Sep 11, 2020
Pack your toothbrush! Let’s travel around the world and learn about tooth culture in other countries! While the goal of oral health is the same across the globe, other cultures have different values and practices surrounding teeth. At FDA, we love an opportunity to learn…come join us in this dental exploration!
Tooth Fairy or Magic Mouse?
What do your kids do when they lose a tooth? Throw it up on the roof? If you lived in Vietnam, that is exactly what they would do! There are oodles of interesting teeth traditions beyond the tooth fairy. For example, in Mexico, kids put their teeth in a little box for El Raton, a magic mouse, kids in South Africa put their lost teeth in their slipper for another magic mouse, and Yupik children in Alaska feed their teeth to the family dog with the hope it will help a new healthy tooth replace it. You and your kids can learn about more traditions from around the world with the book Throw Your Tooth on the Roof!
Straight Teeth or Crooked Teeth?
Americans are known for their love of straight teeth and can spend a lot of time with a dentist or orthodontist to achieve that perfectly aligned smile. In Japan, however, you might ask your dentist to give you a more crooked, pointy grin with Yaeba. Yaeba, or “double tooth” is a cosmetic procedure to make a cap for the canine teeth that is longer and pointier. It is associated with youthfulness and natural beauty and a popular trend for young women.
Toothbrush or Chewing Stick?
The toothbrush is an integral part of our oral health regimen and key to keeping plaque at bay, but have you ever tried Miswak? Miswak is an Arabic word meaning “tooth-cleaning stick” and is considered to be the first documented form of dental hygiene. Made from the Salvadora persica tree, it is popular throughout the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, and is gaining popularity in other parts of the world as well. In fact, there are some studies that show that using a Miswak is as effective or greater than a toothbrush. Given that it’s 100% natural and biodegradable, more and more people are turning to Miswak as a natural oral health care option.
We hope you enjoyed these fascinating facts from around the world! If you know about any other fun tooth culture trivia, share it on our Facebook page! We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment!
Jan 16, 2019
New year…new you! New Year’s resolutions are a great way to get back on track with some healthy habits. As you gear up to get more exercise and eat more vegetables in 2019, don’t forget about your teeth! Improving your oral health habits not only helps your smile, but can help your overall health as well (remember our post on dental health during pregnancy and on diabetes?). We know that sticking to your New Year’s resolutions can be overwhelming and challenging so we decided to share three easy oral health resolutions that will make a difference.
1. Buy a new toothbrush.
Twice daily toothbrushing puts some wear and tear on those bristles and if you notice your toothbrush looking frayed and worn it’s definitely time for a new one. Also, with cold and flu season in full swing, it’s a good idea to replace your family’s toothbrushes if anyone has been sick. At FDA, we recommend electric toothbrushes to make brushing more effective and those need replacing periodically as well. Fresh bristles are more effective at cleaning your teeth and the ADA recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. Put a reminder in your calendar and keep your toothbrush and your teeth fresh!
2. Floss.
We know, we know…you’ve heard about the importance of flossing a million times and yet only about 30% of American floss their teeth daily. This can be a hard habit to incorporate into your routine, but it has incredible benefits for your mouth and your overall health. If you are having trouble incorporating flossing into your oral health care regimen, here are some tips:
- Switch up the time of day. If you’re always too tired to floss at the end of the day, try flossing in the morning or mid-day. It’s not important when you clean between your teeth, it’s just important that you do it.
- Talk to your dentist about alternatives to floss. Dental picks or water flossing, which works in the shower, might be easier options for you to use regularly.
3. Visit the Dentist!
Have you been meaning to make an appointment with us for some time? Now is a great time to give us a call and schedule a check-up! We are here to help you develop healthy habits and inform you about the best oral care options available. We recommend that you come see us for cleanings and checkups twice a year. If you are nervous about coming to the dentist, we are happy to discuss our oral sedation options. We love helping you have a beautiful smile and a healthy mouth! Give us a call at 207.781.5900 today!
***Image courtesy of www.harvard.edu
May 29, 2018
Oral care is important and with ever-changing technology, there are more and more options to help make it just a bit easier. In the early ‘90s, the electric toothbrush entered the market, helping to improve oral care for millions of Americans. But in 2018, inventors are setting out to create even more options to make brushing your teeth effortless. We found three toothbrushes that can help make your daily routines faster, cleaner, and more convenient…and can make you feel like you are one of the Jetsons!
Image from http://www.unico-smartbrush.com
Ever heard of Unico? Invented in Italy, this toothbrush looks like a mouthguard and claims to completely clean your teeth in just three seconds! While this might sound crazy, the inventor’s logic isn’t wrong. As you’ve heard since you were a child, we recommend brushing your teeth for at least two full minutes. If you do the math, that comes to spending 3.75 seconds per tooth, or 1.25 seconds for each of the three exposed surfaces of your tooth. The unique design of this futuristic toothbrush allows each surface of every one of your teeth to be cleaned at the same time…meaning your teeth can be brushed in the same amount of time it takes you to spray on cologne or put on mascara.
Aura Clean is the smartphone of the toothbrush world. While it may just seem like a standard sonic toothbrush, this brush delivers up to 40,000 strokes per minute to safety remove food particles and polish your teeth. Like many electric toothbrushes, it has a two minute timer, but what is unique about this brush is that it also features an interval alert every 30 seconds, letting you know when to change “zones.” The Aura Clean Brush also comes with a pod that, using a UV light, cleans your toothbrush head after every use. It also has drying capabilities to get make sure no germs settle in between your bristles.
Quip is another cool toothbrush we have found that can make taking care of your teeth easier. While the technology isn’t quite considered “futuristic” the concept definitely is. We recommend changing your toothbrush or toothbrush head every three months. However, it is easy to forget. With Quip, you don’t have to remember! Every three months, a new toothbrush head (and a new tube of toothpaste) is delivered straight to your door automatically! This ensures your bristles are fresh and working effectively.
Whether you use a “smart” brush or the tried and true manual brush, what we care about here at Falmouth Dental Arts is that you are taking the time to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Due for a new brush? Schedule an appointment today to see your hygienist and get a free manual brush on us!
