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It’s fall which also means it is apple picking season!
The problem is biting into an apple with braces is a no-no, it is best to cute it up into smaller pieces …or better yet, find some great braces friendly recipes to cook those apples into!

We have included some great recipes to try out!  Let us know your favorite!

Warm Apple Pie Smoothie
1 apple, cored and cut into chunks (peeled if you don’t have a high-powered blender)
½ cup / 120 ml water (for a creamier smoothie you can use yogurt)
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon maple syrup (or raw organic honey)
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
A pinch of nutmeg
A pinch of allspice
1 scoop protein powder (optional)

Combine apple, water, vanilla, maple syrup and spices in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a mug and microwave on high for about 2 minutes.
Sprinkle with cinnamon, and if you’re feeling particularly daring, add a bit of whipped cream on top. Serve!

Apple Peanut Butter Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups shredded apples (about 2 medium)
1 cup low fat buttermilk
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup coconut or canola oil
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.; line a 12 cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and salt. In another bowl, stir together the shredded apples, buttermilk, peanut butter, oil, egg, and vanilla. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry, stirring until just mixed, being careful to not over beat. Spoon the batter into the muffin tins. Combine the remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the muffin tops.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool on a wire rack.

Crescent Roll Apple Pies
1 Apple sliced (tart)
3 heaping tbsp. brown sugar
2 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. melted butter
1 Pkg. of Crescent Rolls

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out the dough on a cooking surface, brush with butter and sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon.
Roll up 2 or 3 apple slice in the dough forming a crescent, place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Brush each crescent roll with remaining melted butter and top with cinnamon.
Bake for 12-15 mins until golden brown.
Remove from oven, serve and enjoy!

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. Alan Kennell. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you or someone in your family? If so, give us a call as soon as possible!

At Kennell Orthodontics, we know good dental health requires only a few minutes a day. We thought we’d provide some practical advice on how to improve your or your child’s smile between your adjustment visits with Dr. Alan Kennell.

Start by brushing your teeth twice a day. Proper brushing techniques are an essential part of maintaining good oral health during your orthodontic treatment, as well as preventing gum disease. More care and time are needed to adequately brush your teeth when you are wearing braces. Brushing daily helps remove decay-causing plaque from tooth surfaces. Please consult Dr. Kennell if you would like us to review brushing techniques with you or your child. The use of a mechanical toothbrush such as a Sonicare or Oral B can aid in removing plaque around braces. Flossing daily will also prevent plaque to build up between the teeth and prevent stains between your teeth. Research has shown the bacteria of gum disease has been linked to coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and memory loss. Lastly, we encourage you to throw away old toothbrushes and replace them every 2 or 3 months, or after an illness.

We hope this helps! If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Kennell Orthodontics or ask your general dentist during your next scheduled visit! Or, ask us on Facebook!

“Jennifer found herself planning her wedding and regretting her lack of follow-up from having braces as a child.  Upon meeting with Jennifer I presented her with an Invisalign treatment option to straighten her twisted front incisor.  Both Jennifer and I were pleased with the results!” – Dr. Alan Kennell

“As I began planning my wedding and anticipating all the photographs sure to be taken, I started to regret the lack of follow-up I had after having braces as a kid.  Dr. Kennell and his staff assisted me with an Invisalign treatment plan and gave me back my confidence.  The Kennell Orthodontics office is friendly and fun and made visiting “the orthodontist” a pleasurable experience.  Upon completion of my treatment, I am more confident in myself.  I smile all the time and my fears of wedding pictures with my “crooked tooth” disappeared!!  Dr. Kennell and Kennell Orthodontics gave me back the smile I had worked so hard to have.” - Jennifer Taylor