Dec 13, 2012
At Falmouth Dental Arts we love New Year’s Resolutions. After all, the new year is a great time to start fresh with some good habits.
But the problem with New Year’s Resolutions is that they are usually broken way before Groundhog Day. Why? We simply make them too darn difficult. So 2013 may not be the year you lose 220 pounds, visit the gym six times per week, eat kale shakes for breakfast every morning, write the Great American Novel and train a world class Portuguese Water Dog. But it very well may be the year you start some healthy habits that last the rest of your longer, healthier life!
Here are a few suggestions:
1) Walk, Don’t Run! If you’re the type that can train for a local 10K race, that’s great. But if it’s not your thing, you can still benefit from more walking. Here’s a simple way to make it happen. Whenever you are faced with a situation to use an elevator or escalator, make it your personal rule that if it is one flight up or two flights down, you’ll take the steps. It’s easy!
2) Don’t cruise the lot! Instead of spending your time looking for a “great” parking space, park a little far away intentionally. You’ll not only get in a few extra steps (which will amount to a few miles soon!) – your car will get less dinged up!
3) Know Your Numbers! Make sure that you get an annual physical which includes a blood test. Knowing your cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and other vital statistics, and then taking the proper measures recommended by your physician will automatically put you in the top half of healthy Americans!
4) Test Yourself! It has been proven that knowing how to do a breast or testicular self-exam can save your life. (If you’re not sure which one to do, your problem is a bit more complicated.) Ask your health practitioner how to do it, or even check out a video on You Tube!
5) Drop The Diet! No – not the healthy eating pattern – the diet soda!! It contains all kinds of chemicals and many people theorize it actually makes you hungrier. There is simply nothing good about diet soda. Switch to water, unsweetened tea with lemon, or even black coffee in moderation.
6) Speaking Of Soda….. One of the simplest things anyone can do to become immediately healthier is to go cold turkey on sodas and sports drinks. They are loaded with sugar and are simply unnecessary. If all you do to change your diet is to drop these two things, pounds can actually melt off quickly and never come back!
7) Think positively! It may sound trite, but if you believe good things are going to happen, they probably will. Seeing the worst in every situation simply stresses you out and causes you to react negatively. Those who think happy usually are!
8) Do what scares you! Pick one thing that you have been afraid to do, and commit to it. Put it on your calendar. Tell your friends or family members that you are going to do it. Then do it!! It could be a polar bear plunge, skydiving, a trip to Europe, quitting your job, reuniting with an old friend you had a fight with – it doesn’t matter! Pick one thing, put it on your calendar, and do it! Then do another……
9) Appreciate What You Have and Don’t Envy Others. Enough said! Pull this one off successfully and your entire life will change!
10) FLOSS!! The benefits of healthy gums are numerous, including fresher breath, a lifetime of teeth, reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes, and many more. It’s simple to do and takes just one minute per day, yet practically no one does it! If you’re not sure how to floss properly, we would love to show you! Even if you feel you are not coordinated enough, we can show you some inexpensive gadgets that will help. Make 2013 the year of the floss!!
So there you have it – ten simple healthy New Year’s tips that anyone can do!! Feel free to add you own. And since dental health and a beautiful smile are also on your list, don’t forget that we are here for you! If you have any questions or need to make an appointment, simply give us a call at 7-207-781-5900. Happy New Year!!
Nov 8, 2012
Do you have a family member or friend that has a serious fear of visiting a dentist and receiving necessary dental treatments. The IV Sedation service at Falmouth Dental Arts may be the perfect solution. If someone you care about suffers from dental anxiety, please forward this information which explains how IV Sedation could help make dental experiences more pleasant:
Do you have…
• A history of traumatic dental experiences
• Extremely sensitive teeth
• Sensitive gag reflex
• Complex dental problems or a need for surgery?
• Are you in denial or do you ignore your dental problems until the pain is unbearable?
• Have you avoided seeing a dentist for many years, even decades?
How IV Sedation works: Our certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) will adminster sedation drugs via IV (even numbing the back of the hand first!), which quickly relaxes the patient. We will be able to complete several dental procedures at once to reduce the need for numerous return visits. During the sedation period, patients will breathe on their own and will not recall the procedures–not the smells, sounds or feelings. We include time after the procedure for the patient to continue resting in the office and we suggest that patients have someone drive them to and from the appointment, due to the relaxing effects of the medication.
Visit our website for further details on how IV Sedation works at Falmouth Dental Arts.
Do you think sedation dentistry could help you or someone you love? Call us today at 207.781.5900 with any questions.
Nov 8, 2012
According to researchers, only 10 percent of the population brushes their teeth correctly. Let’s improve the score in Maine! Below are Falmouth Dental Arts’ top tips for brushing properly.
Top Brushing Tips:
- Use a smaller, rather than a larger toothbrush. Electric is best! The more comfortable the brush feels to you, the more likely you are to use it twice a day.
- A soft-bristled brush (and a gentle hand) is best, as it will safe your sensitive gum tissue from being brushed away.
- Spend about two minutes brushing. Take your time and thoroughly, yet gently clean the top right, bottom right, top left and bottom left sections of your teeth.
- Holding your brush at a 45-degree angle will hit the high spots as well as the hard to reach ones, such as where tooth meets gum.
- Brush the inner surfaces of your teeth and your tongue for a thorough job.
- After brushing, be sure to rinse away all of the bacteria now floating around in your mouth. Rinse your toothbrush head as well.
- Change your toothbrush or brush head about every three months, or less if it begins to looked frayed. If it’s in bad shape, it won’t clean effectively.
- But before you begin brushing, make sure you floss! Flossing once a day helps keep bacteria from forming in those hard to reach places that are immune to brushes.
Find out even more about good brushing habits by visiting our website.
Would you like a one-on-one brushing demonstration? Just let your hygenist know during your next appointment, or call our office at 207.781.5900 to schedule an appointment. We’re here to help you help your teeth!
Nov 8, 2012
While many of you may have already met Brian Brunacini, DDS, we’d like to introduce those who have not had the pleasure. Known around here as Dr. Brian, he was drawn to Falmouth Dental Arts because of our great staff and interest in using the best in cutting-edge techology.
Dr. Brian enjoys helping patients improve their dental and overall health, as well as building lasting patient relationships. Since joining our practice, he has completed an oral conscious sedation course and is working toward placing implants and performing surgery. Read more about Dr. Brian in his full bio on our web site.
Does Dr. Brian seem like the dentist for you? Give us a ring at 207.781.5900 and we’ll schedule a new patient appointment for you. It’s never too late to find just the right dentist, in just the right office!
Aug 20, 2012
Almost everybody brushes their teeth, but only one in ten people are doing it effectively!
To that, we have to say a great big “YUCK!!” Imagine if only ten percent of the population showered correctly. That would be pretty gross. But according to researchers at The University of Gothenburg, ninety percent of the population does not brush their teeth in the right way!
Don’t worry!! Your friends at Falmouth Dental Arts are here to help you. So sit back and open wide as we present….
The Top Eight Toothbrushing Tips!
1. Size Matters!
Many people use a large toothbrush head thinking “the bigger the better.” But you can brush just as effectively if not more so with a smaller brush, especially if you have to strain your mouth to use a larger one.
According to dental consumer advisor Dr. Richard Price, “the more comfortable it is in your mouth and your hand, then the more likely you will use it and use it properly.”
2. It’s Good To Be A Softy!
It would seem to make sense that firmer bristles would clean your teeth better, but many times they just wind up damaging your sensitive gum tissue. The American Dental Association recommends a soft-bristled brush and we agree!
3. Don’t Do A Rush Job!
While most people spend fifteen seconds or so per round of brushing, a full two minutes is best. And to make sure you don’t play favorites, divide your mouth into four sections (upper right, lower right, etc..) and spend thirty seconds on each.
Some electric toothbrushes actually have timers, but you don’t need to be so fancy. Find a thirty second song and sing it to yourself for each mouth quarter. Or multitask by watching TV until the full two minutes is up.
4. What’s Your Angle?
While we typically picture toothbrushing to be a horizontal affair, that leaves out many important tooth surfaces, including the crucial area where the tooth meets the gum line. Aim your bristles at a forty-five degree angle and make sure they gently dip below the outer surface of your gums. This can get very tricky, and we recommend that you have one of the fantastic members of our dental hygiene team give you a full demonstration!
5. It’s An Inside Job!
The inner surfaces of the teeth are often overlooked, but just because they hide from daylight doesn’t mean you should neglect them! Take the time to brush all tooth surfaces, inside and out. Oh – don’t forget your tongue either!
6. Rinse-a-rama!
After you brush, loose bacteria are floating around in your mouth having a big old party. It’s time to finish them up with a rinse of mouthwash or even water. They’re on your toothbrush too, so it’s always a good idea to run that under the sink for a few seconds when you finish!
7. Forced Retirement
Many people get nostalgic over their old toothbrushes, but keeping them for too long is a big mistake!! Frayed bristles can’t clean correctly, and even worse – they harbor all kinds of nasty germs. The American Dental Association suggests changing your toothbrush every three to four months – but we think that may even be too long of an interval for many. When in doubt – toss it out!
8. And There’s One More Thing…..
Even though we are discussing toothbrushing, it just wouldn’t be complete without mentioning those tooth surfaces between your teeth – the ones that can’t be reached with a brush. Yes, that’s right – we all need to floss!! Daily flossing prevents cavities and helps to keep your gums in good shape.
At Falmouth Dental Arts, we want you to have strong healthy teeth and gums, fresh breath and a beautiful smile!! Please call us now at 207-781-5900 to schedule an appointment, ask any questions about keeping your teeth and gums nice and clean, or even to schedule a complimentary toothbrushing and flossing lesson! We are here for you!
