Happy Thanksgiving from Siu Orthodontics!

Dr. Tina Siu and all of us at Siu Orthodontics extend our best wishes to you, our patients, referring doctors and families, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We appreciate the opportunity to work together with you in the creation of your ideal smile and look forward to the day when your treatment is completed and you join our family of beautiful smiles, which we create daily at our San Marino office. It's a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat, especially with those braces!

Besides turkey, here are a few foods you can enjoy at Thanksgiving dinner:

• Mashed potatoes or other cooked potatoes

• Corn (if cut off the cob)

• Stuffing

• Yams

• Pumpkin pie and other desserts such as cake and ice cream (but make sure to brush afterward!)

If you are still in search of some wonderful recipes, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have lots of delicious recipes that will satisfy both your sugar craving and hunger now that the weather is cold. We hope you have a safe and fun Thanksgiving this year with your friends and family. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Siu Orthodontics!

Ask Dr. Siu: Do germs really live on toothbrushes?

Fall is upon us, and with it comes the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Tina Siu will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing

• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen

• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster

• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us at Siu Orthodontics if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Dr. Siu wants to know: what's on your fall reading list?

This week marks National Young Reader’s Week, and during this time, it’s more important than ever to remind your child to read on a regular basis. After all, reading helps kids develop the mind, expands a child’s knowledge base, activates his or her flow of ideas and boosts their confidence. Plus, reading is always fun!

Tell us: Are you reading a book this fall? If so, what’s on your reading list?

If you’re out of ideas for great fall reads, we encourage you to ask our staff for suggestions, and we’ll be happy to provide a few great titles. You may also ask a local librarian in San Marino, Arcadia or Pasadena for some suggestions or check out various fall books for kids and teens that we found this morning, courtesy of Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading everybody!

Dr. Siu and team want to know: How was your Halloween?

Happy November, everybody! Believe it or not, we’re almost in full holiday mode! But before Dr. Tina Siu and our team forget about the spooky month that was, we’d like to know how you celebrated Halloween! What did you wear? How much candy did you get? Did you have fun?

If you have any photos or videos from Halloween night that you would like to share with us, please send them our way or feel free to post them on our Facebook page! We hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween! Also, what are you up to this month? Anything exciting happening in your life? If so, we’d love to hear all about it.

Lastly, have you been in for a dental checkup lately? It’s important that you see your general dentist here in San Marino, Arcadia or Pasadena, as well as visiting Siu Orthodontics during your orthodontic treatment. If you have questions about your treatment or just want some general information, give us a call or ask us during your next visit with Dr. Siu!

Have a great rest of the week!