Oct 1, 2024
Witches, ghosts, and CANDY…oh my! At FDA we love the spooky fun of Halloween! We know some of our patients worry that all the trick-or-treating candy can be scary for their kids’ oral health, but there are some easy ways to make Halloween more tooth-friendly. We are passionate about teaching kids and families healthy oral care habits right from the start and have three tips on how to keep it a healthy holiday!
Set a Daily Candy Limit
As with most things, moderation is key! After you marvel at your child’s trick-or-treating haul, set a daily candy limit or quota for them. It’s true that some candy is better than others when it comes to your teeth – sticky and chewy choices tend to linger on the teeth and have been known to cause issues. Limit those, but let your child pick their favorites and then save the rest. Also, since most kids get way more candy than they can eat from trick-or-treating, talk with your kids about donating some of the leftover candy. For example, they can share some of their candy with an organization that sends care packages overseas to active military members. Talk about a feel-good way to limit their candy intake!
Remember to Brush & Rinse
Brushing and flossing is important every day, and it’s extra important on the days your kids are eating candy. If they’ve been enjoying some candy that is especially sticky, encourage your child to floss and brush right afterwards. This will help protect their tooth enamel. Drinking water after eating or drinking anything sugary is also a great cavity preventative. It can help rinse your mouth of bacteria and neutralize any acidity that is present. So, keep you kids brushing and rinsing!
Schedule a Checkup
Regular checkups with Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos are integral to maintaining your child’s oral health, and Halloween is a great reminder to get your kids in for a cleaning. Give us a call at 207.781.5900 if you have any questions about your child’s oral health, or would like to schedule an appointment – we’re here to help keep your kid’s smile healthy and happy!
Sep 5, 2024
At Falmouth Dental Arts, patient care is our top priority, and for us a big part of that is making sure you are comfortable. This approach extends to all aspects of our dental practice – from scheduling and payments to the waiting room and the dental chair. Our goal is to develop a partnership with you so you feel connected to our compassionate team and to your oral health care. Let us count the ways we strive to make your oral health care as comfortable as possible.
Our Team
We have the best and most caring dental professionals! Everyone at FDA is committed to patient care and comfort and we all strive to make your visits to our office as easy as possible. From Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos and our front desk team to our Hygienists and Dental Assistants, we love helping you smile! Our compassionate team is always happy to answer questions about your oral health care, demonstrate proper oral health techniques, and go the extra mile so you feel relaxed and comfortable.
Our Approach
Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos don’t just see your smile, they see you as a whole person. We follow an Integrative Dentistry philosophy, which takes your entire wellbeing into account when providing oral care. By approaching dentistry with the whole body in mind, we can better educate and communicate with our patients about their care. Our goal is to form a partnership with you and design a dental plan together that fits your needs and budget. We believe that when you are actively involved in your treatment plans and oral health care, you feel more comfortable and more confident.
Our Technology
Being committed to utilizing the latest dental technologies in our practice means our patients have more options and more solutions in their dental care. From 3D X-Rays to our innovative in-house laboratory that makes same-day crowns for our patients, we are always looking for the best ways to accommodate our patients.
At FDA, we are here to help you get the best and most comfortable dental care possible. If you have any questions or need to schedule an upcoming appointment, please give us a call at 207.781.5900. We are your partner in oral health!
Sep 4, 2024
You can feel it in the air – September has arrived! That means it is back to school time! As you get your child ready for another year of learning and growing, it’s a great time to make sure they have their next check-up with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos scheduled. At Falmouth Dental Arts, we believe good dental habits start early and we love helping our youngest patients learn more about their oral health. Books are a great way to prepare your kids for what they can expect during a dental appointment and encourage healthy habits. In the spirit of the back to school season, we put together a list of some of our favorite books about visiting the dentist!
Tooth by Leslie Patricelli
It’s an exciting time when your baby gets their first tooth! Your kids will love this colorful and fun board book that will introduce your child to the wonderful world of teeth and how to keep them healthy!
The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan and Jan Berenstain
This book is a classic! Your kids can tag along as the whole Bear Family goes to the dentist to get their teeth cleaned and learn about oral health care. It’s also a great introduction to the tooth fairy!
The Tooth Book by Dr. Suess
Another classic to add to your bookshelves! When it comes to writing that is silly and clever, nobody beats Dr. Suess, and this book teaches kids all about why it’s important to take care of their teeth.
Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Brush
Even monsters need to brush their teeth! This pop-up book features all your favorite Sesame Street monsters as they learn how to brush their teeth and visit the dentist.
The Night Before the Dentist by Natasha Wing
This rhyming story follows a boy on his journey to the dentist for a check up. Filled with helpful details so your child will know what to expect, this is a great book for kids who feel a little nervous about coming in for an appointment.
The list could go on and on…there are so many great books for kids that will help them feel more comfortable about coming in for check ups with Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos and more confident about taking good care of their teeth at home. Reading books together is a great way to talk about the importance of good oral health habits! What are your favorite books about visiting the dentist? Let us know on our Facebook page! If you have questions or need to schedule your child’s next dental appointment, please call us at 207.781.5900. We love helping our patients smile!
Aug 2, 2024
Dental emergencies happen. Anytime you injure your teeth or gums, you should treat it seriously. Dental problems that are not addressed in a timely manner can increase the chance for permanent damage as well as the potential need for more extensive procedures to fix them down the road. At Falmouth Dental Arts, we’re here to be your partners in oral health and want to make sure you know what to do if you or your child injures their teeth or mouth.
The first thing to know if a dental injury does occur, is that you should call our office right away at 207.781.5900 to schedule an appointment. Our team of compassionate dental professionals will help you determine a treatment plan and coordinate with your other health care professionals as needed. If it is outside of our regular business hours, you will be given an option to get in touch with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos. To relieve pain, you can apply a cold compress or take over-the-counter painkillers until you can get into our office. In the event of a head injury or any other type of serious injury, please contact your physician as soon as possible or go to your nearest emergency room.
If you find yourself with a dental injury that isn’t an emergency and doesn’t require immediate care, there are some steps you can take at home that can be helpful before you come into our office for your appointment.
Toothache
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Floss to remove any food particles that may be adding pressure to the tooth.
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek if your mouth is swollen.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers as needed.
Knocked Out Tooth
- Find the tooth if you can! Rinse it off with water if it is dirty.
- If you have bleeding in the mouth, use gauze to gently absorb it.
- Store your tooth in milk until you can see Dr. B or Dr. K. *Please note, knocked out teeth have the best chance of being saved if they are returned to socket within an hour.
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek if your mouth or lip is swollen.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers as needed.
Chipped Tooth
- If a piece of your tooth chips off, save it if you can.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water, gently.
- If you have bleeding in the mouth, use gauze to gently absorb it.
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek if your mouth or lip is swollen.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers as needed.
Lost Filling
- Stick a piece of sugar-free gum in the cavity as a temporary measure until you can come in to see Dr. B or Dr. K.
Lost Crown
- If you can find the crown, store it in a safe place so you can bring it to your dental appointment.
- If the area is causing you pain, apply clove oil with a cotton swab to the sensitive area.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers as needed.
This time of year, school sports are starting up again. Consider protecting the teeth of your active kids with a mouth guard! We have the capability in our office to make a custom-fit mouth guard for your kid. If you’re buying a mouth guard over-the-counter, look for one that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance and is designed for the specific sport of activity your child is playing. If you have questions about mouth guards or what to do when a dental emergency or dental injury occurs, please don’t hesitate to call our office. We are here to help and provide you with the best oral care possible!
Aug 1, 2024
At the heart of every oral care routine is toothpaste. You brush your teeth twice a day, so you want to find the toothpaste that’s right for you. Visit any drugstore, however, and you can get overwhelmed by the amount of choices! How do you know which one is right for you and your needs? At FDA, we are always happy to assist our patients in making decisions about their well-being, whether that means choosing the right dental treatment plan or helping a patient set up a home care routine. In that spirit, here is some helpful information for choosing a toothpaste that’s right for you and your oral care.
ADA Seal of Acceptance
First things first – the ADA is a great resource when you’re looking for the best products to help maintain your oral health. When choosing a toothpaste, make sure you buy a product with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. They’ve done their research! Toothpastes with the Seal must contain fluoride and meet the ADA’s requirements for “safety and efficacy in reducing tooth decay.” So, look for their seal on any tube of toothpaste you are considering for your home oral care.
Next, you’ll want to consider your oral health care needs and priorities. Here are a few examples:
- Whiter Teeth: You can achieve a brighter, more confident smile with a whitening toothpaste. Look for a tube with ingredients such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide; these are effective whitening agents. Please note whitening toothpastes can use abrasives and/or chemicals to polish teeth and eliminate surface stains, which may trigger a reaction in some people. FDA also provides both in-house and at-home whitening treatment options. Please give us a call to schedule a consultation with Dr. B or Dr. K if you’d like to learn more!
- Tartar Control: If your check-up revealed that you have a tartar issue, you may want to look for a toothpaste with extra tart control. Tartar is a hardened form of dental plaque and can lead to gum disease. Please note that tartar control toothpaste may cause sensitivity for some individuals.
- Sensitive Teeth: If you find yourself reacting when you come in contact with food or drinks that are cold or hot, you likely have sensitive teeth. There are a variety of reasons you may be experiencing sensitivity, from exposed dentin or receding gums. Fortunately, there are also toothpaste that can help lessen your sensitivity symptoms. For example, toothpastes with potassium nitrate can help soothe nerve endings, while toothpastes with chlorhexidine can help reduce plaque and prevent gum disease. One product we carry at FDA is MI Paste, which is fortified with calcium, fluoride and phosphate and helps replace minerals lost in the tooth’s structure. If you have concerns about your teeth sensitivity, your first step should be to come in for an appointment with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos so they can assess your oral health and help you find the product that will best alleviate your sensitivity symptoms.
- All-Natural Ingredients: If you’re interested in a more organic lifestyle, consider an all-natural toothpaste free of harsh chemicals. For example, ingredients in traditional toothpastes, such as SLS, which acts as a foaming agent, can irritate some people’s gums. Choosing a natural toothpaste can be a great choice for both your oral health and the health of the planet!
- Toothpaste for Kids: We love getting kids to brush and often hear from our littlest patients that the taste of their toothpaste is important. Fortunately, you can now find way more exciting options than just minty fresh! From a berry-blast to a bubblegum sparkle, there are all sorts of fun flavor options out there. Beyond flavor, toothpaste for kids can often feature their favorite cartoon characters as well. Empower your little ones to participate in their oral care by letting them choose their own toothpaste.
Whatever tube of toothpaste you choose, make sure you brush those beautiful teeth of yours twice a day. If you still have questions about the best toothpaste for you, please give us a call at 207.781.5900. We’re here to be your partner in oral health!
