Wear those mouth guards this summer! From Dr. Dau

We're now halfway through summer, and our staff at Dau Orthodontics - including Dr. Steven Dau - would like to remind our young athletes in treatment to take care of both your mouth and appliances while participating in contact sports (and non-contact sports) as well. Dr. Dau will tell you that only by using a mouth guard can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. And don't forget to ask us for a mouth guard - we will provide a mouth guard for anyone in active orthodontic treatment! Have a great weekend!!

Ask Dr. Dau: What’s so bad about biting my nails?

Most times when our patients at Dau Orthodontics get their braces on, they know it's about time to part with some unhealthy habits, including biting their nails. Fingernail biting and chewing on lips and pencils can be very damaging to the enamel on your teeth also changes how you are biting down on a day to day basis. Nail biting can be harmful to your braces and cause you to break brackets, hence delaying your treatment with Dr. Steven Dau. Kicking that habit can be the best thing you can do for yourself - and your teeth!

Also, hard candies and mints can damage your teeth, as well as give you cavities - the pure sugar can get crunched into your teeth and linger there for a long time. Dr. Dau will tell you avoiding these foods is the best thing you can do during your treatment.

If you feel the need to chew, try some sugar-free mint gum, which you can also chew with braces as long as it is sugar-free.

Hope this helps! If you have any questions, go ahead and ask on our Facebook page or during your next visit with Dr. Dau! Happy Friday!

Dau Orthodontics, helping you avoid heat exhaustion this summer

With the heat wave sweeping through the majority of the Eastern Seaboard last week, we want you to be extra careful about sun safety when you’re out and about. Last Tuesday, Dr. Richard Besser appeared on Good Morning America and discussed the many ways you can protect yourself from heat stroke and other heat-related conditions this summer. And, here are a few summer safety tips from our friends at WebMD.

Dr. Steven Dau and our staff encourage you to watch this short clip and remember to always have a bottle of water handy when heading out!

Dr. Dau and team, wishing you a safe and happy Fourth!

For many of our patients at Dau Orthodontics, Fourth of July is a day of fireworks, picnics, playing at the lake or spending quality time with family. Most people recognize Independence Day as a time to celebrate and commemorate the anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence.

What about you? What are your Fourth of July plans? Are you heading to a barbecue? Hitting the open road with family? Are you planning on using fireworks to light up the Tampa sky? (If so, please be careful!)

Share your July 4th adventures with us on our Facebook page! We even encourage you to post your photos! Have an AWESOME weekend!