Need Help Getting Your Child To Brush?

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How Do I Get My Child To Brush?

Getting children to learn the importance of good dental hygiene is imperative! So, how can you encourage your child, who has no interest in brushing, to brush their teeth?Here are some helpful tips:

  • Start your child on a brushing routine at a young age so they get in the habit of brushing.
  • Brush at the same times each day.
  • Ask one of our assistants for a fun colored timer that your child can use. Flip the timer and have your child brush till the time is up!
  • Brush your own teeth along with your child – make it a fun event to do together!
  • Keep the toothbrushes and toothpaste in the kitchen and have your kids brush at the kitchen sink using a special stool!
  • Have your child brush while in the shower, then they can spit right down the drain!
  • Keep a variety of toothbrushes on hand so the child can choose which one they want to use on different days.
  • If you have more than one child, have your children brush together with music as part of their daily hygiene routine.

However you decide to pursue better brushing habits for your child, make it fun and interactive!

We also highly recommend you brush for your child if they are 10 or younger. This helps ensure that all the plaque is removed from around the braces which is vitally important! This also allows you to monitor their overall oral health.

Happy Brushing!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—Today is Earth Day!

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Whether lending your helping hand to plant trees or grasses or getting out volunteering in various projects in the Elverson and Exton areas, today was our opportunity to get involved in making our year-round impact in the community. Jeffrey Leiss, DDS wants to know: Did you make a difference today? Tell us, what Earth Day-related activities did you accomplish? How long have you participated in helping our community and planet?

At Jeffrey Leiss, DDS, we support Earth Day, which marks its 41th anniversary today and is designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for our environment and ecosystem. If you’d like to join the millions of people around the world who are making small but important changes to help sustain our ecosystem, try these helpful environmental tips, courtesy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Enjoy!

Play it safe this spring, from Dr. Leiss

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With spring here, many children, teens and adults in Elverson and Exton will once again pick up the ball, bring the bat out of seasonal retirement, and lace up their cleats to hit the fields for the return of spring sports! April is National Facial Protection Month, and during this time, Dr. Leiss and our dedicated team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Dr. Leiss. Stay safe and have fun!

What, exactly, is malocclusion?

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Malocclusion, or what Dr. Jeffrey Leiss calls “bad bite,” is the improper alignment of teeth and/or jaws. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, it may impact your bite, the ability to properly care for your teeth, your gum tissue health and even your appearance.

Most people experience some degree of malocclusion, but it generally is not severe enough to require corrective measures. If your malocclusion is serious enough, however, treatment may be necessary to correct the issue.

Dr. Leiss will tell you that untreated malocclusion can lead undesirable mouth problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, or chipped and cracked teeth. The most common solution for malocclusion, of course, is orthodontic treatment. The actual course of treatment, including the length of time you will require braces, will be determined by severity of your malocclusion. The goal of your treatment is to move your teeth into the proper position and correct any misalignment in the jaw.

Our office uses the most advanced technology in the field in order to ensure that you receive the best possible results. If you have any questions about malocclusion, please give us a call and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have.

All the cool kids do it!

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Braces today are “cool” and—many would say—even “fun.” These were among the findings of a 2010 nationwide survey of moms whose children are going through or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies such as Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s teens.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, provide exciting ways for young patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment with Dr. Leiss, and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child or teen visited Dr. Jeffrey Leiss for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

Am I too old for braces?

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Who’s afraid of “metal mouth” and the appearance of braces? Not adults, apparently. Recently, our staff at Jeffrey Leiss, DDS read a fascinating statistic: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Dr. Leiss can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Leiss would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!