Jun 4, 2013
Are you one of the countless people suffering from seasonal allergies this time of year? Specifically pollen? Have you experienced itchiness, soreness or hives in your mouth as well? Then you may be surprised to discover that you may have Oral Allergy Syndrome.
For many people with pollen allergies, eating certain fruits and veggies may cause your mouth to show some of the symptoms mentioned above. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, up to one-third of people with pollen allergies may also have Oral Allergy Syndrome.
Don’t worry, though! Most cases are mild. However, on rare occasions, there are serious cases of anaphylaxis (a serious allergic reaction), so be conscientious of early warning signs if they appear.
It works like this. In hay fever, the immune system treats pollen like a foreign invader. The unpleasant allergy symptoms – itchy eyes, sore and scratchy throat, sneezing, coughing, runny or stuffy nose etc. – are the bodies reaction to rid the system of the intruder. Now, many fruits and veggies have proteins in them that are very similar to those found in pollen. In fact, they are so similar in some cases, that the body can mistake the proteins in your fruits and veggies, for that found in pollen! This is Oral Allergy Syndrome.
Here are some foods to watch out for if you are allergic to any of the following types of pollen:
- Ragweed Allergy: “Ragweed, in theory, cross-reacts with bananas and melons, so people with ragweed allergies may react to honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelons, or tomatoes,” says Warren V. Filley, MD, from the Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic in Oklahoma City. Zucchini, sunflower seeds, dandelions, chamomile tea, and echinacea also go on that list.
- Birch Pollen Allergy: People with birch pollen allergies may react to kiwi, apples, pears, peaches, plums, coriander, fennel, parsley, celery, cherries, carrots, hazelnuts, and almonds.
- Grass Allergy: People with grass allergy may react to peaches, celery, tomatoes, melons, and oranges, according to the AAAAI.
- Latex Rubber Allergy: Like pollen allergies, people allergic to latex rubber may react to bananas, avocados, kiwi, chestnut, and papaya.
Most people reported to have Oral Allergy Syndrome are in their 20’s and 30’s. If you think you could be one of those people who has Oral Allergy Syndrome, then see a board-certified allergist. Most cases are mild, but some are serious, so get checked out! Also, if you know you are allergic to pollen, be proactive and avoid trigger foods. If the foods are a favorite of yours, here are some other tips.
- Cook it. Cooking often breaks down or alters the trigger proteins so that the immune system doesn’t target them.
- Peel it. Peeling fruits such as apples may help, because most trigger proteins are in the peel.
- Can it. Canning also breaks down those proteins.
Mar 28, 2013
Dentistry has changed quite a bit over the past twenty years, most notably in the new forms of technology available to dentist offices. Things like digital x-rays, water cooled electric drills, lasers and even the use of microscopes have given us the opportunity to offer more effective treatments to our patients.
Because of the rapid changes in technology, the team at Falmouth Dental Arts puts a strong focus on continuing education for the entire staff. It is something we really take pride in and get excited about! Can you believe that the combined years of experience of our staff is 275?! Most recently, our hygiene team attended a class on dealing with gluten intolerance, sensitivity and celiac disease. In January, we took courses on periodontal disease diagnosis.
Our main focus is on the prevention of future dental problems with the use of fluorides and sealants on children. We also recognize that many of our patients are interested in the cosmetic treatments available to them, such as teeth whitening, veneers and orthodontics. With the new sleep apnea devices (can we link this to the sleep apnea page?) that are now available, we can even treat sleeping disorders with a custom fit mouthpiece.
Technology is changing dentistry, and we are committed to having the knowledge, education and training needed to deliver these new advances to our patients.
Feb 14, 2013
You probably know that Valentine’s Day is today, February 14th – but here are some interesting Valentine’s Day trivia facts you may not be aware of!!
- Every year over 1 billion Valentine’s cards are sent – second only to Christmas.
- The people who receive the most Valentine’s cards are teachers. They deserve it!
- Most flowers sold in the U.S. on Valentine’s Day are imported from South America.
- Richard Cadbury sold the first Valentine’s Day box of chocolates in 1868.
- This year over $1 billion will be spent on Valentine’s chocolates.
- It is believed that St. Valentine was put to death on February 14th. His last letter to his love (the jailer’s daughter) was signed, “From Your Valentine.”
- NECCO has been making heart-shaped candies with sweet sayings since 1902!
- Alexander Graham Bell applied for his telephone patent on Valentine’s Day in 1876. Many years later on February 14th penicillin was introduced!
- Men spend approximately twice as much as women for Valentine’s Day!
Okay – now that you are an expert on Valentine’s Day – is your mouth ready? Here are some things you can do to make sure!!
- Avoid foods that can cause bad breath such as garlic, onions and curry. While these foods are believed to be healthy, they can cause a kissing disaster unless your mate participates too!
- Use lip balm frequently. The cold winter months can make your lips feel like alligator skin!
- Drink water often throughout the day. This washes food particles out of your mouth and prevents dehydration, a leading cause of foul breath.
- If you are a fan of gum or mints, try those which contain Xylitol. Unlike sugar, it’s not harmful to your teeth, and actually fights off bad bacteria.
- Mouthwash can be good, but if your mouthwash contains alcohol (as many do) be careful! It can dry out the tissues of your mouth causing damage and a characteristic bad smell.
If you are due for a dental cleaning, want to find out about tooth whitening, or have any dental questions, give us a call at 1-207-781-5900 and we’ll get you in the schedule! After all, you want your Cupid kisses to be as pleasant as possible, and at Falmouth Dental Arts, we do too!!
Jan 23, 2013
Are you looking to have whiter teeth? A quick and easy process to achieve whiter teeth is through a laser teeth-whitening treatment. This treatment can be completed in just over an hour in our office.
The process for laser teeth whitening is simple. After ridding any plaque from your teeth and gums, a bleaching agent is applied with a laser. This laser allows the bleaching agent to penetrate the tooth enamel, giving you a whiter smile.
Choosing a laser teeth-whitening treatment over doing it yourself with an in-home treatment has three main benefits, including:
- The laser teeth whitening treatment can be done in just one quick office visit
- While a laser treatment will give you immediate results, in home treatments can take three to six months to see results
- Home teeth whitening products simply cannot get rid of deep stains like a laser can
If you’d like to hear more about the laser teeth whitening process or find out if this process is right for you, give us a call at (207) 781-5900.
Jan 23, 2013
Whether you have whitened your teeth at home or in the dentist’s office, you need to consider the foods you eat after a teeth-whitening procedure. After all, you want to keep that beautiful white smile for as long as possible.
There are actually some foods that many dentists recommend in order to avoid teeth staining. For example, certain fruits and vegetables, like apples, celery and carrot sticks, can actually cleanse your teeth as you eat. These food help produce more saliva that, in turn, helps counteract acids in the mouth. Dairy products, particularly hard cheeses, help fight cavities because of their lactic acid.
To avoid staining your newly whitened teeth, try to stay away from blackberries, soy sauce and red wine. These foods can stain teeth fairly quickly.
Paying attention to what you eat can truly help you maintain a brighter smile.
