Sep 30, 2013
Lucky you, you live in New England in the fall! Many of us take the change of seasons for granted, lamenting the fading daylight and dropping temperatures, but remember: there’s a reason tourist season doesn’t end in September! From ripening pumpkin patches to winding cornfield mazes, Maine’s natural beauty is reason alone to get out and enjoy the clear skies, changing leaves, and crisp autumn air. But, you should also consider the abundance of health benefits that you gain simply by getting outdoors, and one activity in particular has a number of benefits for your oral health!
What we are referring to, of course is an apple-picking expedition! This fall favorite will get you active outside and you will get to take home some delicious (and healthy!) fall produce. Not only do outdoor activities provide physical benefits, studies have shown that exposure to the foliage and open air can improve your concentration, elevate your mood, and promote stress relief. So, this fall, be healthy, have fun, and enjoy the weather while it lasts!
15 Benefits of Eating Apples
Autumn, also known as apple-picking season, is finally upon us, so we thought we’d take a moment to remind you just how healthy those delicious fruits are:
- Get whiter, healthier teeth – Munching on an apple increases salivation, which reduces tooth decay by lowering your mouth’s bacteria level.
- Avoid Alzheimer’s – Drinking apple juice can help keep Alzheimer’s at bay and fight the effects of aging on the brain.
- Protect against Parkinson’s – People who eat fruits and other high-fiber foods gain protection against Parkinson’s through antioxidants.
- Curb all sorts of cancers – Eating flavonol-rich apples can help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 percent, while compounds in apple peels have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon, and breast.
- Decrease your risk of diabetes – Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes due to the soluble fiber in the fruit.
- Reduce cholesterol – The soluble fiber in apples binds with fats in the intestines, lowering cholesterol levels.
- Get a healthier heart – An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fiber intake with a slower buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries.
- Prevent gallstones – Doctors recommend a diet rich in fiber to prevent gallstones, which are a product of high cholesterol levels.
- Beat diarrhea and constipation – Without getting too graphic, the fiber in apples can both absorb water from the colon when you’re constipated and absorb excess water from your stool to slow your bowels down.
- Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome – To control the symptoms of IBS, doctors recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods while including a diet high in fiber.
- Avert hemorrhoids – Going hand-in-hand with the control of constipation, hemorrhoids can be avoided with a high fiber intake, which prevents too much straining in the bathroom.
- Control your weight – Foods that are high in fiber will fill you up quickly while keeping your caloric intake low.
- Detoxify your liver – Apples and other fruits are one of the best things you can eat to clear toxins out of your liver.
- Boost your immune system – Red apples contain the antioxidant Quercetin, which, studies have shown, can help boost and strengthen your immune system.
- Prevent cataracts – Long-term studies suggest that people whose diets contain an abundance of antioxidant-rich fruit like apples are 10 to 15 percent less likely to develop cataracts.
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/nutrition/15-health-benefits-of-eating-apples
Jul 30, 2013
You’re at the grocery store and you come to the personal hygiene aisle. You are looking for a mouthwash, but you are instantly overwhelmed with the dozens of options to choose from all promising to reduce plaque, fight gingivitis, whiten teeth and so much more – but not all the claims are true. We have all been there. But don’t worry, we are here to offer you some helpful tips that will allow you to refine your search and pick out the perfect mouthwash to fit your needs!
We always talk about the importance of regular brushing and flossing, but using mouthwash regularly in your oral hygiene regimen is often overlooked. Studies have shown that regular use of mouthwash has undeniable benefits for your mouth. It cleans those hard to reach places that brushing can’t get to, rinses your whole mouth, and is proven to reduce gingivitis in those who use it regularly.
There are 3 major categories of mouthwash products from a consumer perspective. Here is what you need to know about each of them that will help you choose the perfect rinse for your mouth:
1.) Fluoride containing mouth rinses:
Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay in your mouth and strengthens enamel. But most people don’t need fluoride in their mouthwash because they already get it from the fluoridated toothpaste they use. But there are some exceptions. People with xerostomia (abnormally dry mouth) might use this because severe dry mouth might cause bacterial imbalance in the mouth, and too much bad bacteria can lead to tooth decay. Also, people with cavities can benefit from this kind of mouthwash. Here is a list of ADA approved fluoride mouth rinses
2.) Mouthwashes to freshen breath:
Many of these mouthwashes will in fact freshen your breath, but they do not necessarily offer many (if any) long-term oral health benefits. The bacteria that cause bad breath are killed for the short term, but they will grow back.
3.) Anti-plaque or anti-gingivitis mouthwashes:
Adults are recommended to use this kind of mouthwash to supplement their brushing and flossing (although these are key components to oral health, we don’t always do a great job with these tasks, and this type of mouthwash can kills potentially damaging bacteria missed in brushing and flossing). If the mouthwash is ADA approved, that is the best, and they kill a much broader range of oral bacteria than the breath freshening rinses, which is better for your overall oral health. For people with more severe dental issues, contact us, we may prescribe you with a more powerful mouthwash that could help you! List of ADA approved anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis mouthwashes
Hope these tips help! Remember, mouth wash is no substitute for good brushing and flossing. All three together make for a powerful, effective, and healthy cleaning regimen!
Sources:
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
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.
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!
