A braces-friendly recipe, in celebration of National Orthodontic Health Month!

As October is National Orthodontic Health Month, Dr. Allen would like to share a great braces-friendly Halloween recipe with all of our patients, courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO. This Spooktacular Pumpkin Cake is delicious, and provided that you remember to brush and floss after indulging, this treat will not cause damage to your beautiful smile.

Spooktacular Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients:

1 pkg. yellow or white cake mix
½ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
¼ cup water (add 2 tbl. of water if eggs are small)

Directions:

Put cake mix in a large bowl. Make an indentation in the center and pour in the oil and one egg. Mix using mixer, then add the rest of the eggs one at a time, beating after each one.

Add pumpkin, sugar, spices, and then water.

Bake in greased and floured tube pan in 350 degree oven for 60-70 minutes (depending on oven calibration). Cool before removing from pan.

Why do you choose North County Orthodontics?

Oceanside and Fallbrook, CA orthodontist Dr. Allen works hard to create beautiful smiles and provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. Today, our team at North County Orthodontics would love to receive your feedback about our practice!

Whether you or your family has been visiting our office for days, weeks, or years, we’d love to hear about your experience. You can write a review for our Fallbrook office here or for our Oceanside office here. We look forward to hearing your story!

Thank you,

The team at North County Orthodontics

A Win-Win Situation! From North County Orthodontics

Oceanside and Fallbrook, CA orthodontist Dr. Allen knows that regular checkups are essential in maintaining good oral health. Are you visiting your general dentist every 3-to-6 months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing during your orthodontic treatment? If yes, then North County Orthodontics wants to hear about it!

Each month, North County Orthodontics hosts a "Win-Win Contest," asking our patients to take a coupon with them when they visit a family dentist for regular hygiene appointments. When your dentist fills out the coupon, both you and your dentist will be entered into the contest for a great prize.

If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, let us know during your next visit and we will provide a few great references in the greater Oceanside and Fallbrook areas!

North County Orthodontics hosts a private screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Do you love getting caught up in the magical adventures of Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the Hogwarts gang? Dr. Allen and our team at North County Orthodontics will be hosting a private 3D screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at Krikorian Theaters on Nov. 19, 2010 at 5:30pm. To enter to win two tickets to Dr. Allen's Annual Movie Night, just give us a call or stop by one of our offices by Nov. 10, 2010.

We will be giving away 450 tickets to Dr. Allen's Annual Movie Night, so don't hesitate to enter to win!

October is National Orthodontic Health Month

Can you believe October is already upon us? October happens to be National Orthodontic Health Month, and this month-long event is organized by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment, and these treats may cause damage that could prolong your treatment time. The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

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

If you happen to damage your braces, please give Dr. Allen and our staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone. Loose brackets or wires can usually be made more comfortable by applying some wax until the you can come into our office.

Kids getting braces at a younger age

Dr. Allen will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.


Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Allen to assess what the best age for treatment is.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment!

Back to school with North County Orthodontics

Here in Oceanside and Fallbrook, CA kids and parents are beginning to stock up on pencils, spiral notebooks, and binders because it’s back to school time! To kick off the fall season, our team at North County Orthodontics will be hosting a September contest. Guess how many "Dr. Michael Allen" pencils are in the jar and you could win a $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Be sure to schedule your next appointment soon, so that you can submit your guess for a chance to win. We hope you have a very successful school year!