Tell Weiss Orthodontics what’s on your mind!

By now, you probably know how our blog-writing process works: Week after week, our creative 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 on our Facebook page, and have a great rest of the week!

-- Dr. Weiss and team

A few tips to stay healthy this cold season, from Weiss Orthodontics

We hope you're enjoying your weekend! It's officially cold and flu season, and once again time to remind our patients at Weiss Orthodontics to try and steer clear of that cold that's been going around lately.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, we give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our Memphis and Millington offices at all times, as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces.

For the protection of other patients, Dr. Danny Weiss and our staff, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

Maintaining and protecting oral hygiene equipment is also important this flu season. To protect your toothbrush from bacteria follow these steps:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing

• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen

• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster

• Replace toothbrush after every cold or flu or every 3-4 months when bristles appear worn

Hope this helps! Stay healthy!

- Dr. Weiss and the Weiss Orthodontics team

October is National Orthodontic Health Month! From Weiss Orthodontics

Dr. Weiss and our staff can't believe it's already October! For us, October marks National Orthodontic Health Month, and we thought we'd remind all our patients to be careful when they bite into their treats this month. Remember, caramels, taffy, nuts, bubble gum, popcorn kernels and suckers are some of the foods you should be avoiding this Halloween Season! Indulging in these foods can break your braces and lengthen your treatment time with Dr. Danny Weiss!

Also, in honor of “Orthodontic Health Month,” we’d thought we’d ask: What do you love about your braces? Share your story on our Facebook page!

Enjoy the weekend!

What are happy patients saying about Weiss Orthodontics lately?

Weiss Orthodontics, serving Memphis, Millington and surrounding communities, has been receiving some great patient reviews lately! Check out what our current patients are saying about Dr. Danny Weiss and team!

"My kids and I love Dr. Weiss and the "girls"! They all make it fun!" ~ Anna H.

"I enjoy the fact that the staff and Dr. Weiss are knowledgeable and care for each of their patients. I look forward to the end result."
-Ansley C.

"Dr. Weiss is great and the staff are very professional and courteous. We enjoy going there -you guys are a Godsend and blessing." ~ Tevin G.

"Dr. Weiss is friendly and easy to talk to. He has a very clean office, professional staff, prompt service, is attentive to details, and treats children with respect."
-Dalton D.

"Dr. Weiss and his staff are very friendly!! I can't wait to see the finished product of my new smile. As soon as I walked out of the office, I believe Dr. Weiss sent my mom a gift for referring me. Awesome! I look forward to working with him and his staff!!!!"
-Erica G.

"I hold medical/dental care offices to a high standard. I have medical/dental professionals in my family, and I worked at a hospital in Boston for three years. I have found this office to be organized and pleasant. A welcome change from my usual experience during the last 20 years. I was VERY impressed when Dr. Weiss called in the evening after he had put the braces on my daughter. I was unable to take the call, but he left a message inquiring about her and leaving his number. A VERY high standard of care and customer service." -- Halle B.

What made you choose Weiss Orthodontics?

At Weiss Orthodontics, we treat each patient that we see as an individual with unique orthodontic needs and goals. A beautiful, healthy smile improves confidence and self-esteem. Dr. Danny Weiss and our friendly staff strive to create amazing smiles that last a lifetime in an environment that is fun and comfortable.

But we wonder: What made you choose us for your orthodontic treatment?

Let us know by posting on our Facebook page or on our Google page.

Thanks in advance!

Ask Dr. Weiss: What foods should I avoid?

There are a variety of foods Dr. Danny Weiss wants you to avoid while you're wearing braces. Most foods can damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or break the brackets on your braces. If you have braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch causes plaque, cavities and tooth decay.

Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods to Avoid
• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
• Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give us a call or ask Dr. Weiss or our staff during your next visit! Happy Monday!

Dr. Danny Weiss, reminding you September is National Childhood Injury Prevention Month

This month, our staff at Weiss Orthodontics want you to be extra careful with your braces and appliances. After all, September marks the start of fall sports and an increased risk to mouth injuries. September also happens to be National Childhood Injury Prevention Month, and Dr. Danny Weiss thought it’d be a good idea to share a few sobering facts about sports and facial injuries, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Injuries can happen at any age: More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Collision and contact sports have higher injury rates—baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of all sports-related emergency room visits for children between 5 and 14 years of age. Despite the risks, many kids are still not wearing mouth guards and facial protection during games and practices.

Mouth guards are not being used: Sixty-seven percent of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet, 70% say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt. And here’s a chilling stat: One out of every four (27 percent) parents say their child has sustained an injury during an organized sport resulting in a trip to the emergency room, according to the AAO.

Not enough support for mouth guards: Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard, 84 percent say it's because the league or coach does not require it, the AAO says.

Hard hits occur in every sport: The average high school baseball pitcher can throw a fast ball between 75-to-85 miles per hour. This compares to being hit in the mouth by a speeding car! Cheerleading is one of the most dangerous sports, accounting for 65% of all injuries in high school girls' athletics, according to MSNBC.com.

We hope this helps you remember to always wear a mouth guard and other forms of protective gear when participating in fall sports! We encourage you to give us a call if you have any questions!