Dec 2, 2023
Hooray! The holidays are approaching! There’s so much to look forward to this time of year: gathering with family and friends, decorating the house with all the trimmings, giving back to your community, feasting on delicious holiday treats, giving and receiving the perfect gift…the list could go on and on! As you indulge in all the wonderful experiences this season has to offer, don’t forget to treat your mouth to some oral care that will keep it happy and healthy! Give your teeth the gift of excellent dental care! To help, here are our top three tips for a healthy holiday season:
Upgrade Your Toothbrush
You brush your teeth twice a day, so give yourself the best brush for the job. Our hygienists LOVE electric toothbrushes – they are more effective at cleaning plaque from your teeth and do a better job getting into all the nooks and crannies. If you’re not ready to go electric with your oral care, think about treating yourself to a new regular brush. We recommend you replace your toothbrush every three to four months or when the bristles become frayed. It’s also important to replace your toothbrush after an illness to ensure you don’t spread more germs. Look for a brush with soft bristles and the ADA seal of approval.
Drink More Water
This time of year, we all tend to eat more sweets and drink more sugary beverages. Hot cocoa is just too good! With all the extra indulgences, it’s especially important to drink lots of water. Drinking water helps to rinse away bacteria and food particles and can even help reduce plaque build-up. Reach for a glass of water after your meals or snacks to keep your mouth and your whole body feeling good!
Find Time for Flossing
Flossing is a hard habit to keep up with, especially when life gets busy…we know! Try reframing the task as a gift to yourself – flossing is truly one of the best things you can do for your oral health and your overall health. For example, studies show that flossing regularly is linked to improving health conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. If traditional floss is challenging for you, explore the alternatives such as water flossers and dental picks. Our team of hygienists often recommend products like ‘Go Betweens’ and ‘Plackers’ to patients. Find a product that works best for you and then find a time that works as well. It doesn’t matter when you floss, anytime is a good time to floss! If bedtime flossing feels like too much, try to set up the habit for your morning brush. This holiday season, give yourself the gift that will keep on giving to your overall health and wellness…flossing!
We hope you and your family have a truly wonderful holiday season this year! If it’s been awhile since you’ve been in to see Dr. Karagiorgos or Dr. Brunacini, please give us a call to schedule an appointment. We love giving our patients the best oral health care possible and would love to see you!
Dec 1, 2023
Winter is coming and along with it cold temperatures and dry air. You’ve probably noticed the seasonal shift impacts your skin, but did you know the cold weather can also cause some dental issues? Perhaps you’ve felt increased sensitivity in your teeth and tighter jaw muscles. FDA to the rescue! To help keep your mouth and your teeth happy and healthy all winter long, we wanted to share some cold weather dental tips.
Bundle Up!
This may seem obvious for anyone who has experienced a Maine winter, but staying warm can be good for your oral health. People who suffer from TMJ disorder (a tight jaw) or bruxism (teeth clenching) may notice their jaw is more tense in the cold weather. Get a cozy scarf or sweater and keep warm; it will help you to clench your teeth and tighten your jaw less.
Drink Water!
Less moisture in the air can lead to your mouth producing less saliva. Saliva is crucial to your oral health; it helps rinse away food debris and bacteria that could lead to tooth decay. Staying hydrated and drinking water will help! It is good for your overall health as well as beneficial for your oral health. Drink up!
Use Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth!
People with sensitive teeth sometimes experience sharp pain in their teeth when they enjoy hot or cold beverages. Sensitivity can also be triggered by cold temperatures in the air. This often stems from broken down tooth enamel which exposes the tissue underneath, known as dentin. This winter, try brushing your teeth with a toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth. We have a couple of products we recommend, such as MI Paste and Fluoridex. Ask for more information at your next appointment!
Come in for Regular Appointments with FDA!
No matter what time of year it is, good oral health care always includes regular visits with the caring and compassionate team at FDA. If you need to schedule a cleaning or have questions about your oral health this winter, please give us a call at 207.781.5900. We’re here to help!
Nov 3, 2023
November is here and Thanksgiving is around the corner. It’s a good time to pause and reflect on what you are grateful for right now. At FDA, we have so many reasons to be thankful! To celebrate the season, we wanted to share with you what is number one on our gratitude list…
Our Patients!
We are so grateful for you – our family of patients. Thank you for trusting us with your oral health care! We have dedicated our lives to helping our patients have the healthy smiles of their dreams and are honored to be a part of your health care team.
Our team of compassionate dental professionals is committed to providing patient comfort while also providing the highest quality dental care. We want you to feel confident in your understanding of dental health so that you can always make the best decisions for your well being. If you have questions, we are always happy to go deeper with you into your treatment options and home care. We love educating our patients about oral hygiene best practices as well as the importance of a healthy diet. Our goal is to develop a partnership with you. We wouldn’t be here without you, so thank you for helping us do the work we love.
What are you grateful for this season? We’d love to hear from you – let us know at your next appointment or comment on our Facebook page. If you have any questions about your oral health or need to come in for a cleaning to show your teeth some gratitude, please give us a call at 207.781.5900.
Nov 2, 2023
You brush, you floss, you come in for regular check ups with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos…what more can you do to protect your teeth? Good oral health doesn’t just happen in the dentist office or in your bathroom…it also happens in your kitchen and at your breakfast table. Your body is a complex machine and your diet has a big impact on your oral health. In other words, what you eat matters! At FDA, we provide dental care that goes beyond your smile and takes the health of your whole body into account. We’ve talked about foods that can boost your oral health, like apples and yogurt, but what are some foods you should steer clear of in the name of protecting your pearly whites? Here are five foods to avoid:
Sticky Foods
It should come as no surprise that candy can cause cavities. Gummies and sticky taffy are some of the worst offenders! However, there is a sticky food people often associate with healthy snacking – dried fruit. Many dried fruits are quite sticky and can get stuck in the nooks and crannies of your teeth. Dried fruit also tends to be high in sugar, which can lead to cavities.
Ice
Nothing beats an ice-cold drink on a hot day! However, if you find yourself regularly crunching on the ice chunks in your refreshing beverage, you may be setting yourself up for a cracked tooth! Do your teeth a favor – and avoid an emergency visit with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos – and break the habit! For added protection, use a stainless steel or compostable straw to sip icy drinks.
Too Much Citrus
Citrus fruits are highly acidic and frequent exposure to acidic foods can erode your enamel. The acidity can also cause sensitivity in your teeth and gums. While consuming vitamin C is an important part of a healthy, holistic oral care routine, make sure you don’t go overboard. Using a straw while you sip your OJ can help limit exposure to your enamel and a simple fresh water rinse after drinking fruit juice or eating citrus can help protect your teeth.
Soda
Soda is bad for your health and bad for your teeth. Those sugary drinks are food for plaque bacteria, which turns the sugar into acid that can damage your enamel. Caffeine in soda can also dry out your mouth, which creates an environment where cavity-causing bacteria can thrive. If you can’t give up your soda fix, make sure you drink plenty of water as well.
Starchy Snacks
Many people only worry about sweet treats when it comes to their oral health, but starchy snacks can be just as damaging. Snacks like potato chips are starchy and get stuck in the nooks and crannies of your teeth. Starches are complex carbohydrates with long chains of sugar molecules. When left behind, your saliva turns that starch into sugar that feeds bacteria in your mouth, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. After indulging in your favorite crunchy, starchy snacks, make sure you rinse with water, spend extra care brushing and flossing to remove any leftover food particles.
If you have questions about how your diet is impacting your oral health or need to schedule your next appointment with us, please give us a call at 207.781.5900. We are your partner in oral health and here to help!
Oct 2, 2023
Need a reason to smile? The first Friday in October is World Smile Day. This unofficial holiday has a simple mission: to encourage people to do acts of kindness and help others smile. At FDA, we love helping our patients achieve the smile of their dreams! Whether it’s finding a home-care routine that supports your oral health goals or a cosmetic procedure that boosts your confidence, we are in the smile business. To honor World Smile Day, we look at the history of this fun worldwide celebration, and outline the ways we can help you smile today…and everyday!
World Smile Day
Back in 1963, commercial artist Harvey Ball created the smiley face – that iconic cheerful, yellow circle with an eyes and mouth. The image became one of the most recognizable symbols of goodwill and cheer in the world. Concerned about the over-commercialized use of “Smiley” and the loss of its original meaning, Ball created World Smile Day. He believed that everyone should devote at least one day to smiles and acts of kindness. The first Smile Day was held in 1999 in Ball’s hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts. You can join the celebration each year on the first Friday in October by following its simple challenge: “Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.”
Helping Mainers Smile
Since 1974, Falmouth Dental Arts has been on the cutting edge of dentistry and focused on patient care. For us, a healthy and happy smile is about more than just clean teeth. It’s about your whole-body health and your comfort when you are in our care. We work closely with you to design a dental plan that fits your needs and your budget so you can make the best possible choices for your health. We offer a wide range of services to provide the best oral care possible and help our patients achieve the smile of their dreams!
- Family Dentistry – We believe that oral health is important at every age, no matter the state of your dental health. Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos and our entire staff are committed to providing a caring and compassionate environment for you to receive excellent dental care. Our use of crest-of-the-wave technology, such as 3D Imaging and Same-Day Crowns, offers patients the highest quality of care and more comfortable experience. We will help you maintain your oral hygiene and develop a home care regimen that improves your oral health and gives you a bright smile that will last a lifetime!
- Cosmetic Dentistry – When you’re self-conscious about showing your teeth, you may talk less, laugh less, and smile less. We can help you change that in just one or two dental visits. Many dental issues can be addressed with cosmetic dentistry – from chipped teeth to crooked teeth, stained teeth or lost teeth. A simple consultation with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos can help you get on the path to the smile of your dreams!
We’d love to hear about what is making you smile these days! Please share with us on our Facebook page! Bonus points if you share an act of kindness on World Smile Day! If your smile needs a little attention and care, give us a call today at 207.781.5900. We can set you up with a consultation appointment for a cosmetic procedure or help you schedule your next check up. Let us help you have a healthy, happy smile!!
