"Hey, Dr. Dau! What's the deal with retainers?"

If you recently completed treatment at Dau Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you, again! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Dau will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, you see, 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 our staff at Dau Orthodontics 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 here at Dau Orthodontics, please read this helpful article about retainers or give us a call! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Giving thanks

With Thanksgiving almost upon us, it's a great time to ask ourselves what we're thankful for. With our friends and family around us, we celebrate the blessings given to us in the past year. What are you thankful for this holiday season? Do you have any Thanksgiving wishes you would like to share?

Dr. Dau and our entire team at Tampa's Dau Orthodontics would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. It’s a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat with those braces! If you have any stories or photos to share with us, we’d encourage you to send them along or post them on our Facebook page!

Hey Dr. Dau, when should I replace my toothbrush?

Fall is here, and with it the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Steven Dau 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!

Hope this tip helps! Feel free to call us at Dau Orthodontics if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Dr. Steven Dau & team, dispelling the myths about orthodontics

We hope you're having a great weekend so far- Dr. Dau and our team know there are quite a few myths about orthodontics circulating around nowadays. But before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts first! We came across a great resource recently that helps set the record straight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts of orthodontics. Check them out today!

Hope this helps. Give us a call if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook!