Read All About It!: Adult Braces Journals

One of the main reservations that adults might have about getting braces is that they’re usually going through the process alone. Although you might not know another adult braces-wearer in your own life, thousands have gone through the effective, affordable process themselves and have taken the time to share their experiences with the world.

There are a number of really great blogs out there written by adults who have gone through orthodontic treatment. Some are still going through their treatment, while others continue to journal after their treatment has been completed.

Here are some of our favorite blogs where you can read about the process of getting braces as an adult:

My Journey With Braces

This is an up close and personal look at one girl’s teeth and my journey with braces. The goal of the blog is to document her journey with braces and help people with similar problems. While most people do not have to worry about jaw surgery and getting teeth pulled, this author does, which makes her journey so unique.

My Life with Braces

This blog is great whether you want to be inspired to get braces, just want to look at the slowly-but-definitely-surely magic that the amazing braces can do to your smiling, or if you want to see before and after photos of someone who have had the experience of wearing braces.

Braceface: The Sequel (a jaw surgery and braces blog)

The author of this blog is a 37 year old on the adventure of adult braces and jaw surgery. She got her braces off in July 2013 and continues to blog about it!

Braces Diary: Brace Yourself

The author here tried to record how braces have not only changed the shape of her teeth, but also how it will change her as a person and how people interact with her.

Ready to take the plunge and explore your orthodontic treatment options as an adult in Pittsburgh? Visit Tina Reed Orthodontics online to make an appointment.

How to Stay Smiling Over the Winter

Well, winter is finally here, and of course, so are the winter blues. However, it might surprise you to know that only 5 percent of the U.S. population is actually clinically diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Staying happy and mentally healthy during the winter months is more attainable then you might think. If you approach the season with a positive mindset, you’ll feel better, look better, and of course, smile more.

Here are some tips to help you avoid the winter rut and have a winter worthy of your biggest, brightest smile:

Light Therapy

Lack of sunlight can cause disruptions in your sleep patterns and your mood. Light therapy boxes are one way to combat this and get a little extra Vitamin D. You can use these at home, or at work, with your employer’s approval. The National Institutes of Health recommends that you only use light therapy for 30 minutes daily for a few weeks at a time.

Get Cardio!

If you’ve already resolving to get in better shape in 2015, this one’s for you. Avoid spending full days indoors, which can really drain your physical energy and mood. Getting outside, even in the cold, will result in endorphin secretion and will just leave you feeling better. Consider setting aside 15 minutes every day to walk -- or if you’re super ambitious, do more intense exercise like skiing, hiking, or ice skating.

Take a Breather

The gloomy days of winter are not the time to take lunch at your desk. If possible, go out for lunch, get take out (not delivery), or eat your lunch somewhere besides your desk. It’s crucial to draw a line between work and life, and it can be empowering to file lunchtime in the “life” category, not the ‘work” category. Even if you can’t break for lunch, take short walks throughout your work day, if only to get your blood pumping and get some sunlight. You can even have walking meetings or get a standing desk!

Be a Social Butterfly

You might not see many butterflies during the winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be one. Avoid “hibernating” like a bear this winter and make a concerted effort to connect with people socially and professionally. Shake people’s hands, pat people on the back, and give high fives --  these can all promote good feelings or respect and trust, and make you feel connected to society.

Do you work in Pittsburgh’s North Hills? Interested in Invisalign or other orthodontic treatment? Call our brand new North Hills office at 412.369.0600 to schedule an appointment with Tina Reed Orthodontics.

How to Make a Great First Impression

No, we’re not talking about the kind of “impression” you get when Dr. Reed first molds your teeth for orthodontic treatment. We’re talking about another kind of “impression”: The kind you give when you first meet someone.

Studies have found that within the first few seconds of meeting someone, they already infer a lot about your personality, including your competence, trustworthiness, and likeability, to name just a few.

Maybe you’re getting ready for that big job interview or just going to a party. Regardless, the whole ordeal can be stressful if you want to make a positive first impression. But like most things in life, the key is to just be yourself. Here are four tips for doing just that, courtesy of The Everygirl:

1. Do your research

Who exactly are you hoping to impress? This is always a great place to start.

If you have people’s names ahead of time, use them! If you don’t have names, ask for more information from those you do know—like a mutual friend, a host, or even a LinkedIn connection.

Learn a little bit more about the people you’ll meet: what are their names, backgrounds, hobbies? You don’t have to learn everything about them, of course; that’s a little bit creepy and you can (and should) let some topics come up naturally in conversation.

But the more research you do, the more at ease you’ll feel when you finally do meet.

2. Prep & Practice

Put that research into practice and use it to come up with topics, questions, and relevant anecdotes from your own life that you can share in conversation!

There’s no need to memorize everything—you don’t want your first impression to be stiff and robotic, after all. You’re just practicing to feel comfortable; to be prepared should you find yourself nervous and grasping for something to say.

Even if you don’t know who you’re going to meet, you know you’ll meet someone. Prepare some talking points! Practice with a friend.

The key to feeling calm is being prepared. And the more calm you feel, the better impression you’ll make.

3. Look the Part

Wear something you feel good in; wear an outfit that is clean and fits you well. But, most importantly, be comfortable. (If you don’t usually wear jewelry or contact lenses, for instance, now is not the time to start!)

Making a good first impression starts with being comfortable and confident in your own skin. You just have to look good, whatever your definition of “looking good” may be.

4. Smile

It helps to make a good impression when those you meet believe that you’re a generally friendly and easy-to-get-along-with human being. Smiling helps with this.

A first impressions study conducted by Kelton confirmed that smiles were vital markers of a good first impression. According to the survey, one-third of Americans typically notice someone’s teeth first, and another 24% remember teeth more than any other physical feature after meeting someone new. And what’s more, three in four Americans trust someone with a great smile over someone with great clothes or an impressive job! So, if you have wanted to improve your smile for a while, ask Dr. Reed about Invisalign clear aligners; they will improve the way you feel about yourself and how others first perceive you.

Smiling also improves your overall attitude. And your attitude—whether you mean to consciously convey it or not—is also a big determinant of how people perceive you. It’s a lot harder to appear aloof, sullen, or rude when you have a smile plastered to your face.

It’s just science.