Your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist talks about toothbrush history.

A Happy New Year from all of us at TeamMCO. We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and wish you the best for the year 2009. We look forward to another year of being your choice for braces and Invisalign in Markham and Toronto! Our first entry for 2009 is about one of the most important oral hygiene tools during your orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign.


Did you know?

People have been brushing their teeth for thousands of years! In fact, the first “toothbrush” was created around 3000BC! Ancient civilizations used a thin twig with a frayed edge to rub against their teeth for cleaning.

The first toothbrush with bristles – similar to today’s toothbrushes – was invented in 1498 in China. Brushes were made out of bone or bamboo with bristles made from the hairs on the back of a hog’s neck.

It was not until 1938 that the first nylon bristle toothbrush was introduced and people quickly became aware of practicing good oral hygiene.

Here are some other interesting facts about your toothbrush (and toothpaste):

• Most people are said to use blue toothbrushes over any other color
• The first toothpaste was used in 500 BC in China and India
• On average, children smile about 400 times per day
• Your toothbrush should be replaced every three months or as required
• The first known toothpaste was used in 1780. Crest and Colgate were introduced to North America in 1955 and 1873, respectively.



Good oral hygiene practice is an extremely important part of your braces and Invisalign treatment here at Markham Centre Orthodontics. We want to provide you with straight teeth and a beautiful smile free of cavities. As a part of your orthodontic care kit, we provide you with all the oral hygiene instruments you need to care for your braces and Invisalign. With continued practice and regular visits to your dentist, proper brushing will become part of your new, healthy lifestyle!

Please contact us at 905-477-7750 if you have any questions or would like to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Happy Holidays from your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist and TeamMCO

As another year comes to a close, we want to thank the Markham and Greater Toronto community for their continued support of Markham Centre Orthodontics. With your beautiful smiles, kind referrals, and wonderful experiences, we have continued to grow into the choice for braces and Invisalign in this part of the 905.



With the holidays fast approaching, Dr. Tam and TeamMCO would like to wish everyone an amazing and safe holiday season. For those hard-to-buy-for people on your shopping list, don't forget to consider the gift of a smile that will last a lifetime!

For your reference, below are some of the safety tips from the Canadian Red Cross during this season. We hope you all enjoy some time to spend with loved ones and a fantastic, healthy New Year!
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Safety Tips for the Holidays from the Canadian Red Cross

Be careful with holiday candles - Keep candles away from decorations or other combustible materials. Don't leave children unattended in a room with lit candles. Keep candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children. Never display lighted candles in windows or near exits.

Deck the halls with safety in mind - When decorating with lights, make sure they are certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Always unplug all lights before leaving home or going to bed.

Prevent choking - For children, small toys and special foods can be an incident waiting to happen. Ensure toys are appropriate for the age of the child, and won't create a danger for younger children in the household.

Keep Christmas trees fresh - Choose a fresh Christmas tree and secure it in a sturdy stand. Place the tree away from heat sources and exits and check water levels daily. If you purchase an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant.

Prepare for holiday parties - Decorate only with flame-retardant or noncombustible materials. If guests will be smoking, provide them with large, deep ashtrays and check them frequently. After the party, check under sofa cushions and in trash cans for cigarette butts that may be smoldering.

Designate a driver - When attending a party, designate a non-drinking driver. If you are hosting a holiday gathering, be sure there are non-alcoholic beverages for guests who are driving and arrange for alternate transportation for guests who drink.

Inspect fireplaces and wood stoves - Have your chimney connections and flues inspected by a professional and cleaned if necessary. Use a sturdy screen when burning fires. Burn only wood—never burn paper or pine boughs.

Buckle up - During the holiday season, more people are on streets and highways. Ensure that all passengers are wearing safety belts. Seat children in the back seat of the car and in approved safety seats if younger than eight years old (less than 60 pounds), or according to local law.

Enroll in a First Aid & CPR course - Although these tips can help prevent an emergency, it is also important to be prepared should an emergency situation arise. To enroll in a first aid or CPR course, contact your local Canadian Red Cross.

Your Markham and Greater Toronto Invisalign Orthodontist Customizes Your Treatment

Invisalign treatment at Markham Centre Orthodontics is customized for each and every one of our patients. This special attention to your treatment is part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment in Markham and Greater Toronto, we provide you with a complimentary Invisalign consultation. Should you wish to continue, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

The technicians at Invisalign use software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Keep in mind that these technicians at Invisalign are not orthodontists. The key to a successful treatment is an orthodontist who is experienced, and dictates the movements of the teeth, rather than one who simply accepts the work of a tech. After several revisions, a final result is accepted. Here at Markham Centre Orthodontics, you will receive an email with a video simulation of your Invisalign treatment via your online orthodontic Sesame account.

Over the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. Since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Tam is a certified Invisalign provider and has treated Markham as well as Greater Toronto dentists and their family members. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, give us a call at 905-477-7750. We look forward to helping you achieve that smile you've always wanted without braces!

Your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist is Invited to the Invisalign Summit

This past weekend, Dr. Tam attended the annual Invisalign Summit at the Sands Expo and Conference Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Summit is a wonderful opportunity for the most experienced Invisalign orthodontists to share ideas and information that can be implemented in their offices. This in turn results in greater quality results, while reducing treatment times for you, our patients. Dr. Tam was honoured to be invited back for a second consecutive year.

Dr. Tam by the 2008 Invisalign Summit schedule of lectures and events.

Malocclusions, bad bites, and crooked teeth that were once thought treatable only with braces are now increasingly being corrected with Invisalign. Keep in mind that as with conventional braces, the ability of your orthodontist to straighten your teeth with Invisalign requires careful planning and individualization. However, because Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners, additional knowledge on the way teeth move differently with Invisalign than braces is essential. General dentists and orthodontists can become certified in Invisalign by taking a one-day course. You should feel confident with having treatment at MCO, as Dr. Tam has extensive experience with Invisalign, including treatment on local Markham and Greater Toronto dentists, their family, and even himself!

Many of our teenagers, parents, and adults wish to have straight teeth, but without the embarrassment and discomfort of braces. Dr. Tam and Markham Centre Orthodontics are committed to delivering a "clear" solution to our patients whenever possible. Of note, Dr. Tam was a part of the Invisalign Teen pilot project, a new Invisalign appliance that has allowed more of our teen-aged patients to have a "wireless" treatment. We also know that many parents would love to have straight teeth, but would never think of getting braces. Invisalign has given us the ability to allow our parents to smile widely alongside their children!

Dr. Tam in front of the Invisalign Teen display. Markham Centre Orthodontics was a part of the Invisalign Teen pilot project.

If you are considering Invisalign in Markham and Greater Toronto, we hope you see Markham Centre Orthodontics as your experienced Invisalign orthodontist. Please feel free to contact us for your complimentary, no-obligation consultation. We look forward to meeting your needs to help you achieve that beautiful, straight smile you've always wanted.

Your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist Supports Local Teams and Organizations

Unionville-Milliken U14 Boys Soccer Club with jerseys sponsored by Markham Centre Orthodontics.

We often receive requests to sponsor various events and teams in the Markham and Greater Toronto area. Markham Centre Orthodontics is proud to support organizations and teams for members of TeamMCO including the Unionville-Milliken U14 Boys Soccer Club, York South Silver Knights Basketball Club, and the Unionville Skating Club's Sparkling Ice Synchronized Skating Team. While teammates and parents are not obligated to see us for their treatment, we highly appreciate you spreading the great word about our office so that they too, may have a wonderful experience with orthodontics.

This is just one way for us to give back to the local community and say thank you for making us your choice for braces, Invisalign, and orthodontics in Markham. We sincerely enjoy the opportunity for this type of long-standing, mutual, supportive relationship of our local children. Please contact us if you have any sponsorship questions or would like to schedule a complimentary orthodontic consultation.

Group photo of the Unionville Skating Club Sparkling Ice Synchronized Skating Team.

Your Markham and Greater Toronto Orthodontist and National Orthodontic Health Month

October is National Orthodontic Health month. Did you know that there are more than 4 million children and 1 million adults receiving treatment from members of the American Association of Orthodontists?

Orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth. Only those with this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists,” and only orthodontists may be members of the American Association of Orthodontists. Your Markham Orthodontist subscribes to the scientific journal of the Association and attends annual conferences in continuing education. Dr. Tam looks forward to taking TeamMCO to the city where he was trained, Boston, for the annual meeting in 2009!

With the month's most famous day, Halloween, coming up, a number of different stories, tips, and images have been posted on their site. There is also a section of braces-friendly recipes by celebrity chef Michael Chiarello.

Brushing and flossing are more important than ever during the Halloween season, when teeth may receive more exposure to sweets that can cause cavities. Make sure you enjoy yourself, but remember to take care of your teeth and braces so that your treatment stays on track since broken braces and loose wires can result in longer treatment times. Please see our refresher on caring for your braces.

For more information regarding braces, straight teeth, and Invisalign in Markham and Greater Toronto, please feel free to browse our posts, website, or contact us in the office. TeamMCO wishes all of their orthodontic patients a wonderful Halloween!

VIP Reception with your Markham Orthodontist and TeamMCO!

It is extremely important to thank the people who continue to help us make Markham Centre Orthodontics your choice for Invisalign and braces in Markham.

Recently, we hosted our 3rd Annual VIP Reception for many of your dentists and dental teams. Over 80 attendees saw our office transformed into a social environment with amazing music, food, and drinks. By Peter and Pauls catered this social with live pasta, tenderloin carving, and fresh crepe stations. The evening is a wonderful opportunity to discuss various aspects of treatment with your dental health care providers and to keep them up to date with what is going at MCO. We understand that excellent treatment requires cooperation between us, you, and your dentist. This is just one of the ways we strive to be the best orthodontic office in Markham.

A big thank you to everyone for your continued support. We look forward to continuing to creating your "smiles for the future"!

Dr. Tam and TeamMCO, your choice for orthodontics, braces, and Invisalign in Markham, as they prepare for the evening's festivities.

Some of Dr. Harvey Schwartz's and Dr. Shirley Ho's Unionville Main Street Dental Team.

Dr. Tam and Dr. Daniel Seah from Bur Oak Dental.

Some of the wonderful team at Bur Oak Dental.

Some of Dr. Dennis Azuma's Horizon Dental team enjoying a seat in the VIP lounge.

Dr. Tam in action speaking with Dr. Chi Tai, Markham Oral Surgeon, and Dr. Jonathan Tai.

Dr. Andrea Ho-Fatt Wang and some of her team arriving for a great evening.

Dr. Tam takes a moment to snap a photo with his parents.

Dr. Miranda Wong, Dr. Patsy Kwok, and Natalie from the reception at Metro Square Dental with Dr. Tam.

Dr. Tam describing some of the new features of the office to Dr. Maneesh Gupta, owner of Bur Oak Dental.

Liz and Dee from Dr. Jacob Apter's enjoying the moment.

Dr. Tam with Dr. Pranab Chakravorty and the Elson Dental team.

Dr. Michael Banh and Dr. Vicki Kuo waiting for some refreshments.