Cold season is here, from Keith Hilliard, DMD Orthodontic Specialist

Cold and flu season is here - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that a common cold usually includes sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and coughing. Symptoms can last for up to two weeks.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, Dr. Keith Hilliard and our entire staff give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our Lakeland offices at all times, as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces. For the protection of other patients and our staff at Keith Hilliard, DMD Orthodontic Specialist, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

And remember to constantly wash your hands and avoid contact with those who are ill! Stay Healthy!

October also marks National Dental Hygiene Month!

In addition to October being National Orthodontic Health Month, as we discussed last week, 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 Hilliard Orthodontics.

Drs. Hilliard and Dietrich 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 Lakeland every six months, brush and floss daily and use an antibacterial mouthwash.

Hope this helps!

- Dr. Hilliard and Dr. Dietrich

October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

With October being National Orthodontic Health Month, we thought we'd remind Dr. Hilliard and Dr. Dietrich'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 at Hilliard Orthodontics!

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. Check them out! We hope you had a relaxing weekend!

With Hilliard Orthodontics, access your account—any day, any time, anywhere!

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds really simple and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at Hilliard Orthodontics enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—on our web site. You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email, text messages and more!

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions!

Ask Drs. Hilliard and Dietrich: How much will braces cost?

Thanks for the question! The cost of treatment depends on the severity of the patient's problem. You will be able to discuss fees and the down payment options before treatment begins. We have payment plans to suit different budgets, including a no-down-payment option for those who decide to finance treatment through Capital One.

Our team at Hilliard Orthodontics provide a patient payment option with no interest and, for our patient's convenience, we accept all major credit cards. Our office goal is to help each patient and family reach the goal that they have for orthodontic treatment and to have that treatment fit within their budget.

Join our new contest!

We are happy to announce our new contest! Rules are simple - win something for yourself ... win something for your classroom and teacher. It's a simple "guess" contest where we ask you to guess the exact number of brace-friendly candies, and the winner will receive movie/refreshment tickets for two, as well as a $50 contribution to their classroom!

Contest ends on October 15 and - if no one guesses the exact number of candies - the winner will be the one who is closest without going over! In case of a tie, a drawing will be held. Remember, Orthodontic Health month is in October and we will be celebrating by awarding the prizes in the contest!

Connect with Hilliard Orthodontics on Facebook!

At Dr. Hilliard’s office, your orthodontic treatment is about much more than straightening your teeth with braces. You expect great results and we get them because each patient’s treatment is individually planned to meet their needs. Even if you only see us for your appointment on a regular basis, did you know that you can now connect with Dr. Hilliard and staff on our Facebook page?

There, we share office news, announcements and updates, so check us out! By Liking our page, you will receive updates from our office automatically in your news feed!

See you on Facebook and have a great week!

Dr. Hilliard and team