Love your new smile? Tell the world all about it!

At Dau Orthodontics, we are dedicated to helping you achieve a healthy beautiful smile that gives you the comfort and confidence you deserve! Dr. Dau and our team are committed to making your orthodontic experience a positive one. Serving Tampa and surrounding Florida communities of New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lutz and Land-O-Lakes, Dau Orthodontics offers a warm, inviting, patient-focused environment.

Whether you've visited Dr. Dau and team for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office is faring! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice with the rest of the world, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there.

Your generous reviews help us build more beautiful smiles!

Thank you in advance, and enjoy the rest of your Halloween weekend! We look forward to reading your reviews!

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

For moms and dads worried about kids going overboard on sugar and other sweets, Halloween is a dreaded annual event.

Dr. Dau and our team at Dau Orthodontics will tell you those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, but these treats can damage your teeth and braces too! 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 are the worst for your child’s teeth – these candies have a low pH value, which can ruin enamel. This Halloween season, try to limit the amount of these candies that your child eats, and when your child does eat them, either have him rinse his mouth with water afterward or have him drink some milk or eat some cheese. Or, try these braces-free Halloween treats!

A few tips to stay healthy this cold & flu season, from Dau Orthodontics

Here we go again: it's officially cold and flu season, and once again time to remind our patients at Dau Orthodontics to try and steer clear of that cold that's been going around lately.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, we give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our New Tampa or Lutz offices at all times, as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces.

For the protection of other patients, Drs. Dau and our staff, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

Maintaining and protecting oral hygiene equipment is also important this flu season. To protect your toothbrush from bacteria follow these steps:

• 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 toothbrush after every cold or flu or every 3-4 months when bristles appear worn

Hope this helps! Stay healthy this fall!

- The Dau Orthodontics team

Don't skip those regular checkups, especially in October!

Happy Friday! You may remember our post from last Friday about National Orthodontic Health Month and the need for you to take care of your braces. But in addition to October being National Orthodontic Health Month, did you know that October is also National Dental Hygiene Month? Fall is here, and Halloween is coming soon, but now it is more important than ever to maintain good oral hygiene during your treatment at Dau Orthodontics.

Dr. Steven Dau will tell you that while all those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, these treats can damage your teeth and braces as well! Sour candies can be acidic to your teeth, and actually wear down the enamel that protects them - this can cause tooth decay and cavities! After eating these candies, be sure to wash your mouth out with water, drink milk or eat a few slices of cheese. These will help neutralize the acid in your mouth.

Besides cavities and tooth decay, many people do not realize that good oral health and hygiene are important to your overall health too - research has discovered the connection between periodontal disease and other major health concerns, such as heart disease! Therefore, it is important to maintain a good oral hygiene routine: see your dentist here in Tampa every six months, brush and floss daily and use an antibacterial mouthwash.

Hope this helps! Have a wonderful weekend!

- Dr. Dau and team

Dau Orthodontics, supporting National Orthodontic Health Month!

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

Of course, Halloween doesn’t have to be completely treat-less. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have provided a helpful list of tips and braces-friendly recipes for the Halloween Season.

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!