Patient Profile: Kat Redner

At Legler Orthodontics, we love meeting and getting to know ALL of our wonderful patients and we are continuously surprised by the intelligence, determination, and talent that walks through our doors. Whether our patients are gaining fame in the Hollywood spotlight, winning medals, or saving lives we feel so incredibly lucky to have contributed on their path to success. A smile gives people confidence, leaves a lasting impression, and most importantly, is the boldest statement you can make without saying a word. After the 25^th Anniversary of Legler Orthodontics, 25 years of creating smiles that are making an impact on this world, we felt it was important to share and feature the stories of some of our most influential patients.  

For our first Patient Profile, we are featuring…

Patient: Kat Redner

Occupation: Jet Girl

Kat Redner 20, was born in Vero Beach, Florida and a Legler Orthodontics patient at age 12. She is currently studying Multiplatform Journalism at the Florida Institute of Technology but, Redner is not the typical college student. She is also learning how to drive a jet dragster at Larsen Motorsports. Yes, we repeat DRIVING A JET DRAGSTER! You know, those fire breathing turbine powered cars that race down a ¼ mile track reaching speeds over 280 mph. Yep, Kat may actually be a real-life Wonder Woman!

When she first started her college career at 18 years old, Kat met Elaine Larsen (current boss) and her entire world was changed. She was inspired by Elaine who is not only an IHRA Jet Dragster World Champion but, a powerful business woman, wonderful mother and wife, and someone that embraces being a female that never backs down from a challenge. Kat immediately applied at Larsen Motorsports and jumped head first into the racing world. At first, she started doing the marketing and social media for The Larsen Motorsports Jet Dragster Team but in November 2016 she was given the opportunity to start racing these crazy jet cars.

     Sitting in part of the shop at Larsen Motorsports where they build the bodies of the jet dragsters, we asked Kat about her “12-year-old self in braces” and the impact it made on her life. Kat giggles, scrunching her nose and says “Well, at 12 years old that is ALWAYS the awkward stage in your life, you’re in middle school and you’re like, I do NOT feel confident in myself. But after I got braces I gained so much confidence once my teeth got straighter and my smile looked better. Now it is my favorite thing about myself!” Kat definitely has a dynamite Legler Smile!

     The best part of our day spent with Kat was talking about her girl power team and the young fans that look up to her. We asked her what it’s like to be in a primarily male dominated sport and the advice she would give to any little girl hoping to achieve their dreams. Kat responded enthusiastically, “When men see me at the track they are like, oh she’s just a girl she doesn’t know what she is doing but once they see you wrenching on the cars and doing the same job as them, they totally start to respect you and appreciate what you do. It’s almost better because I’m underestimated and I get to prove everyone wrong. I would tell little girls with high ambitions and dreams that you can do absolutely anything you set your mind to. Work hard and always pursue your dreams and no one, male or female, can hold you back.”

   We had an incredible experience listening and watching our very own patient display what it’s like to be a Girl Boss! Kat ended our convo with her favorite quote, “You have three choices in life:  you can give up, give in, or give it all you got. And a Jet Girl gives it all she’s got!” It’s all about girl power and Kat is the perfect example of a Legler Smile and we are thrilled to have had the chance to visit her! 

Home Remedies for the Healthiest Legler Smile

Tis the Season for sweets, sweets, and more sweets. We all deserve to take a break and divulge in our favorite guilty pleasures. Your taste buds may be smiling as you bite into that scrumptious piece of gooey, sugary, pie but, your teeth are thinking otherwise. Don’t fret… Legler Orthodontics is here to rescue your precious pearly whites from a decaying disaster. Store bought toothpaste and mouthwash can get pretty pricey so, why not make your own at home? It saves money (which we all love), gives a feeling of accomplishment, and allows you to leave out the harmful ingredients commercial products permit. Here are two simple recipes for DIY toothpaste and mouthwash concluding with some helpful tips to keep your smile bright, white, healthy and smelling fresh.

Homemade Toothpaste

Each batch yields the equivalent of one 5.3oz tube of toothpaste. Use a mason jar with a lid or a plastic container and place somewhere near your toothbrush. When it’s time to brush, simply wet your toothbrush, scoop out a healthy amount of paste and begin brushing. Remember as Dr. Legler recommends, circular motions!

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup baking soda 
• 1 tsp of fine sea salt (optional- minerals from sea salt are great for teeth however can be left out if too salty.
• 2 tsp of peppermint extract or 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil (substitute with favorite flavor- spearmint, cinnamon, orange, lemon etc.)
• Filtered water 

Making Paste in 3 Simple Steps

1. Start with the ingredients 
2. Mix together baking soda, optional sea salt (recommended), and peppermint. 
3. Add water a little bit at a time, stirring consistently until paste is formed. 
4. For future days, add a small amount of water if the paste begins to dry out.

**Cost Savings**

$3-$4 per tube!

Homemade Mouthwash  

Artificial sweeteners and chemical additives in conventional mouthwash are a No-No in Legler Orthodontic’s book. “Natural” DIY mouthwash is cost effective and prevents dangerous chemicals from entering your body. Store mouthwash in a mason jar with a lid or glass bottle (we recommend a used apple cider vinegar bottle).

Ingredients

• 2 tsp of baking soda 
• 2 drops of tea tree essential oil 
• 1 tsp Xylitol 
• 2 drops of peppermint essential oil (or favorite flavor) 
• 1/2 cup filtered water 

Making Wash

1. Pour water into mason jar or glass bottle 
2. Add tea tree essential oil, peppermint essential oil and Xylitol 
3. Add baking soda and stir 
4. Shake before use (baking soda settles at the bottom) 

   

 Helpful Tips for a Brighter, Whiter, Healthy & Fresh Smile J

  Oil Pulling

      This oral therapy may be a growing trend however, it has been a practiced tradition for centuries, first originating in India. Oil pulling is the practice of swishing the oils from plants in your mouth to produce a wealth of health benefits.

     

      Coconut oil is incredible for oil pulling and is one of the best ways to whiten teeth, remove bacteria and promote healthy teeth and gums! Other popular oils used in pulling include, sunflower and sesame oil. Many practioners have found these alternative oils to be equally beneficial.  

     

      This remedy is believed to cure tooth decay, kill bad breath, heal bleeding gums, soothe throat dryness, prevent cavities, soften cracked lips and strengthen the jaw.

How- To:

1.      Purchase coconut oil from the local grocery or health foods store.

2.      Store coconut oil in temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent solidification. Chunky oil is not easy to swish around your mouth!

3.      Make sure to pull first thing in the morning before brushing teeth or drinking.

4.      Gently swish 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil for 10-20 minutes. We recommend doing this in the shower and while you get ready. We know it’s a lengthy process!

5.      Spit the oil out in the trash (not the sink, so it doesn’t clog plumbing) and immediately rinse with warm salty water.

6.      Finally brush your teeth as usual, using your homemade toothpaste!

       Spice Up Your Life

      

      Snack on some cloves, fennel, or anise after each particularly odorous snack or finish a meal with parsley, we find these to be invigorating breath enhancers!

      Sugarless Gum

      

      It is always a good idea to carry some mints or sugarless gum for that quick spruce up. You never know who you might meet around the corner!

      Watch Your Drinking Habits

      The worst options are coffee, wine, whiskey and beer. These beverages, that we tend to sip, contain acid causing the pH levels in the mouth to decrease and bacteria to fester. This leads to cavities and gum infections. We know…it’s hard to resist!

      Brush Frequently & Don’t Forget the Tongue

Carry a toothbrush and a small container of homemade toothpaste or mouthwash along with you when leaving home. Brushing after each meal may not be convenient, but it is refreshing! One of the main causes of bad breath is food and plaque residue on the surface of your tongue so, give it a nice gentle brush-over too! Most importantly, keeping your teeth clean prevents cavities and dental problems from emerging down the road.

Our team at Legler Orthodontics strives to find new healthy and natural methods to keep dental health exciting. Check out these links below to learn more about at home dental treatments. 

http://www.livescience.com/50896-oil-pulling-facts.html

/http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-toothpaste/

/http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-mouthwash/

10,000 hour Rule? Try 20!

Did you ever hear that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to be really good at something? I first came across this concept when reading Malcom Gladwell’s book ”Outliers”. He quoted research and case studies showing that athletes become great; musicians become famous (like the four guys from Liverpool); and smart guys become Bill Gates- primarily because they spent 10,000 hours perfecting their skills. While listening to a Ted talk ( The first 20 hours—how to learn anything) one day, this guy named Josh Kaufman tells me that the 10,000 hours is only if you want to be exceptionally good- top of your field- great. If you only want to learn a new skill, hobby etc. it only takes 20 hours or 45min a day for about a month. Wait a minute, I just wasted 300 hours at calligraphy class?! As most of us have limited free time between work, carpooling kids and repairing the house, enjoyable things like new hobbies, sports and game skills or playing an instrument, get postponed or cancelled due to unrealistic expectations of time involvement. Josh Kaufman says there are 4 steps to this amazing 20 hour technique: 1) Deconstruct the skill – break it down to small pieces and practice the hardest parts the most 2) Learn enough to self-correct – use DVD’s, YouTube etc. 3) Remove practice barriers or just plan time to practice 4) Practice at least 20 hours. Josh demonstrated this theory by putting in 20 hours of time learning to play the ukulele . I assure you – after only 20 hours of ukulele practice, he is among my TOP 5 FAVORITE UKULELE PLAYERS EVER! So have at it you future accordion, bridge, pickle ball players, yoga, cross-fitters, chefs, wine connoisseurs, ballroom dancers, gardeners, fishermen, artists, writers, volunteers- you can do it with less time than you ever imagined! Good luck on your new endeavors and thanks, Josh!

Dr. Legler’s top 10 Tips for Choosing a Career

Career Advice from Legler Orthodontics:
I am often asked by kids during dental health month or high school/ college students shadowing me in my office for suggestions on choosing a career.  Here we go:

10.  Take off the earphones and put down the ipod, cellphone, videogame or other distraction.

  

  9.  Get out of the house and observe – watch other professionals in various jobs or careers.

  

  8.  Ask questions about their job and even see if you can spend a few hours observing.  In my    experience from age 10 to 16, I thought I wanted to be a Veterinarian…until I spent a day in the office!

  7.  Ditto tip 10

  6. Once you identify a career that might be of interest – time to do your homework!  Now you should engage the internet and investigate education requirements and grades you must have, appropriate colleges and expenses.  Most importantly, the job market or openings in that field and where they may be located.

  5.  Repeat tip #7

  4.  Follow your passion:  but only if you can make a living doing it.  At age 17 I loved drumming and wanted to be in a rock band.  I was passionate about pole vaulting.   For me personally, my life would have been much different and less fulfilling had I pursued either one of these as a career choice.  I can still drum and be in a rock band… and have a really great day job!

  3.  It’s ok to change your mind.  My freshman year of college I was a business major.  After taking intro biology and having a phenomenal teacher (War Eagle!),  I realized that a career involving science was more interesting to me than the business courses I would be required to take.

  2.  Repetir paso numero cinco!

and Dr. Legler's #1 Tip for Choosing a Career is...

1.  As long as you work hard, constantly strive to learn more and improve your knowledge, always seek to learn from others who know more than you and most importantly, get along well with others, you will succeed at whatever career you choose!