Get social with Weiss Orthodontics!

If you know Dr. Weiss and team, you know we embrace anything technology-related. That includes the innovative treatments we offer and the social networks which we are a part of. That includes our Facebook fan page, where we're currently focusing most of our new media efforts.

For social media to work, however, we understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks such as Facebook are hugely popular these days, we know they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While Dr. Weiss and team take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Send us your thoughts or post them on our Facebook page!

Have a great weekend!

Did you make a difference today? From Dr. Weiss

Whether lending your helping hand to plant trees or grasses or getting out to volunteer in various projects in Memphis or Millington, today was our opportunity to get involved in making our year-round impact in the community. Dr. Weiss wants to know: Did you make a difference today? Tell us, what did you accomplish? How long have you participated in helping our community and planet?

At Weiss Orthodontics, we support Earth Day, which marks its 40th anniversary today and is designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for our environment and ecosystem. If you’d like to join the millions of people around the world who are making small but important changes to help sustain our ecosystem, try these helpful environmental tips, courtesy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Celebrities and braces, from Weiss Orthodontics

You may not know it, but back in 2002, Tom Cruise - yes, Tom Cruise - had braces. At the time, he was 40 years old and filmed Minority Report, Austin Powers in Goldmember and the Last Samurai. Just check out his smile in Jerry Maguire, Rain Man or The Firm and compare to the post-braces Tom Cruise dazzling smile in Valkyrie or Tropic Thunder. The fact is, movie stars need to look their best for the silver screen, and it wouldn't be possible without orthodontists like Dr. Danny Weiss.

In fact, lots of Hollywood stars have had orthodontic treatment. Check out this list of Hollywood names. If you’ve thought about getting the perfect smile you’ve always wanted, please give Weiss Orthodontics a call at 901-767-7370.

Retainers, retainers, retainers...

If you recently completed treatment at Weiss Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Weiss will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Weiss is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise. Wearing your retainers at night ensures that your pearly whites won’t relapse.

* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)

* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.

* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.

* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.

* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!

April is National Facial Protection Month! From Dr. Danny Weiss

With spring here, many children, teens and adults will once again pick up the ball, bring the bat out of seasonal retirement, and lace up their cleats to hit the fields for the return of spring sports! April is National Facial Protection Month. During this time Dr. Weiss and our dedicated team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. The video above from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists demonstrates a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring.

We hope this video helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of the tips offered in the video, please contact Weiss Orthodontics. And remember to have fun and stay safe!

Your turn! From Weiss Orthodontics

By now, you're probably familiar with the drill: Week after week, our team at Weiss Orthodontics write about important topics pertinent to orthodontics and your well-being, including innovative orthodontic techniques Dr. Weiss offers. This week, we thought we’d step back and ask you, our great patients and readers: what’s on your mind?

What would you like to know about the always-changing field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Weiss for a while now? Let us know by posting here, and have a great rest of the week!

-- Dr. Weiss and team

A great braces-friendly spring recipe! From Dr. Weiss and Weiss Orthodontics

Winter is almost over (really!), and the weather is finally starting to get warmer. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) spring dish that is sure to delight. Remember, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment.

Soy Simmered Chicken Wraps
Ingredients:
• 3 boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 large onions, chunked
• Small flour tortillas (pkg. of ten) wheat or white
• (optional: 10-16 oz. of cooked chopped broccoli)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup water
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger
• 2 Tablespoons peach or apricot jam
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

In a slow cooker, or a large pan on the stove, layer the onions and the chicken breast. Allow at least three hours in the slow cooker on medium, or at least one hour on the stove—the longer the better, but you don’t have to do anything to it while it cooks. Spoon out the chicken onto a cutting board, and with a knife and fork, shred the chicken as finely as you’d like. In a small saucepan, stir all sauce ingredients together over medium heat until the mixture starts bubbling, then let it simmer for five minutes on low heat to thicken. In a serving bowl, stir sauce and onion into chicken; if you’d like, add cooked chopped broccoli. Makes about six to eight servings.

Enjoy this great spring dish and have a great rest of the week!

-- Dr. Weiss and team