seat theatre, the Tevis Gallery, and art classrooms. The Arts Center has regularly scheduled events from live concerts to free family movie nights, as well as children’s summer camps.

Diggerland USA 

photo provided by diggerlandusa

OK…not really in our own back yard, but not that far away either. Diggerland USA is a construction themed adventure park where children and their families ride and operate actual heavy machinery. The park is comprised of over 25 attractions. Discount tickets to the park are available on ccgovernment.carr.org 

Now go…go have all of that Summer Time Fun!

And don't forget to tag Spannhake Orthodontics in any summer fun photos you post online!!

Father's Day Gift Baskets

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Doesn't it seem like Father's Day always takes a backseat to Mother's Day? Well...not this year. It's our mission to make sure Dad gets a gift that is as special as he is. 

So what do you get the man that has suffered through every single soccer practice...in the rain, no less? The man who taught you how to throw a ball and never got mad at how many times you hit the car? The man who willingly put his life into your hands when he taught you how to drive? Another tie or tool that he already has 5 of? Oh no...this year we are putting thought into our Father's Day present and Dad is getting an amazing gift basket. That's right everyone...Gift Baskets can be manly too. Don't believe us? Check out some of these super manly and super cool ideas for Dad. 

Dad's Car Wash Kit

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If you've got a Dad who's a car fanatic, this basket is perfect! A bucket and car wash supplies are all you need to make this Father's Day Gift Basket. To give it that personal touch...decorate the bucket with paint, markers and stickers. Car wash supplies like cleaner, sponges, microfiber towels and car air fresheners can be found almost anywhere...even the Dollar Store. So go crazy! Get a big bucket and fill it to the top!

The Couch Potato

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We're not saying that Dad doesn't do anything but sit around all day. What we're saying is that he does so much for us that he needs to take some time for himself and relax...and this Gift Basket lets him do just that. Fill it with things sure to allow Dad the time he needs to just veg out for a while. Give it to him and walk away. He'll love it!

World's Best Pop

Photo provided by prettyprovidence

 

This Gift Basket is the cutest ever! One your "Pop" is sure to love. It's also great if you waited until the last minute (not that any of us did that at all). Simply go to the grocery store and get everything you need for this themed basket. Who doesn't love one stop shopping? Fill with everything from Otter Pops to Pop Tarts. But remember...all of these tasty treats are for Dad only.  

  

See...we told you Gift Baskets were manly.

 

Yellow Is Not The Best Color

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If you’ve just had your braces taken off, or you’re about to, congratulations!  We bet you can’t wait to show off that amazing smile. But wait…is something holding you back from flashing those pearly whites to the rest of the world? Are your teeth straight, but not so pearly white? 

Because brushing and flossing with braces is difficult, yellowing or stains are inevitable. In many cases, this means topping off your orthodontic treatment with teeth whitening. 

At Spannhake Orthodontics, we offer Opalescence whitening options. Opalescence whitening gels are the perfect way to treat yourself after your braces come off! Opalescence gels contain an active whitening ingredient that penetrates your enamel to get to discolored molecules. Oxygen molecules from the whitening agents react with the discolored molecules in your teeth, breaking the bonds that hold them together. The oxygen molecules spread, whitening the entire tooth. As a result, you are left with a brighter, whiter smile. 

Opalescence offers a complete line of products that deliver professional results.

• Opalescence PF: Opalescence take-home whitening gel offers professional results in a customized whitening treatment you can do in the comfort of your own home. 
• Opalescence Go: Dispensed by Dr. Spannhake, Opalescence Go whitening comes in prefilled, disposable trays, so it's easy to take with you anywhere you go. 
• Opalescence Boost: Opalescence Boost whitening offers brighter, whiter teeth in less than one hour in the dental chair. 

So…if you’ve just had your braces taken off, or you’re about to, ask the team at Spannhake Orthodontics about how you can get that bright, pearly white smile with our Opalescence whitening gels.

We Heart String Art

Photo provided by lilyardor.com

Maybe you've seen it before...maybe you haven't. But since Mother's Day is right around the corner, we thought it would be the perfect time to talk about String Art.

We found this amazing Mother's day craft and thought...can you really make this yourself? Low and behold...you can. Now...at first glance something like this Mom Sign might look a little daunting, but our internet searches assured us that string art is not as hard or as time consuming as you might think.  

You can do string art on canvas or wood. you just cut out a design from a piece of paper and attach it to your surface...and pre-made stencils are readily available online. Making sure they are evenly spaced, hammer the pins or nails into your surface along the edge of your stencil design. Remove your stencil once you have all the nails in place, then weave colored string from one nail to the next. You can either wrap the string around the nails randomly or make your own pattern...and voila! You have the best Mother's Day gift in the history of Mother's day gifts. 

Now get to work! We can't see what you come up with. Be sure to post your Mother's Day String Art pieces on the Spannhake Orthodontics FaceBook Wall.

Rain Rain Go Away

Finding things to do inside the house can be a challenge on rainy days. As teens…our first instinct might be to turn on the video games and tune out the world. 

The team at Spannhake Orthodontics would like to challenge our teen patients to do something different and use these rainy days as an opportunity to learn something new! 

Being stuck inside isn't necessarily a bad thing…and we are here to prove it to you. When rain keeps you inside try having some indoor fun with these clever ideas. 

Provided by popsugar.com

Make a Movie 

Instead of watching a movie…make your own movie. Write a script, cast your family, and capture everything on your cell phone’s video camera. 

Provided by thebestideasforkids

Get Slimed 

Slime can be made from products you have around the house. The method for making glitter slime is easy…and you can make it whatever color you want!   

Provided by instructables.com

Make Friends

Friendship bracelets are a great craft that will help pass the time while inside on those rainy days. 

So…if those spring time showers are keeping you cooped up, you may as well spend the time making something awesome!

Protect Your Goal

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Spring break has passed and once again our patients are ready to begin the spring sports season! 

April is National Facial Protection month and because many of our Towson and Westminster area patients are active athletes, the team at Spannhake Orthodontics wants to remind patients, coaches and athletes to play it safe when suiting up for recreational and organized sports.   

While we encourage everyone to play sports, we also want to encourage everyone to stay safe. Spannhake Orthodontics hopes that if you are playing sports this year, that you guard your goal of a healthy straight smile by wearing a mouth guard. 

Each year, more than 2.6 million children 19 years of age and younger are treated in hospital emergency departments for sports and recreation-related injuries. This fact alone should tell you just how important it is to protect your teeth and your orthodontic appliances with a mouth guard. 

Mouth guards are made of flexible material that is fitted to protect your upper and lower teeth. Mouth guards help cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue or jaw.   

We want all of our patient athletes to keep their smiles safe from injury by habitually wearing a mouth guard during sports. Please contact Spannhake Orthodontics if you have any further questions regarding protecting your smile or purchasing a mouth guard. 

Mouth guards are a smart investment for your health, so be sure to make the use of a mouth guard a routine.

Time For A Change

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Germs seem to be lurking everywhere! While it’s difficult to avoid catching the cold or flu bug, you can help keep your number one oral hygiene accessory in great shape by replacing your toothbrush regularly. 

Toothbrushes help keep your teeth and mouth clean, but how long should you a keep a toothbrush? 

It is recommended that you switch out that old toothbrush for a fresh new one every 3 to 4 months, and directly after any cold or flu. Replacing your toothbrush is essential since they are constantly being exposed to germs and bacteria. If you notice the bristles of your toothbrush have become worn, that is a clear sign that you need a new toothbrush. 

People who wear braces will likely need to replace their toothbrushes frequently, as braces break down and fracture bristles which makes the toothbrush lose its effectiveness. It's helpful to keep a pack of toothbrushes available in the house at all times for easy replacement. 

You may be thinking "My toothbrush is great, it's broken in just the way I like it”. While that may be true, did you know that your old toothbrush can actually be harming your mouth? 

3 Reasons to Change Out Your Old Toothbrush 

1. Bacteria - Your toothbrush is a tool for removing bacteria from your teeth…but it doesn’t actually kill bacteria. Some of the bacteria from your teeth stay on your toothbrush after you are done brushing. Now, this isn’t a problem initially, but imagine three to four months of bacteria build up on your toothbrush. That old bacteria ridden toothbrush is in your mouth at least twice a day…yuck. 
2. Bristles - Like any tool, a toothbrush wears down. Worn bristles are tough on your enamel and can wear it away over time. Not only that…an old, worn toothbrush can be up to 95 percent less effective at removing plaque. 
3. Illness - Always change your toothbrush after you’ve been sick, even if it’s not “technically” time to switch out your toothbrush. 

If you feel like changing your toothbrush every three months is wasteful, we’ve got a solution! Put that old toothbrush to work doing odd jobs around the house. Old toothbrushes are great for cleaning around facet fixtures and tile grout. They can even be used to clean tools, computer keyboards, and tennis shoes! 

Make sure to mark your calendar as a reminder to replace your toothbrush at least every 3 to 4 months. If you need a few tips on keeping your smile in tip-top shape, make sure to ask our team at your next appointment with Spannhake Orthodontics.