Ask Dr. Siu: What's the deal with Halloween candy?

With Halloween here, and all that candy making its rounds, it's important to remember that it's still National Orthodontic Health Month! And that means a time to once again remind all our patients to be extra careful when choosing those candies and treats!

All those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, but these treats are known to damage teeth, as well as braces! Did you know sour candies can be acidic to your teeth, and actually wear down the enamel that protects them? This can cause tooth decay and cavities! Sour and fruity candy, such as Starburst and Skittles, are the worst for your child’s teeth since these candies have a low pH value, which is known to ruin enamel.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends softer treats, such as soft chocolate or peanut butter cups, or melt-in-your-mouth foods. Trick-or-treaters who indulge should make sure they brush and floss between teeth, around brackets and at the gum line. If damage occurs, please call Dr. Siu and team as soon as possible.

We hope everyone has a safe and scary Halloween!

Emergency care with Siu Orthodontics

At Siu Orthodontics, we know true orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call our San Marino orthodontic office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with Dr. Tina Siu. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan. Click here for instructions or give us a call to learn more! We hope you're off to a great Halloween season!

What does Dr. Siu love about being an orthodontist?"

What a great profession we have! Orthodontics is one of the most rewarding occupations a person can have, in my opinion. We have wonderful patients who have fantastic stories to tell and our interaction with them is always a treat. Treatment time usually takes about 24 months so we have time to get to know both the parents and the children.

Speaking of children, I do like to work with the kids. There are challenges sometimes but mostly it's so much fun to see them grow up and develop into young adults. I think this kind of work keeps me young at heart.

And what about the results? How satisfying is it to see someone get their braces off and have a beautiful smile to show the world? Incredible! Every time I take someone's braces off or deliver retainers for an Invisalign patient I get such joy and a feeling of accomplishment. I feel like I have made a positive difference in someone's life. That is an amazing feeling.

I am so happy to have chosen orthodontics as my profession and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in brightening someone's day with a beautiful smile! :)

Dr. Tina Siu

What’s the difference between a Dentist and an Orthodontist?

“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. Tina Siu started her career in dental school and earned a dental degree, just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Siu decided she wanted to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So she 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 in Dr. Siu to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

At Siu Orthodontics, October marks National Orthodontic Health Month!

We hope you're having a wonderful Monday! October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and our staff at Siu Orthodontics wanted to remind our patients to be careful when they bite into their treats this Halloween season. Remember, caramels, taffy, nuts, bubble gum, popcorn kernels and suckers are some of the foods you should be avoiding! Indulging in these foods can break your braces and lengthen your treatment time at Dr. Siu's office!

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Potato chips
• Ice

If you damage your braces, please give Dr. Tina Siu and our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved by giving us a call at 626-796-0615. Loose brackets or wires can usually be made more comfortable by applying some wax until the you can come into our San Marino office.