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It's a new year, and so we're trying some new things at Dr. Bruno's office to celebrate! One "new" change isn't so new though. We're bringing back colored elastics!

Dr. Bruno used braces with colored ligatures for over 20 years, and had fantastic results. But as you may now, in 2008 he decided to try something else - the self ligating system. This system didn't require colored elastics, and held the promise of improvements in treatment time, comfort, and oral hygiene.

Our office noticed that some of the advantages of self-ligation were genuine and some were small. So, after the past 7 years of only offering self-ligation, we're going to begin to offer colored ligatures again! Dr. Bruno wants to make sure our patients get all the benefits of a perfect smile, but also have the option to add some color to the mix!

Dr. Bruno is excited to see what colors you choose at your next visit and had this to say:

"Our goal is to serve the needs of all our patients.  Sometimes it’s important to have some fun along the way in order to truly succeed.  We want you to have choices so that patients of all ages and personalities are happy not only with their smile at the end but with the journey as well."

Did you know the actions leading to the beginnings of Valentine's Day were actually centered on the avoidance of war? A Catholic priest named Valentine defied the orders of the Emperor Claudius II and secretly married young men and their brides after the emperor had declared it illegal because only single, young men could be sent to war. Rather than lose potential soldiers to fight his war, Claudius attempted to hoard them by proclaiming marriage illegal.

Valentine continued to marry young couples anyway and, eventually, was put to death for it in 270 AD. Before his death, he sent a letter to a secret love and signed it “From your Valentine”. Nearly 1,800 years later, people are still signing letters and cards in this manner. This year, carry on the tradition started long ago, while adding your own twist. Here are a few suggestions.

Simple and Creative Valentine's Day Ideas

• Memorialize it with a Photo. Couples often have photos taken around Christmas, but Valentine's Day photos allow you to capitalize on romance. Famous couple Julia Child and her husband, Paul, had their picture taken together every Valentine's Day and included their sense of humor with silly props.
• Return to Your First Date Location. Even if your first date together was at a local hotdog stand, its sentimental value can make it a fun part of your Valentine's Day agenda. Be creative and make a treasure hunt with clues that lead your partner to the original date location, where you can express your love with flowers or a gift.
• “From Your Valentine” Messages. Deliver your message in a creative way to make this Valentine's Day stand out from the others. Bake your partner's favorite treat and write a message on it with a tube of icing, or draw a note on the steamed up mirror so it shows up when your partner takes a shower.

Although Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love, it doesn't have to be a special day only for couples. If you're single, use this special day to shower yourself with love, because you're worth it! After all, the priest Valentine believed so strongly in the sanctity of love that he was willing to risk his life for it. Whether you're in a relationship or single, young or old, romantic or not, Valentine's Day is for you. Happy Valentine’s Day from the orthodontic office of Dr. Edward Bruno.

Dr. Bruno has been a proud member of the Chico community for many years now, and because of that, our office makes it a point to contribute wherever possible! We're excited to announce that we've recently given our support to several athletic groups including Club Basketball at Marsh Junior High School and Chico Junior High School, as well as a direct donation in support of Bidwell Junior High School athletics!

This isn't the first time Dr. Bruno has supported athletics in Chico. Our office has supported Little League, Chico Youth Soccer, Chico Jaguars and many other local youth athletic programs for over 20 years.  Dr. B also coached youth basketball in Chico for 7 years!

Next time you're at any of those stadiums, take a look for Dr. Bruno's banners showcasing his support! And since you can now once again have colored elastics at our office, you can make sure that your bands match your team's colors at your next visit!

Dr. Edward Bruno and our team at Edward C. Bruno D.D.S. know that for some of our patients wearing braces, it can be difficult to weave through those wires and brackets as you brush and floss during your treatment.

Some of our patients use a water pick to flush out food and other particles and bacteria stuck between their teeth as the water can reach behind the metal wires and hit spots where your floss simply cannot reach. People suffering from gum disease also find water picks quite effective because of their ability to flush out bacteria from inside the deep pockets.

Water picks are friendly to braces and are also gentle on the gums. They are less likely to cause bleeding for people with sensitive teeth or gums. But as many benefits as they may have, Dr. Edward Bruno and our team want you to know that water picks should never be used as a substitute for flossing. Though they are great tools for helping improve oral health while you are in treatment, they are just not a good enough tool on their own to keep your mouth and gums gingivitis- and decay-free. Water picks are also incapable of removing plaque from teeth as effectively as floss can. While water picks rinse the sticky bacteria off your teeth, flossing is actually more effective as it actually scrapes the bacteria off of your pearly whites.

If you have any questions about water picks or any general questions or concerns about your orthodontic treatment, we encourage you to please ask us below or give us a call!