Thursday, June 25, 2015

Sizzling Summer Smiles



It’s summer time and that means it’s time to get out there and have some fun in the sun! But...while you’re enjoying yourselves it’s important stay safe, which includes protecting your smile. 
Photo Provided by 8tracks.com
At Lenz Orthodontics, we advocate protecting your smile all year round, however, summer is a time where playing outside and physical activities are turned up a notch. So here are a few tips for enjoying your summer and protecting those pearly whites.  

Stay Hydrated 
Image Provided by drperlmutter.com
When you’re out in the sun...be sure to stay hydrated. But make sure you are drinking fluids that are good for you and your smile. Sports drinks that claim to help you with endurance usually are high in sugar. Super sugary drinks are not the best for your teeth. To stay hydrated, your best option is to drink lots of water. 

Remember Good Eating Habits
Image Provided by msfstrong.com
Summer is filled with sweet treats, but you have to remember while under orthodontic treatment you must avoid certain foods. To protect your orthodontic appliances stay away from sticky, hard and crunchy foods and treats. Find healthier foods you can snack on that are tasty and good for you. 


Guard Your Grill 
Photo Provided by pritinaikdds.com
...not your bar-b-que...silly, your smile. Summer is filled with fun and physical activities for kids and families. While participating in physical activities you need to protect your mouth with a mouth guard. Mouth guards protect teeth and jaws from potential injuries. Feel free to contact us if you would like information regarding custom mouth guards. 

Make Your Appointments 
Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Lenz
Summer time equals free time. Since kids are on vacation from school...now is the perfect time to get in a dental check-up to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy. And don't forget how important it is to keep all of your scheduled orthodontic appointments with Dr. Lenz to ensure you stay on track with your treatment. 

Now get out there and make that smile sizzle! 

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Summer Time, Summer Time, Sum-Sum-Summer Time

Yep! Summer is here! 
It's officially time for fun in the sun, bar-b-ques and family vacations!
Image provided by imgsoup.com
OK...so you have the one, big family vacation planned...and that's great. But what do you do with the rest of the summer? Most of us do not have an unlimited amount of funds to go gallivanting around the globe all summer. And we all know the minute we get back home from our amazing vacation, the summer time blues set it. "There's nothing to do", "I'm Bored", "We never get to do anything fun". So what do you do?

Well...there is fun to be had all summer long, right in our own backyard. OK, not literally in each of our backyards. But the city of Racine has a bunch of amazing things to see and do.

Museum Tour
Photo provided by milwaukeedomes.org
Did you know that the Racine Art Museum is home to America's large craft collection including ceramics, fibers, glass, metal and wood? Oh, and BTW's RAM offers a Summer Art Camp for Kids. The Racine Heritage Museum lets you explore Racine County's fascinating history in a former Carnegie Library building. And let's not even talk about The Domes at Mitchell Park...a short 40 minute drive is all it takes to experience the desert, the jungle and the floral gardens, all in one day!

Architecture Tour
Photo provided by travelwisconsin.com
Racine is home to many architectural gems created by Wisconsin native, Frank Lloyd Wright. Why not spend the day touring the SC Johnson Administration Building and Research Tower, the Golden Rondelle Theater and the Wingspread Home. If you haven't checked these historic gems out yet...now is the time.

Lighthouse Tour
The Wind Point Lighthouse is the oldest and tallest working lighthouse on Lake Michigan. The 112-foot structure was built in 1880 to warn ships away from the shallow waters off Wind Point. The Wind Point Lighthouse also offers tower climbs in the summer. The rigorous climb up the 144 steps provides spectacular views of Lake Michigan and the surrounding countryside. 



So there you have it...tons of summer time fun right at your fingertips!

Friday, June 5, 2015

Yo Yo Yo...It's Time To Celebrate the Yo-Yo



That's right everyone...June 6th is National Yo-Yo Day! 

It is this day that we give thanks to the Yo-Yo and celebrate this historic toy.

Photo provided by National Day Calendar
Did you know that the yo-yo is considered the second-oldest toy in history? It is believed that the yo-yo was first invented in ancient Greece and was made of wood, metal and terracotta and decorated with pictures of the gods.

Today’s yo-yo consists of an axle connected to two disks, usually plastic or metal, and a length of string looped around the axle.  It is played by holding the free end of the string, allowing gravity or the force of a throw to spin the yo-yo and unwind the string, then allowing the yo-yo to wind itself back again.

Now if you haven’t yo-yoed before…this Saturday would be a great day to try it out. Get yourself over to the toy store and purchase your very own Duncan. Cause really…when you think yo-yo, is there any other brand? We’ll answer that one. NO. Also…fun fact…in 1999, the Duncan Yo-Yo was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Betcha didn’t know that. 

In an effort to help get your name listed in the National Yo-Yo Museum, we have found a few websites that will help you learn the basics of yo-yoing.


Image Provided by YoYo Tricks

Using YoYo Tricks you will learn all of your beginner yoyo skills, like how to string, wind and throw a yoyo…And some easy tricks like Walk the Dog.  



Image Provided by YoYo Expert
YoYo Expert believes that the yo-yo is more than just a toy and it is their mission to show the world how amazing this simple object can become with a little practice and perseverance. 


Image Provided by How To Yo-Yo

With the use of super cool videos, How To Yo-Yo teaches everything from Yo-Yo basics, like how to tie a slip not, to Yo-Yo maintenance and every trick in between.


After a little practice, you should be Walking the Dog, Hopping the Fence and Shooting the Moon in no time!