Drs. Erkis and Hickman, wishing you a safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

Make no mistake about it: Memorial Day weekend is a time Americans stop and remember those who have died in service to our great nation. It’s also the unofficial start of summer, and for many kids, getting out of town for three days with parents after being cooped up in school is sweet, sweet relief.

Memorial Day is also the unofficial start of summer, and for many kids in Reynoldsburg, Columbus and surrounding areas, getting out of town for three days with parents after being cooped up in school for eight months is sweet, sweet relief.

What about you? What are you up to this Memorial Day weekend? Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, hanging out in your backyard or hitting the great American open roads, we’d love to hear all about it!

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend! See you next week everyone!

Fluoride and you, from Drs. Erkis and Hickman

Drs. Erkis and Hickman will both tell you about the different ways you protect your teeth during your orthodontic treatment at our office: You brush your pearly whites twice a day, floss on a regular basis and protect your appliances from being damaged. But did you know there's another way to keep your teeth sparkling and healthy during your treatment with us?

Fluoride!

Yes, the mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay, can - and does - help keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is applied directly to the tooth. Topical fluoride includes toothpastes and general mouth rinses. Systemic fluorides, however, are swallowed just like a dietary supplement. Orthodontists just like Drs. Erkis and Hickman use in-office fluoride treatments to help protect the oral health of adults and children undergoing orthodontic procedures.

Fluoride used in office is often times stronger than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask Drs. Erkis or Hickman how and where to purchase professional strength fluoride). A fluoride treatment typically takes just a few minutes. Drs. Erkis or Hickman may also prescribe a fluoride product such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses for in-home treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Share your experience with Drs. Erkis or Hickman with the world!

At the office of Dr. Ron Erkis and Dr. Lynnsay Hickman, we have a simple philosophy: treat all our patients as if they are members of our family. Our goal is to provide the best possible orthodontic care with the most sincere personalized attention.

Whether you have visited our office for a week or for years, we'd love to hear your feedback about your experiences with Drs. Erkis or Hickman! Now with the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. We'd want to encourage you to write a review of us. It only takes a moment!

You may write a review here.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Drs. Ron Erkis and Lynnsay Hickman, supporting National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Hey kids! Do you the significance of May? This month is observed as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and was introduced by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 to encourage adults and children to incorporate more physical activity into their lives. The reminder is even more significant today as kids are distracted more and more by television, video games and social networking. Kids living an active lifestyle can - and do - improve their health, productivity and overall well being, and best of all? It doesn’t have to take a lot of time!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided these public health guidelines for your reference. The guidelines call for children and teenagers to exercise one hour every day of moderate intensity physical activity (such as playing sports or brisk walking) or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity (jogging, dancing and jumping rope).

At the office of Drs. Ron Erkis and Lynnsay Hickman we encourage our patients to exercise or participate in sports. However, we want to remind you to always wear a mouth guard or other forms of facial protection when playing sports. To learn more about how often you should exercise, we recommend you check out this series of helpful articles about kids and exercise, courtesy of our friends at KidsHealth.org.