Dr. Berger and team, wishing you a relaxing and memorable Memorial Day weekend

The unofficial kickoff to summer—Memorial Day weekend—is a time Americans stop and remember those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom over the course of American history.

Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of the summer, and for many of our patients, getting out of town for three days after being cooped up in the office or in the classroom is sweet relief. At the office of Dr. Berger, we also know Memorial Day weekend is ripe for travel. After all, it’s a season of vacations, adventures and great memories.

What about you? What are you and your family up to this Memorial Day weekend? Whether you are headed to a barbecue, a camping trip, or hitting the open roads of California with family this weekend, we want to know all about it!

Dr. Berger and our entire team wish you a nice and relaxing (and safe) Memorial Day weekend!

Access your account—any day, any time, anywhere!

At the office of Dr. Jeffrey Berger, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Torrance, CA.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

Myths about braces, explained

Dr. Jeffrey Berger and our team know there are quite a few myths about braces and orthodontics out there nowadays. But before you buy into those myths, we think you should get the facts! We came across a great site that helps set the record straight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists did some digging and have some great information on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment with Dr. Berger, feel free to give us a call at (310) 542 7331! Have a GREAT rest of the week!

Ask Dr. Berger: Which foods should I avoid while in braces?

There are a variety of foods Dr. Jeffrey Berger wants you to avoid while you're wearing braces. Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces. If you’re wearing 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 tend to cause plaque, cavities and even 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 you should definitely avoid include:
• 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 our staff during your next visit! We also encourage you to check out this helpful article about eating with braces, courtesy of Parenthood.com.