5 Fun Spring Activities

Spring is in the air! As the flower buds are peeking out and birds are starting to chirp, it's time to leave those thoughts of winter behind. Spring can be a wonderful time to explore the outdoors or go for a walk around town. Get your family moving together and establish some healthy habits, away from the electronics indoors. We have 5 fun ideas to get you in the mood for the loveliest season of the year.

1. Dust off the sports gear. Find a kick a ball, throw a Frisbee, shoot hoops, whatever sports activity that you and your family enjoy doing. 
2. Get dirty in the yard. Mow the grass. Pull weeds. Till flower beds. Replant. Cut back. Find the fun in getting sweaty, and teach your kids how to manage the landscaping while you do it.
3. Explore the outdoors. Hike a trail and check out the plants budding out of the ground.
4. Go to a baseball game. The beginning baseball season is one of the annual markers that warm weather is just around the corner. If you don't have it in your budget for pricey pro tickets, look into local league games, college, or even high school games to watch.
5. Make Something. Whether you're experimenting with a new recipe or creating a new craft, making something new will give your kids a sense of satisfaction.

After being cooped up all winter, everyone's ready for some fresh Spring air. We hope you will step into the warm weather with suggestions of fun activities for the entire family.

Nutella Stuffed Pancakes | MARCH RECIPE

When you have pillowy soft, fluffy pancakes that are stuffed with warm, oozy Nutella, you don’t need anything else. Try out this amazing braces friendly breakfast recipe this weekend! These are best eaten warm but still fabulous at room temperature.

Recipe makes 6 to 7 pancakes.

NUTELLA STUFFED PANCAKES

INGREDIENTS

• 10 - 14 tbsp Nutella
• Dry Ingredients
• 1½ cups plain flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 4 tbsp sugar
• Pinch of salt
• Wet Ingredients
• 1 egg
• 1 cup + 2 tbsp milk 
• 1 tsp vanilla essence (optional)
• Other
• 1 tsp butter, separated (2 x ½ tsp)
• Sliced strawberries (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Frozen Nutella Disc

• Line a baking tray with baking paper (parchment paper).
• Dollop 1½ to 2 tbsp of Nutella onto the baking tray and spread into a disc around 2½" / 6cm in diameter and ⅕" / ½ cm thick. (Note 1) Repeat to make 7 discs.
• Place the tray in the freezer until firm (around 1 to 1½ hours).
• Peel off the parchment paper. Keep the Nutella discs in the freezer until required (they soften quickly).

Pancakes

• Place the Dry Ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine.
• Make a well in the center and place the wet Ingredients in the well. Whisk until combined and lump free (stop whisking as soon as it is smooth, don't over whisk).
• Melt ½ tsp butter in a non-stick fry pan over medium heat. Once melted, wipe most of the butter off with a paper towel. (Note 2)
• Take 3 Frozen Nutella Discs out of the freezer just before you start cooking. (Note 3)
• Dollop ¼ cup of batter into the fry pan. Working quickly, place 1 Frozen Nutella Disc in the middle of the batter, then top with batter to cover the Nutella disc (Note 4).
• When bubbles start appearing around the edges (around 2 minutes), lift up the edge and make sure the underside is golden. Then flip and cook until the other side is golden.
• Repeat with remaining batter. Melt more butter in the pan after the 3rd or 4th pancake. You should be able to make 7 in total, but sometimes it makes 6 - depends on how much batter you use on top of the Nutella.
• Serve warm with sliced strawberries, if using. 

NOTES
1. Don't make the Nutella discs too thin otherwise they may break when you handle them. But on the other hand, don't be too greedy and make them too big otherwise they will ooze out everywhere when you're making the pancake!

2. Wiping most of the butter off is the secret to getting the first pancake an even golden brown rather than splotchy which is what usually happens!

3. The Nutella discs soften quickly. They need to stay firm in order to handle them.

4. Use a ¼ cup measure and fill it about ⅔ of the way up then dollop that on top of the Nutella. You don't need a full ¼ cup of batter to cover the Nutella, the pancake becomes too big and thick. Use the edge of the cup to spread the batter to cover the Nutella. You have to work quickly because once the Nutella disc is on the batter, it melts quickly and it is almost impossible to spread batter on top of melted Nutella.

5. If you get a pancake that "bursts" and Nutella spills onto the fry pan, scrape the Nutella off before making the next one. Otherwise you'll get burnt bits of Nutella on your next pancake!

How To Stop Nail-Biting

Do you ever find yourself biting your nails? Nail-biting is a very common habit which usually has its beginnings in childhood. It can leave your fingers and nail beds red and swollen. If you think your nails are the only ones getting roughed up by your nail-biting habit, you're mistaken—so are your teeth!

There are several things you can do to ease up on your nail-biting:

• Trim your nails shorter and/or get regular manicures – Trimming your nails shorter is an effective remedy because it makes it a little more difficult to bite them. Also, if you enjoy getting manicures, you’ll be less likely to ruin the investment you’ve made in your hands and fingernails!
• Find a different kind of stress reduction – Try meditation, deep breathing, practicing qigong or yoga, or doing something that will keep your hands occupied like squeezing a stress ball or playing with a yo-yo.
• Wear a bitter-tasting nail polish – When your nails taste awful, you won't bite them! 
• Figure out what triggers your nail-biting – Knowing what situations cause you to bite your nails will help you to avoid them and break the habit.
• Wear gloves or bandages on your fingers – If you've tried the steps above and they aren't working, this technique can prove effective since your fingernails won't be accessible to bite.

Tips To Adjust To Your Braces

Are you a new patient at Wentz Orthodontics? You may or may not be excited about wearing your braces, but regardless we know you will be thrilled with the result of your new smile. As with any change, adjusting to something new can be a little confusing and overwhelming sometimes, so we decided to help you out with a few tips on adjusting to your braces.

The first tip is to give yourself some time. Your braces may not be what you expected or wanted, but after a while when your teeth start shifting you will notice how incredible your teeth and smile alignment look. Pain may occur after your appointments, just give it a few days after each adjustment and you should feel more comfortable.

Another thing to remember is to be confident. Don't worry about how your braces look and don't be afraid or embarrassed to smile with your braces. Depending on the type of braces you're treated with, people may not even know you're wearing braces. Be proud and flash those pearly whites often!

Lastly, be sure you know what to do if you're experiencing pain or problems with your braces. Before you leave checkups, feel for any wires poking out so you can have us correct the agitation and avoid pain. If a problem arises after your appointment, don't be afraid to call us; chances are it's a simple fix. For more information about adjusting to your braces, visit our website or give us a call.

#WentzSBsmiles Contest Info

It's time for another wonderful Wentz Orthodontics contest! Use #WentzSBsmiles to send us your pictures this Spring Break for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card!