November 14 – World Diabetes Day

November 14th is World Diabetes Day. Diabetics produce less saliva, which plays an important part in keeping your mouth healthy. For this and other reasons, people with diabetes are especially vulnerable to gum disease, including painful gum infections.

If you have diabetes, it is important to pay attention to changes in your mouth that could be warning signs of infections, tooth decay, or other serious oral health problems. Changes include sore gums, bleeding gums, increased sensitivity, chronic dry mouth, and white patches on the gums.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects many areas of health. However, much like with oral health, a good diet goes a long way. Controlling your glucose levels by abstaining from sugar and other foods that cause glucose spikes will help keep you smiling.

Just as you check in on your glucose levels, check in on your oral health by visiting Falmouth Dental Arts. Regular dental check ups are necessary to maintain good oral health and stop problems before they stop your smile. Call us at 207-781-5900.

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52% of people do not like their smile.

smiling-woman-in-dental-chairThat is a pretty high statistic if you ask us. Especially because you have some control over that. Over our many years practicing dentistry, we have found that most people visit us for any one of these three distinct reasons.

 

Fear – some people are just plain petrified of the dentist. It the fearful ones have had some traumatizing experiences in the past, and even if they didn’t, they know how old school dentistry did their work – fill, drill, and bill. That philosophy is a thing of the past, and something we never, ever, ever bought into here at FDA. We know some people have pre-appointment nerves and apprehensions, and we take every single one of those into account no matter how irrational those fears may be. We are here to calm your nerves and fix your teeth!

Personal Image – people want to look good. Of course it is true, and why wouldn’t it be? Your smile is a focal point of your face and people notice it, so it is normal to want a great smile. Whether that means veneers, whitening, tooth replacement, or orthodontics, we can help you get to where you want to go and get you that beautiful, confident smile of your dreams.

Function – some people have such a serious problem that it impacts the way that they are talking and eating. People often wait until they are in serious pain and discomfort before they visit us, and although we are glad to see that they finally come in to fix the problem, waiting around often complicates things further. The sooner you come in, the easier it is to treat the problem, the more treatment options we will likely have, and the faster your recovery will be. So if you’re hurting or uncomfortable, or something just doesn’t feel right in your mouth, then don’t wait around forever, come visit us! Our promise is to solve the problem and lay out a treatment plan together – one that you are completely comfortable with.

 

We know how to help even the most fearful patients who have the most complicated issues. We talk and formulate a treatment plan together that fits your lifestyle and budget. The most important thing to understand is that we are a team, and we have the same goals that you do to get you your perfect smile.

If you know a person who is so fearful of the dentist that they haven’t been in ages, then please share this blog post with them and tell them about us. We would love to talk with them.

National Smile Week: August 10-16th

happy-familyNational Smile Week is the second week of August! In many different ways, wearing a smile can be a lot more beneficial to you than you may think. To prove our point, and in honor of National Smile Week, we compiled a list of 10 reasons smiling is good for you.

  1. Smiling is attractive. That’s why it is the universal expression when we take pictures – especially selfies 😉 … OK, we are just kidding about the selfies part, but the rest is true! There is an attraction factor in smiling that naturally draws people in. Who doesn’t want to get to know that person with a smile that can light up a room? Be that person!
  2. It is scientifically proven to be able to change your mood. Next time you are sad or frustrated or upset or angry, turn that frown upside down. The short explanation is that smiling triggers the brain to release certain hormones that make you happier. Give it a try, what’s the worst that can happen?
  3. Smiling is contagious. You know it is, so don’t you deny it! A smile is as contagious as a yawn. If you are a happy person who smiles naturally and genuinely, then others will gravitate to that and love you for the positive energy you bring to any situation.
  4. Smiling is a stress reliever. One of the places where stress makes itself most obvious is in our faces. Take a breath and put on a smile next time you are stressed – go to your happy place. If you do, the stress should be reduced enough for you to gather your thoughts and take action.
  5. Smiling can help keep you healthy. It is thought that smiling relaxes you which allows your immune system to function more efficiently and effectively. A smile a day keeps the doctor away!
  6. Smiling lowers blood pressure. Try it out if you don’t believe us. Take a blood pressure reading like you regularly would. After you get an accurate reading, smile for a minute, then take another reading (while still smiling if you’d like). What are the results?
  7. Smiling makes us feel good. Studies have shown that the physical act of smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin – together, this combination makes us feel good.
  8. Smiling makes you look younger. The muscles we use to smile lift the face which makes a person appear younger. Forget the plastic surgery, just smile!
  9. Smiling exudes confidence. If you smile often you appear to be a confident person and you are also much more approachable. This can lead to positive recognition by your family, friends, and co-workers.
  10. Smiling keeps the glass half full. It’s hard not to stay positive with a smile on your face. And if you can put a smile on someone else’s face…well, then that is even better.

 

Happy National Smile Week! Don’t be shy – be sure to share plenty friendly smiles all week long!

 

Sourcehttp://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongbeauty/tp/smiling.htm

Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Clean at the BBQ

messy-ribsBarbecued meats aren’t exactly known for being the tidiest foods to eat. From getting sauces on your fingers and clothes to getting food stuck in your teeth, chowing down at a barbecue can be a messy endeavor. Getting your hands a little dirty might be part of the BBQ tradition, but we can at least offer some tips to help you keep a clean smile while you’re socializing.

Wings and ribs in particular are infamous for getting stuck between teeth, but those veggie platters can be useful beyond just scooping up bleu cheese! Munching on raw carrots, celery, or other veggies can help dislodge food that gets stuck in your teeth.

Similarly, raw fruits (especially apples and other hard, crisp fruits) do wonders to help cleanse the mouth. Having a bowl of fruit salad instead of that second rack of ribs might also save you from falling asleep on the couch afterwards! And if all else fails, bringing dental floss, or a couple dental flossers with you can be very handy for those hard-to-reach spots or that piece of food that won’t budge.

Join the “Go Red” movement

go red for womenOftentimes, people don’t participate in these sorts of things because they do not know how to start to get involved. Not knowing where to begin can be scary and add stress to your already stressful life. But just think of the potential implications if you don’t join…

Joining this movement is easy. It starts with taking care of yourself. Then you can take care of your loved ones. Then, before you know it, you are an advocate for Heart Health everywhere you go.

Here are 10 ways that you can “Go Red” provided by the American Heart Association:

  1. Know Your Heart Score
  2. Live Healthy
  3. Know the Signs of a Heart Attack
  4. Start Walking
  5. Wear Red
  6. Host a ‘Wear Red Day’ Event
  7. Help your Community Go Red
  8. Go Red Online
  9. Shop for the Cause
  10. Support Go Red

It doesn’t always have to be extravagant or a monumental event to be helpful and beneficial. Every little bit helps, and it especially helps you! Get the list in more detail by clicking this link to it’s page on the American Heart Association website!

Also, check out this video! http://vimeo.com/85786476