Foods to avoid during your treatment, from Dr. Berger

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.

Also, we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Thanks...

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to thank all of our patients and their families, our referring doctors and patients and our own families for all their support, encouragement and help throughout the year!

Dr. Jeffrey Berger and our entire team would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. It’s a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat with those braces! If you have any stories or photos to share with us, we’d encourage you to send them along or post them on our Facebook page!

Gobble Gobble!

Featured patient testimonial for Dr. Berger! [Video]

Watch as Ana, who has been a patient of Dr. Berger for nearly two years, talk about her smile transformation at our office! Great job Ana - you deserve a great smile! We've been uploading lots of happy patient testimonials to our YouTube page lately - check out all the happy smiles!

You’re invited to visit our practice for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Berger. Please contact us at (310) 542-7331. Early morning and evening appointments are available to accommodate your busy schedule. We look forward to meeting you, and working with you to achieve a healthy, beautiful, South Bay smile!

Cold and Flu Season is Here - Replace Your Toothbrush!

Fall is here, and with it the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Berger and our team will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• 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 your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

Hope this tip helps! Feel free to call us at (310) 542 7331 if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook!

Invisalign at Dr. Berger's office: How, exactly, does it work? [Video]

We've blogged about Invisalign
before, but today thought we'd share a helpful video for those who are intrigued by the idea of straightening their teeth without using traditional metal braces. The Invisalign system at the office of Dr. Jeffrey Berger is a state-of-the-art system of clear, removable aligners that we proudly offer to adults and teens at our convenient Torrance office. We have plenty of resources on our website to check out about Invisalign, or give our office a call at (310) 542-7331 for a complimentary consultation to learn if this revolutionary new treatment option is right for you!

Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in our office getting adjustments. Dr. Berger is a Certified Invisalign® Provider in the entire South Bay area, including Torrance, Redondo Beach, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

We hope you've had a frighteningly good Halloween weekend!

Ask Dr. Berger: What's the deal with Halloween candy?

For moms and dads worried about kids going overboard on sugar and other sweets, Halloween is a dreaded annual event.

Dr. Jeffrey Berger and our staff will tell you those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, but these treats can damage your teeth and braces too! Did you know sour candies can be acidic to your teeth, and actually wear down the enamel that protects them? This can cause tooth decay and cavities!

Sour and fruity candy are the worst for your child’s teeth – these candies have a low pH value, which is known to ruin your enamel. This Halloween season, try to limit the amount of these candies that your child eats, and when your child does eat them, either have him rinse his mouth with water afterward or have him drink some milk or eat some cheese. Or, try these braces-free Halloween treats instead!

Connect with Dr. Berger and team on Facebook!

High-tech, friendly, and fun - our practice in Torrance, California has a reputation for providing unique, quality services for patients of all ages and orthodontic needs.

Even if you only see us for your appointment on a regular basis, did you know that you can now connect with us on Facebook?

We invite you to “like” our page, where we share office news, updates and contest announcements! By Liking our page, you will receive updates from our office automatically in your news feed!

See you on Facebook!

- Dr. Berger and team