Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Halloween TIPS from the American Dental Association

It’s almost that spooky time of year again! Whether you are going door-to-door trick or treating, attending a party dressed in a clever, silly, or scary costume, or simply getting together with friends and family to watch scary movies, Drs. Williams, Jason Ouellette, Jonathan Ouellette and our team want you to keep in mind the following tips to help reduce tooth-decay from our friends and the American Dental Association.

•Eat treats with meals. Saliva production increases during meals washing out food particles and helping to neutralize cavity causing plaque acid.

Consider chewing ADA Accepted sugarless gum after meals. Certain sugarless gums have earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance for scientifically proving that chewing the gum for 20 minutes after meals helped prevent tooth decay.

Follow the 1-2-3s of good daily oral hygiene: Floss once a day, brush twice a day and eat three balanced meals a day.

•Visit Dr. Williams and Drs. Jason and Jonathan Ouellette for regular checkups.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from your friends at The Dental Specialists!

Monday, October 17, 2011

5 tips to avoid plaque, from The Dental Specialists

At The Dental Specialists, we know nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth, courtesy of WebMD.

Let’s start with brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, evading a trip to visit Drs. Jason Ouellette or Jonathan Ouellette and team is probably not a great idea is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting The Dental Specialists at least twice a year or as recommended, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your natural teeth.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you’re wearing braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick up that candy bar, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be. If you have any questions, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Cold season is here...

Cold and flu season is here - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that a common cold usually includes sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and coughing. Symptoms can last for up to two weeks.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, Dr. Williams, Dr. Jason Ouellette, Dr. Jonathan Ouellette and our entire staff give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our Merritt Island office at all times, as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces. For the protection of other patients and our staff at the Dental Specialists, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

And remember to constantly wash your hands and avoid contact with those who are ill! Stay Healthy!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Smile! October is National Dental Hygiene Month!

Did you know that October is National Dental Health Month? For our staff at The Dental Specialists, that means only one thing: Reminding you that your teeth are an important part of your body, and keeping them clean helps keep your mouth and your body healthy. By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and visiting our convenient Merrit Island office on a regular basis, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile throughout your entire life.

We encourage you to check out the official National Dental Hygiene Month website as well, which provides pointers on keeping your mouth clean and healthy. Lastly, has it been six months since your last visit with The Dental Specialists? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to give us a call to set up an appointment with Dr. Williams, Dr. Jason Ouellette, or Dr. Jonathan Ouellette.