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!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SURF BUCKS! 

                                          

Our fabulous patient rewards program, SURFBUCKS is celebrating it's 2nd Birthday!

For the past two years, our lucky Legler Orthodontics patients have been earning points for everything from good brushing to referring their friends for braces. Our patients have redeemed their points for gift cards to cool places like Abercrombie & Fitch, Cheescake Factory, Aeropostale, Best Buy, Target, Bass Pro Shops  and Outback Steakhouse.

Dr. Lee Legler and his entire staff at Legler Orthodontics are committed to making sure their patients enjoy their orthodontic experience.  The Surf Bucks program has really encouraged better patient compliance and enthusiasm about their treatment. Patient involvement is such an important part of achieving that perfect bite and smile! 

Check out our Surf Bucks program on Facebook by going to our page and clicking on the Surf Bucks Patient Rewards icon. You can read what our own patients think about the program and our office. Just another reason to love it here at Legler Orthodontics and get that "Legler Smile"!

At Legler Orthodontics, we love to hear about your summer adventures!  Post pictures of yourself in your Legler Orthodontics T-Shirt and tag us on Facebook or Instagram.  The picture that gets the most likes will win 1000 Surf Bucks!

Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22 and teaches people that the planet belongs to everyone, so everyone is equally responsible for protecting it. Many events are demonstrated worldwide to raise awareness about how we can show support for environmental protection. It is a day to inspire appreciation for the Earth’s environment and learn the many issues that can threaten it.

Here at Legler Orthodontics, Earth Day is not only important to us on April 22 every year, it is extremely important to us every day! All three of our offices are located on the Treasure Coast of Florida: Vero Beach, Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie. The beautiful waterways of this area are what attracted Dr. Lee Legler to start practicing here in 1991.  His love of surfing is even carried through in the theme of all our offices!  So keeping our waterways on the Treasure Coast clean and safe for the generations of “Legler Smiles” to come is quite important to all of us here at Legler Orthodontics.

Please join us this Earth Day and every day to help protect our waterways of the Treasure Coast of Florida.  You and  your family can make a difference today!  Check out the links below and like them on Facebook to see how many other organizations and people from our community are contributing and what you can do to help!

River Kidz (www.riverscoalition.org)

Environmental Learning Center (discoverelc.org)

Environmental Studies Center (escmc.org)

Harbor Branch (www.fau.edu/hboi)

Ocean Research & Conservation Association (teamorca.org)

Indian Riverkeeper (www.indianriverkeeper.org)

Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation (treasurecoastmanateefoundation.org)

We would love to hear how you minimize your impact on the environment. Leave us a comment or let us know on Facebook by writing or posting a photo!

Happy Earth Day from the team at Legler Orthodontics! 

Do I Need to Wear a Mouthguard?

Springtime is time to remind our patients at Legler Orthodontics to protect their teeth while out on the field playing sports. Whether you are playing football, hockey, boxing, lacrosse, or any other contact sport it’s very important to have a proper fitting mouthguard.  Mouthguards will help cushion your teeth from impact that might otherwise cause broken teeth. In addition to preventing broken teeth, mouthguards can prevent jaw fractures, cheek and lip injuries, mouth lacerations and reduce the severity of concussions. Additionally, orthodontic patients need to take extra precautions and wear a mouthguard that is specifically for braces.

According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high school athletes and adults have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events annually.

If you are planning on participating in spring sports, it’s imperative to have a proper fitting mouthguard. We have even seen cheerleaders and gymnasts with injuries to their teeth from lack of mouthguards!  So everyone go outside, enjoy your sports, and WEAR A MOUTHGUARD!!

Dr. L 

National Children’s Dental Health Month

     It’s that time of year again! February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! At Legler Orthodontics we truly enjoy raising awareness about the importance of good oral health, especially at a young age. For the past 21 years Dr. Legler has been visiting elementary schools all along the treasure coast and teaching children the importance of developing healthy habits at an early age.

     Your smile is one of your most valuable assets; therefore an early start to developing good oral health habits and scheduling regular dental visits will give children a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. We also want our patients to understand the importance of oral health while wearing braces. Poor oral hygiene can increase the length of time in braces and also significantly compromise the final results. Some of the risks involved when not keeping teeth and gums clean while in braces include, gum disease, cavities, tooth decay, and permanent white spots known as decalcification. Even though brushing and flossing requires extra time and effort while in braces, your beautiful “Legler Smile” at the end of treatment will be well worth it!

     The team at Legler Orthodontics is more than happy to help explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical aspects of your Orthodontic Treatment. If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call! For a guide to brushing and flossing with braces, please visit our website at www.bracesatlegler.com. 
Dr. L 

Am I an INVISALIGN® Candidate?

The first day of Spring is just around the corner, a time of fresh beginnings and bright energy!  We all have one face and once smile that shows our energy and happiness.  So why hide your smile?

Invisalign® is a great option form straightening your teeth without metal braces.  Invisalign® is the clear alternative to braces with amazing benefits.  You may be wondering "Am I a good candidate for Invisalign®? 

Every patient is unique and therefore has an individual treatment plan for correcting their bite and giving them a beautiful smile.  Dr. Lee Legler, Board Certified Orthodontist, will provide a complimentary consultation to let you know which is the most effective treatment plan for you.  And since Dr. Legler is an Elite Invisalign® Provider, he is one of the top 1% doctors in the country to help you with your treatment.

Invisalign® takes a modern approach to giving you the smile you always wanted.  Learn more about Dr. Lee Legler and Invisalign® treatment by visiting www.bracesatlegler.com

Keep Smiling,

Dr. L



  



What's new in orthodontics?

Aloha!  In my quest to stay atop the latest and greatest in orthodontic techniques, I ended up in Hawaii at the American Assoc. of Orthodontists meeting.  I listened to lectures, walked the aisles of the exhibition hall, and talked with other orthodontists from around the country.  I left with this overwhelming feeling that the more things change, the more they stay the same.  The difference now I think is that pretty much everything you want to do in an orthodontic office, you can do using some form of computer technology.  The glitch however is that it comes with a price and although it may be exciting to use and look flashy, it is not necessarily "better".   Despite the best efforts of silicon valley's brightest technogeeks, orthodontics still and I think always will involve the careful interaction between human brain, eyes and hands to achieve the proper diagnosis and treatment plan and desired tooth movement to achieve optimal results.  The materials involved whether porcelain, stainless steel, nickel titanium, may change over time, but the end result will always involve a living, breathing, thinking and caring orthodontist.  Mahalo...
 Dr L

Invest in your career!

A survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry reveals that 92% respondents say an attractive smile is an important social asset, while 74% believe an unattractive smile can hurt a person's chances for career success ( Bryan Williams - anchor of NBC nightly news a notable exception).  So in this active political season, make sure you check out your candidate's lower incisors!
 Dr L

Are all orthodontists board certified?

No.  In fact, only about 25% of all practicing orthodontists are certified by the American Board of Orthodontists as Diplomates.  What does this mean exactly?  Prior to taking the board exam, the candidate must obtain a dental degree and a certificate in orthodontics from an accredited orthodontic specialty program.  This takes 6 years after a 4 year college degree.  The orthodontist must then pass a grueling written exam covering  a variety of topics with a reading list to study of several thousand pages.  The hard part then begins.  The orthodontist must then submit treated cases that fulfill certain criteria.  These cases must have full starting and final records and the orthodontist must discuss the chosen treatment plan and results.  The examiners are some of the most highly revered orthodontists in the world and the exam is extremely thorough.  Therefore,  passing this pressure cooker is quite an accomplishment indeed.  I think what board certification shows is a commitment to a higher standard of patient care and treatment results. The willingness to use free time or family time to study, seek continuing education and submit treated cases for scrutiny shows a dedication above and beyond the norm.  Hopefully my patients see the difference!
  Dr L

Whatever gets you here

A recent exchange with one of my 68 year old male patients discussing his crowded lower incisors resulted in the following confession:  "you know I wouldn't be here if my wife wasn't making me!"  Thank you Marys everywhere - we love you at Legler Orthodontics!  Dr L

How long do I have to wear my retainers?

I'm glad you asked!  When orthodontic treatment with braces or invisalign is completed and there is no more active tooth movement, the goal then focuses on holding the teeth in that new, corrected position without them moving back from whence they came.  The reason they move is because the collagen fibers that connect teeth to gum tissue and bone needs time to turnover or refresh. The bone also requires at least 12mos to mature.  Therefore we emphasize fulltime 24-7 retainer wear (removed for meals) for the first 3 mos when those collagen fibers are really stretched to the max.  After 3 mos they can be worn at night only.  For how long you ask?   I hate the phrase:  "for the rest of my life".  That's a little daunting, so I just say indefinitely or at least as long as you want to insure straight teeth.  The problem is this:  we don't know when or what will cause your teeth to shift in the future.  It could be a variety of things attributed to the aging process with the end result being a change of forces on your teeth causing them to shift, drift or tip.  Sometimes it's a slow process, other times it seems to happen overnight.  My practice consists of 30% adult patients who all noticed their teeth looking or feeling worse than they did in years past.  So whether it's a colorful acrylic retainer, bonded wire or clear "invisible" retainer, wear it regularly and you will sleep better knowing you're treating your teeth with the attention and respect they deserve.  Your smile will show it! 
Dr L