Jan 2, 2025
Happy New Year! Ready to give your smile a fresh start in 2025? January is the perfect opportunity to give your health and wellness habits an update. As you make your list of resolutions, don’t forget about your teeth! At FDA we often talk about the link between oral health and your overall wellness, which means taking care of your smile is an important part of taking care of yourself. To help make it easy for you, here are 5 healthy habits to incorporate into your 2025 routine.
Drink More Water
Want to feel more energized, boost your mood, and take care of your teeth all at once? Grab a glass of water! Drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day is good for your entire body, helping to flush out toxins and support your organs. Water also helps rinse away bacteria in your mouth which prevents tooth decay. Drink a glass of water after every meal and you’ll be doing your teeth and your body a favor!
Incorporate Healthy Dairy Into Your Diet
Want to give your teeth a boost? Incorporate healthy foods into your diet! An easy place to start is with cheese and yogurt – foods that are high in calcium. Calcium is crucial for the health of your teeth because it helps strengthen your enamel and protect against cavities. Cheese packs a double dose of fortification for your teeth because it also contains a protein called casein. Yogurt has an additional benefit as well; it is a probiotic, which will keep your mouth’s microbiome balanced with healthy bacteria. So say yes to cheese and yogurt!
Floss, Floss, Floss!
Want to know the best way you can improve your oral health? Flossing! Flossing will not only improve your gum health, but it will help prevent cavities, too. This is because flossing removes plaque and bacteria in the areas between your teeth that brushing alone misses. It’s one of the best things you can do during your oral care routine! We know it’s a tricky habit for many to stick with, so find what works best for you. Ready to take the flossing plunge? Set a goal for flossing once a week and work up to flossing once a day. You can try Plackers or a water flosser if you find traditional floss is difficult. Another idea – you can try bringing floss to work to take care of it during your lunch break if the morning is too rushed. Your teeth and gums will say thank you!
Brush Up on Your Brushing Technique
Want to get the most out of your brushing? Make sure your skills are up to speed! Proper technique includes brushing gently for 2-3 minutes, twice a day, holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line. Brush every surface of your teeth, both front and back. Also give your entire gum line a little massage as well – this will stimulate circulation and improve your gum health. If you want to take your brushing up another level, consider an electric toothbrush. They will help you get a superior clean every time you brush. Also, our team of hygienists is always happy to demonstrate best brushing techniques so feel free to ask at your next appointment!
Visit FDA!
Want to make maintaining your oral health easy? Come for regular checkups at our office! At FDA, we’re here to be your partner in oral health. Routine hygiene visits that include digital x-rays and cleanings are the best way to maintain your oral health. They also help us with early detection of issues such as oral cancer, tooth decay, and gum disease. Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos, along with our team of compassionate dental care professionals, will help you to develop a hygiene schedule at home, as well as in our office in the new year and beyond! If you need to schedule your next appointment, please give our office a call at 207.781.5900!
Jan 2, 2025
Falmouth Dental Arts has been providing complete, compassionate care for our patients in Southern Maine for over 50 years. We love helping our patients achieve the smile of their dreams and work to build a partnership so we can provide the highest quality dental care possible. People often ask questions about various aspects of our dental care practice. We collected a few of the most frequently asked questions and put all the answers in one place – the FAQs of FDA!
Are you accepting new patients?
Absolutely! We would be delighted to provide you with our quality oral health care. Dr. Brunacini, Dr. Karagiorgos, and our entire staff are dedicated to providing the most caring, comfortable environment possible while providing top quality dental care. We offer a range of treatments to help you attain your oral health goals – from routine hygiene visits to cosmetics enhancements. You can fill out our New Patient Form and one of our team members will reach out to get you scheduled! We look forward to being your partner in oral health!
Do you take my insurance?
We can bill most insurance companies. We are out of network with all insurances, so we encourage our patients to check their policy to see if they will work with us as an out of network dentist. It’s important to us that we can provide individualized treatment plans for all of our patients and not let the insurance company dictate the care we provide. This is a value for many of our patients. We are always happy to talk through all the options with our patients, so please call if you have any questions about insurance, billing, or your treatment options.
Do you see kids?
Yes! We see kids of all ages. At FDA, we believe good oral habits start early. We love helping our youngest patients have positive dental experiences both at home and at our office. Our team of caring and compassionate dental care professionals are wonderful at meeting your kids where they are and pay close attention to your child’s comfort level. We’ll work with you and your child to develop proper homecare habits and design office visits around your child’s readiness and needs. It is our pleasure to welcome your children to our practice!
How long has FDA been a practice?
FDA has been a local dental practice in Southern Maine for over 50 years! Our beloved Dr. Knock started it all back in 1974. Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos carry on his legacy of providing compassionate patient care in concert with crest-of–the-wave dental technologies. At FDA, we don’t just see your smile, we see you as a whole person. Our team works to provide a comfortable environment in every aspect of our care, from scheduling and making payments to getting a check up or a cosmetic enhancement. We’ve been a part of the small business community in Falmouth for decades and are dedicated to providing the best oral care possible!
What do you mean by “dental arts”?
As our founder Dr. Knock has said, “There is an artistry to dentistry, if the dentist is conscientious. It is quite aesthetic…the cosmetic dentistry that can be done to help a person.” We continue to provide this conscientious and aesthetic approach to dentistry and are further aided by the cutting-edge technology in our office, like our CEREC Same-Day Crowns. We have a range of cosmetic dentistry procedures that can give you the smile that not only a work of art, but the smile of your dreams!
If you have other questions for our team, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 207.781.5900! We are always happy to answer questions and are here to help!
Nov 6, 2024
This time of year is all about giving thanks. At FDA we are grateful for our family of patients and our amazing team of compassionate professionals. As you reflect on what you are grateful for this year, don’t forget to thank your teeth! Those pearly whites work hard for you every day! Here are 5 easy ways to say thank you to your teeth.
Floss
Flossing daily is the ultimate way to thank your teeth! Flossing cleans bacteria and food debris from the nooks and crannies between your teeth that toothbrushes can’t reach. Not only does it support your gum health, but it helps prevent cavities too. If you find traditional floss difficult to use, explore water flossers or floss picks like plackers. Give your teeth and gums that flossing love!
Get a New Brush
A new toothbrush is the perfect thank you gift for your teeth! The ADA recommends that you replace your toothbrush every three to four months. If you’ve had one of those pesky viruses that has been circulating this fall, that’s a good time to replace your brush, too. As you’re shopping for a new toothbrush, why not upgrade to an electric toothbrush?! Our hygienists swear by them – they really do an amazing job of removing bacteria, food debris, and plaque. Upgrade for the win!
Drink More Water
Toast your teeth! Water is not only great for your overall health, it’s great for your oral health as well. Drinking a glass of water after meals helps rinse away food and bacteria, which otherwise could cause gum inflammation and cavities. Three cheers for healthy teeth!
Eat Well
What you eat has an impact on your teeth. Show your gratitude for those chompers by choosing foods that will give your oral health a boost! For example, eating crunchy fruits and veggies will help clean your teeth as you chew and stimulate saliva to rinse your mouth of harmful bacteria. Plus they are chock full of vitamins and minerals! Eating yogurt with probiotics will help keep your mouth balanced with healthy bacteria. Also, cheese contains a protein called casein which helps fortify your tooth enamel. Eating well is good for your body and good for your teeth!
Visit FDA for Regular Checkups
The ultimate thank you for your teeth? Really pamper your teeth and bring them in for a cleaning and checkup! A cleaning from our team of hygienists is like a spa day for your teeth! Plus regular checkups with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos is an important part of any oral health care routine and a great way to give your teeth the care they deserve. At FDA, our top priority is making sure our patients receive the best oral care in an environment that is comfortable and supportive. If you have questions about your oral health or would like to schedule your next appointment, please give us a call at 207.781.5900. We’re your partner in oral health!
Oct 2, 2024
What have you done for your oral hygiene today? October is National Dental Hygiene Month, a month-long campaign focused on raising public awareness about oral health and hygiene. It’s also a reminder to thank your dental hygienist! At FDA, we have an amazing team of hygienists who are all wonderful ambassadors of excellent oral health: Alex, Diann, Erin, Jean, Kelly, and Lydianne. They are all committed to putting their patients’ comfort first and they love educating others about creating a personalized oral health routine. To help you get to know our rockstar hygienists a little better, they each share what they love about their work:
Alex
“Helping patients feel confident about their smile is such a rewarding experience! I love motivating patients to keep up with their oral care. Also, my goal is always to help patients feel relaxed at their appointment…I want patients to enjoy their visits here at FDA.”
Diann
“I love the enthusiasm created by the whole team learning together. We can branch off and learn about other things and then come back and share. Since we think of things in the long term, I’ve learned that listening today will help tomorrow.”
Erin
“FDA takes the time to get to know patients to create individual treatment plans based on their needs and wants. I love educating my patients about the new developments in dentistry.”
Jean
“The teamwork at FDA is unmatched. Helping hands are everywhere. The dental care is modern, conservative, and thorough; and it’s what I want for my own family.”
Kelly
We go above and beyond for our patients. In fact, I’ve built up a clientele that I’ve seen for so long, I just can’t wait to catch up with them during their next visit.”
Lydianne
“I especially enjoy working with patients who have dental anxiety. Meeting them where they are, addressing their concerns, and identifying what I can do to make them more comfortable is my favorite part of the job.”
Thank you to our incredible hygienists – Alex, Diann, Erin, Jean, Kelly, and Lydianne! You can help honor them by practicing good oral hygiene this month and every month! If you have any questions about oral hygiene tips or want to go over your oral health care routine, give us a call at 207.781.5900. We are here to be your partner in excellent oral health!
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!
