Cold season is here, stay healthy!

Cold and flu season is here - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that a common cold usually includes sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and coughing. Symptoms can last for up to two weeks.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, Dr. Edmund Guyer and our entire staff give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our Niles and Stevensville, MI offices at all times, as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces. For the protection of other patients and our staff at Main Street Orthodontics, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

And remember to constantly wash your hands and avoid contact with those who are ill! Stay healthy!

Dr. Guyer in the Niles Daily Star

We are excited to announce that Dr. Edmund Guyer was on the front page of the Niles Daily Star! In the article, Dr. Guyer talked about the Damon Bracket System and how it is more gentle than traditional braces. The paper stated:

"Dr. Ed Guyer, who has been practicing at Main Street Orthodontics in downtown Niles for 23 years, uses the Damon Bracket System when treating his patients. Main Street Orthodontics was one of the first offices in the Midwest to begin using the system about 10 years ago, which has been updated and improved over the years."

"'It’s quite unique,' Guyer said. 'It causes the teeth to move faster with a lot less discomfort to the patient.' Guyer says traditional braces are tied with elastics that cause friction and pressure, while the Damon System uses a mechanism that doesn’t cause that friction."

To read the rest of the article, visit the Niles Daily Star online! If you have any questions about the Damon Bracket System, visit our website or give us a call at the office!

Patient Referral Contest at Main Street Orthodontics

All of us at Main Street Orthodontics are excited to announce our Patient Referral Contest going on NOW! Simply tell your friends about us and once they schedule a free orthodontic consultation, you will be entered to win 4 free tickets to the Niles Haunted House or to the Babbit Farms Corn Maze!

Make sure to tell your friends to inform us that you sent them so that we can enter you into the drawing! The deadline for this contest is October 26, 2011 so act now. Good luck!

The latest technology helps you relax at Main Street Orthodontics

It used to be that people were terrified to see the orthodontist. And Dr. Guyer understands that some patients are still nervous. But fear not! The days of fear and loathing when driving to an orthodontist appointment are gone! And it’s all due to technology. That’s right, technology has allowed orthodontists everywhere to zero in on patient care and comfort.

For example, braces are much more comfortable and the treatment time has been reduced. In addition, the advances in the orthodontic field have permitted digital photos and X-rays of your mouth, patient charting and improved communications between doctor and patient.

If you have any questions about how Main Street Orthodontics uses state-of-the-art technology, write to us on Facebook or give us a call and ask!

When should you call Main Street Orthodontics?

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. Edmund Guyer. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give us a call as soon as possible!

Hope this helps,

The team at Main Street Orthodontics

Breaking bad habits, with Main Street Orthodontics

At Main Street Orthodontics, we know good dental health requires only a few minutes a day. We thought we’d provide some practical advice on how to improve your or your child’s smile between your adjustment visits with Dr. Edmund Guyer.

Start by brushing your teeth twice a day. Proper brushing techniques are an essential part of maintaining good oral health during your orthodontic treatment, as well as preventing gum disease. More care and time are needed to adequately brush your teeth when you are wearing braces. Brushing daily helps remove decay-causing plaque from tooth surfaces. Please consult Dr. Guyer if you would like us to review brushing techniques with you or your child. The use of a mechanical toothbrush such as a Sonicare or Oral B can aid in removing plaque around braces. Flossing daily will also prevent plaque to build up between the teeth and prevent stains between your teeth. Research has shown the bacteria of gum disease has been linked to coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and memory loss. Lastly, we encourage you to throw away old toothbrushes and replace them every 2 or 3 months, or after an illness.

We hope this helps! If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Main Street Orthodontics or ask your general dentist during your next scheduled visit! Or, ask us on Facebook!

20 things that can ruin your smile, from Main Street Orthodontics

At Main Street Orthodontics, we know your smile is important. And we know you want to keep it sparkling and looking its very best. Recently, we came across an article that suggests at least 20 things can ruin that perfect smile you have.

These include:

- Sports drinks
- Tobacco
- Coffee
- Wine
- Soft drinks
- Citrus and acidic foods

Dr. Edmund Guyer and our team encourage you to read the rest of the article and ask us here on our blog or during your next visit to our office. For more tips or for general questions about your ongoing dental treatment, we invite you to ask Dr. Guyer during your next visit! We also invite you to ask us on Facebook!

The Go-To Mom Talks Invisalign

Our team at Main Street Orthodontics found a great video that discusses the advantages of Invisalign. In the video, Kimberley Clayton Blaine, "The Go-To Mom," discusses the Invisalign and Invisalign Teen treatment and her personal experience with Invisalign.

To determine if Invisalign is right for you, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Edmund Guyer. Have a great week!

The importance of wearing a mouth guard when playing sports

At Main Street Orthodontics we know how important it is to protect your face while playing sports. The spring and summer months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. Dr. Guyer and our team also know sports-related injuries are common among children. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports. Another 67 percent admitted their child doesn’t wear a mouth guard when playing sports such as football, basketball, baseball and soccer.

That’s why Main Street Orthodontics are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. Ask us—Dr. Guyer will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment.

In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. Please remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements Dr. Guyer is trying to achieve. Lastly, please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Main Street Orthodontics.

Summer fun with Main Street Orthodontics

It’s summer here at Main Street Orthodontics, a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories. Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, hitting America’s open roads or just having fun in the backyard, Dr. Guyer and our team want to hear all about it! Leave a comment on our Facebook fan page and tell us about your summer!

We also encourage you to post any photos from your adventures to our Facebook wall!

Happy travels!

HOW TO: Floss with Braces

Dr. Guyer will tell you that keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and could possibly reduce your treatment time.

Here is a very concise video explaining the proper way to floss your teeth with braces. Give Main Street Orthodontics a call if you have more questions about flossing. Enjoy!

The importance of retainers, from Dr. Guyer

If you recently completed treatment at Main Street Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Guyer 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, always 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. Guyer is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Guyer, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!

What are YOU reading this summer?

With summer in full swing, all of us at Main Street Orthodontics wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading this time of year, but reading during the summer is a vital step in brain development and warding off the dreaded “summer slide.” Plus, it's fun!

Today, we thought we’d ask: What's on YOUR summer reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff and Dr. Guyer would be happy to provide a few suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian for some ideas or check out these summer reading ideas that we came across today, courtesy of Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your summer picks or your all-time favorites on our Facebook page!

Main Street Orthodontics, wishing you a safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend, a time to remember and honor the men and women lost while serving for our country. Memorial Day is also the unofficial start of summer, and for many folks in Niles and St. Joseph, getting out of town for three days after being cooped up in the classroom or the office spells sweet, sweet relief.

What about you? What are you up to this Memorial Day weekend? Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, or just hitting the great American open roads, we’d like to hear all about it!

Our entire team at Main Street Orthodontics wishes you a happy, safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

Improve your smile, increase your confidence!

At Main Street Orthodontics, we know image is everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having braces may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today's teens. Well, May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.

One of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a complimentary consultation at Main Street Orthodontics. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood than coming in for a consultation with Dr. Guyer?

We proudly provide traditional braces, the Damon System and Invisalign Teen for today’s image-conscious teens, and invite you to give us a call to schedule a complimentary consultation or ask us on Facebook!

Main Street Orthodontics at the 111th AAO Annual Session

To better serve our patients at Main Street Orthodontics with the highest quality orthodontic care available, Dr. Guyer and our entire team are committed to continuing education into the exciting world of orthodontics.

One of the ways we improve our service is by attending conferences, meetings and seminars, and this weekend, we will be in Chicago attending the AAO Annual Session, an educational event that is one of the largest orthodontic conventions in the world - and one that allows us to consult with orthodontists from around the country and stay up-to-date on all the latest technologies and orthodontic treatment options available. This, in turn, allows us to give you, our wonderful patients, the best treatment experience possible.

If you've got an appointment scheduled with us soon, we invite you to ask us about our Chicago trip, including what we learned and how continuing education and acquisition of new technology helps us serve you more effectively.

Dr. Guyer's Patient Spotlight

Today, our team at Main Street Orthodontics is pleased to recognize a few of our very special patients. Brooke W. is our patient of the month! She was awarded a $25 gift card to Best Buy for having healthy gums and teeth and not having any breakage. Audrea K. is the winner of our Easter Egg contest. She guessed the correct number of chocolate eggs in the hummingbird feeder. She won the candy and the bird feeder. Please join us in congratulating Brooke and Audrea!

Main Street Orthodontics, taking steps to reduce our environmental impact

We are living in an age with a renewed commitment to conservation, and are frequently reminded to recycle, reduce and reuse. Earth Day is this Friday, April 22nd, and we thought this would a great time to discuss the things that Main Street Orthodontics does to conserve our natural resources and the environment.

Did you know that we offer patients account access 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Our office has convenient and secure online services with Sesame 24-7™. Patients can receive appointment reminders through email or text messages. Since this information is submitted electronically, we eliminate the use of large amounts of paper and printing materials.

Dr. Guyer and our team would love to hear how you minimize your impact on the environment. Leave us a comment below or you can also visit our Facebook page and post something on our wall.

Happy Earth Day!

April is National Facial Protection Month

With spring here, many children, teens and adults in Niles and St. Joseph will once again pick up the ball, bring the bat out of seasonal retirement, and lace up their cleats to hit the fields for the return of spring sports! April is National Facial Protection Month, and during this time, Dr. Guyer and our dedicated team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

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

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Main Street Orthodontics. Stay safe and have fun!

Dr. Guyer announces the winner of our Celebrity Faces with Braces Contest

Our whole team at Main Street Orthodontics had a lot of fun hosting our Celebrity Faces with Braces Contest. There are so many popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces that orthodontic treatment is more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s teens. Today, Dr. Guyer is excited to announce that Shannon D. is the winner of our Celebrity Faces with Braces Contest. Congratulations Shannon, and thank you to everyone who participated!