Twas The Night Before Christmas (for braces wearers)

by Lynn S.

Twas the night before Christmas, and I'd been put through my paces

To cook, clean and wrap with my teeth set in braces.

The cookies so crunchy, the roast beef so chewy

But alas I must eat food that's softer and gooey.

My family munched on their crackers and chips

(Well, those only would have gone straight to my hips).

With my chompers a-hurtin from ear to ear

It's been hard to come up with that old Christmas cheer.

But I know that it all will pay off, all of this grief

When two Christmases from now, Santa brings me straight teeth!

This year, however, I'll cut him some slack

And wish for a case that good dental wax!

So goodbye crooked teeth

And spaces too tight!

Merry Christmas to all

And to all a good bite!

Donate and Give An Underprivileged Kid a New Smile!

 ArchWired.com (our "sister" website) has partnered with Smiles Change Lives, a charitable organization that partners with orthodontists to give low-income kids nationwide a chance to receive much-needed orthodontic treatment.

Starting this holiday season, and continuing into next year, ArchWired.com will match, dollar for dollar, all donations given on our behalf. Our goal is to raise $1,250 -- which we will match, penny for penny to a grand total of $2,500 -- to give better smiles to 10 underprivileged kids across the country.

Click on HERE to make a donation to Smiles Change Lives on behalf of ArchWired.com/DentaKit.com.

Please consider donating to this worthwhile cause this holiday season!

Hanukkah Braces Humor

 Ortho, Ortho, Ortho
(to the tune of Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel)
by Lynn S.

I had a maloclussion
I hated every day
The ortho said he'd fix it
And to him I did say,

Oh ortho, ortho, ortho
How much more do I pay?
When will my teeth be straightened?
What can I eat? Oy vey!

And so I wore my braces
Brushed after every meal
I also wore elastics
Yes, I was no schlameel.

Oh ortho, ortho, ortho
When is my next appointment?
And for this awful canker sore
Do you have any ointment?

I couldn't chew the brisket
Or bite the chocolate gelt
At least there were the latkes
In my mouth they did melt!

Oh ortho, ortho, ortho
I need some dental wax
And please give me a lot sir,
For these painful train tracks

So now it's two years later
My braces have come out
As I light my menorah, I think:
A miracle happened in my mouth!

Oh ortho, ortho, ortho
How much more do I pay?
When will my teeth be straightened?
What can I eat? Oy vey!

SALE! Save 15% with Coupon Code Holiday15

It's that time of year again. The snow is falling. The fire is roaring. And everyone is rushing to their computers to buy dental products for themselves, and their friends and family!

(We wish)

But seriously folks, while your head may be filled with visions of flat screen TVs, cashmere sweaters, gold jewelry, and toys toys toys -- remember that a beautiful smile is a terrible thing to spend more money on than you have to.

That's why we're having a big sale all weekend, from today (as in RIGHT NOW) through the end of Monday, November 29th (otherwise known as Cyber Monday).

It's a great opportunity to use up some of those Flexible Spending dollars before the year ends, or just stock up on the things you need the most: retainer cleaners, dental wax, and some of our newest products like GumEase Braces Pain Control System, SulcaBrush, and Rincinol PRN! And don't forget, our DentaKit Braces Survival Kit makes a thoughtful stocking stuffer for a loved one in braces. It may not be as exciting as an X-Box, but we're sure it will be greatly appreciated!

Just enter coupon code: Holiday15 when you check out, and you'll save 15% on anything and everything in the store! Yeah, I said EVERYTHING. The more you spend, the more you save! My Mom, who has been the Unofficial Coupon Queen of New Jersey since 1971 really likes this sale, and I'm sure you will, too.

Remember, our system takes only one coupon code per order. This offer expires at midnight on Monday, November 29th. So go to our website right now and save some money!

Merry Christmas to all -- and to all your pearly whites!

Braces and Teeth Hurt? GumEase Freezes The Pain Away!

I'm so excited about this product! Finally, a new concept in pain relief for people with braces! 

Do your teeth, braces, and mouth hurt from an orthodontic adjustment or dental surgery? Before you reach for the bottle of painkillers, consider using drug-free gumEase®.

GumEase is a whole new way to look at orthodontic and oral pain relief. It is a plastic mouthpiece, filled with freezable non-toxic saline solution. You freeze gumEase in your home freezer, then apply it inside your mouth as needed. When you place a frozen gumEase mouthpiece inside your mouth as directed, it blocks the pain that comes from the nerves inside your mouth and jaw. This cold method of pain blocking is a technique called "cryoanesthesia." The result is, the nerves in your mouth and jaw temporarily stop transmitting pain impulses to the brain! It has even successfully been used to help stop the pain of migraine headaches!

Each gumEase "OrthoPack" contains 3 mouthpieces, which are totally re-usable. Just keep the 3 mouthpieces in your freezer and use them as often as you need, as many times as you need. GumEase is latex-free and DEHP-free. It has been FDA approved and successfully tested in patient trials. You can buy it at DentaKit.com for $29.95.  Who knows, this product could be the difference between enjoying your holiday meal and not! If you're new to braces this holiday season, I recommend additionally using dental wax to help prevent your mouth from getting all torn up.

SulcaBrush for Periodontal Health and Braces Hygiene

Recently some customers had requested that we carry a slim tufted periodontal brush which could clean between their braces. After searching around, we found a great product called SulcaBrush and added it to our product lineup.

The Sulcabrush is a "unituft" brush with soft bristles. Each SulcaBrush has two ends, each angled differently. Need a slightly different angle? You can take off the brush heads and screw them on to either side of the handle to give you complete control over the angle to adjust perfectly to your needs. In addition, you'll receive a bonus pocket SulcaBrush which you can keep in your purse, backpack, or at your desk at work. 

The SulcaBrush model that we sell also has a bonus pocket brush that you can easily carry with you (for instance, it will fit in your DentaKit Braces Survival Kit, or your purse or backpack). The neat thing about the smaller Pocket SulcaBrush is that you can store a couple of extra brush heads inside the hollow handle!

Of course, we also sell Replacement Tips for SulcaBrush, as well as a handy carry Travel Case for the full-sized brush.  

Be sure to check back with this blog later in the month, because we'll be introducing more great new products, and some money-saving DentaKit.com Black Friday and Cyber Monday coupon specials! You can also find our coupon codes on RetailMeNot, Twitter, and our FaceBook Page!

Goodbye Dr. Ken's Floss, Hello Fresh & Go Floss

We hate to see a terrific product go, but sadly Dr. Ken's natural vegan floss singles have been discontinued. Apparently the Dr. Ken's company was acquired last year, and the acquiring company decided not to continue the single use floss products. (Don't worry, the other Dr. Ken's products, such as the toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. will still be made and are not being discontinued).

Fortunately, it gives us the opportunity to introduce a similar floss product to you, made by Fresh & Go, the company that makes that cool toothbrush with toothpaste in the handle.

So, TA DA: Introducing - Single Use Floss Packets by Fresh & Go!

Fresh & Go individual floss packets contain 24 sachets of mint flavored waxed floss. Each sachet is individually sealed, so it's easy to just put them in your pocket, purse, backpack, or briefcase. Just tear, floss, and toss! If you liked the Dr. Ken's product, I'm sure you'll have equal adoration for the Fresh&Go single use floss. 

We know that some people don't like mint, and we're continuing to look for a non-mint individually packaged floss which is unflavored and unscented. (The Dr. Ken's Gliding Floss has been discontinued as well. We still have 6 packages in stock, and they're on clearance. So if you like the Dr. Ken's Gliding Floss, snatch up our remaining inventory of Dr. Ken's Gliding Floss at the low sale price. When it's gone, it's gone for good!)

Lil Palates: How to Clean Under an Orthodontic Palate Expander

Do you or your kids have an orthodontic palate expander at the roof of the mouth? If so, you will love the Lil Palates Sweeper Tool.

As you know, food gets trapped between the expander and upper palate and can be difficult to dislodge and clear out. If you don't clear out the trapped food, it can lead to really yucky bad breath and decay. Luckily, an innovative dentist designed a special tool that solves this pesky and challenging problem.

Lil Palates Sweeper is designed specifically to dislodge food debris that collects between the roof of the mouth and an orthodontic expander. It is made of soft, flexible plastic and is the perfect solution for people with Hyrax, Nance, Herbst, Haas, and other orthodontic appliances.

It's a great product for kids, but should be used with adult supervison. Each Lil Palates Sweeper Tool stores within its own handle (like a pocket knife) and includes three cheerful rubberized charms: a frog, a turtle, and a butterfly. It's available in blue or purple.

Simple little devices like this really make life easier for people suffering through expanders when they have braces (or are getting ready to wear braces). Lil Palates was created by a dentist to help his young son, who was having difficulty with his palate expander. I just love it when people create great products to help solve everyday problems! We carry several products like this at DentaKit.com, so come on over and check them out!

Surviving Braces - A "Must-Have" Book!

We've just added a new book to our product lineup, called "Surviving Braces."

Co-written by an orthodontic technician with 32 years of experience, and edited by an Orthodontist, Surviving Braces packs a lot of practical advice into its 160 pages. Included are chapters detailing what to expect when you get braces, dealing with orthodontic emergencies, braces trivia, space for an orthodontic diary, more than 65 delicious recipes, and a ton of practical tips and facts. There is even a diagram showing the parts of braces, to help you better understand what your orthodontist is talking about!

This book would make a great holiday must-have "stocking stuffer" gift, or a great gift in general for any kid, teen, or adult who has recently gotten braces on their teeth. Check it out!

Lip Protectors for Braces - Back in Stock!

Our popular Lip Protectors are back in stock! This popular product is smooth on the outside, and attaches to the arch wire of your braces with soft plastic hooks on the inside. It shields your sensitive mouth tissue from the irritation of your braces. It's a popular choice for people who are new to braces and must do a lot of speaking, or who play a wind instrument.

Each set of Lip Protectors comes with two shields -- one for the top teeth, and one for the bottom teeth. If the plastic hooks don't line up with your braces, you can clip them off with scissors for a custom fit.

If you're not sure whether this is the right type of braces irritation protection for you, our website carries a variety of different types of lip protectors: Comfort Cover, Braces Cover for Ceramic Brackets, and of course dental wax and dental silicone, both in 10-packs and bulk boxes of 50 containers. We also carry Brace Relief analgesic gel and Brace Guard Lip Protector, which makes a custom shield for your mouth.

They say that "beauty is pain," but I don't think they were referring to the inside of your mouth being ripped up by braces! Don't suffer, try one of our lip protection products and be prepared to smile again!

Oh, and by the way, while I'm at it, I want to add a plug for my friend Jan's jewelry website. Jan makes absolutely gorgeous necklaces and earrings from semi-precious stones, pearls, and crystals. It's all very high-quality stuff, painstakingly hand crafted. Check out her Etsy website at: RazzleBedazzle.com.

DentaKit.com/ArchWired.com Sponsors Braces for a Low-Income Child

Today ArchWired.com/DentaKit.com donated $250 to the Smiles Change Lives program to help one low-income child receive braces. We hope to partner with Smiles Change Lives in the future to help raise $1250 to sponsor 5 children across the country sometime later this year, or perhaps do a more ambitious matching challenge with our readers/customers to help raise enough to sponsor 10 children.

In the mean time, if you are an orthodontist or dentist: Smiles Change Lives needs orthodontists across the country to "adopt" 2 or 3 children/teens each for treatment. The charity is also looking for donations from anyone interested in helping low-income children and teens receive orthodontic treatment.

Thank You for Helping us Help Haiti

We at DentaKit.com want to thank you, our loyal customers, for helping us make a donation to Haiti relief. Based on last week's sales, we were able to donate $250 today to the Doctors Without Borders organization, which will be used to help provide medical care to the citizens of Haiti in need of treatment.

Sincerely,
Lynn

5% of DentaKit.com Profits Donated to Doctors Without Borders

This month I had planned to post a blog entry aimed at everyone who is newly braced in the new year. But that can wait until later.

A major event last week changed my mind. By now I'm sure you're as overwhelmed as I am with the news reports from earthquake ravaged Haiti. The news is horrible and extremely disturbing. My family and I personally have made a donation to The Red Cross in light of this disaster. As a family living near San Francisco, we know firsthand how destructive even a mild earthquake can be. When I saw that this one was 7.0, I knew that the people of Haiti would have a very long road ahead of them.

So, during the week of January 17th to 23rd, DentaKit.com will donate 5% of its profits to the Doctors Without Borders organization. This international organization mobilizes its efforts to bring medical care to disadvantaged people worldwide. Of course more recently they are concentrating their efforts in Haiti.

I know that everyone is being bombarded with pleas to donate money to charity organizations. This is one way that you can make a donation simply by purchasing your dental braces supplies and retainer cleaners. It's a great week to stock up on any supplies you need, while taking advantage of free shipping for orders over $69 -- and additionally donating money to a worthy cause. Please make a purchase on our website today, and help spread the word.

Sincerely,

Lynn