Smile, and you might just live longer!

Folks with big smiles may actually live longer than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. Drs. Paul Ouellette, Jason Ouellette and Ryan Collins have known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.
The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting Dental Specialists on a regular basis? If not, give us a call!

What are happy patients saying about Dr. Ouellette & Dental Specialists lately?

"He is always friendly, has a smile on his face and makes you feel comfortable. One of the family and not just a person being pushed through." ~ Pamela M.

"Kind, caring, best reputation, willing to work with me." ~ Anthony S.

"The staff is always very pleasant. Very accommodating with appt. dates and times." ~ Michael H.

"The modern technology makes me feel more comfortable with the knowledge of our orthodontist. It shows me that he is up to date on the latest trends in orthodontia." ~ Shari C.

"Convenient location, pleasant staff, good care." ~ Frank B.

Ask Dr. Ouellette: Why are straight teeth so important?

People wonder why Dr. Paul Ouellette, Dr. Ryan Collins and our staff at Dental Specialists work so tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly-aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Dental Specialists can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque, the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and, they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation at our convenient offices in Merritt Island, Satellite Beach, Titusville or Kissimmee. We can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Questions? Give us a call at 321-453-7750 or ask us on Facebook!

Busy month at the Dental Specialists!

Our staff at the Dental Specialists want to know: Are you brushing and flossing daily properly during your orthodontic treatment? If your answer is yes, that’s wonderful! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to us every 3-to-6 months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting our office, of course).

Yes, October is National Orthodontic Health Month. But this month also marks National Dental Hygiene Month, which is why it can be a great time for a checkup, which can help you maintain good oral health, especially during your orthodontic treatment at one of our offices in Merritt Island, Satellite Beach, Titusville or Kissimmee.

Here are a few tips to help you build good oral hygiene habits this month:

* Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two to three minutes. Make sure to get the outer and inner surfaces and the chewing surfaces of each tooth.

* Floss once a day to remove plaque from between teeth. Help children learn healthy flossing habits so when they’re capable, they know how to do it properly.

* Visit our office on a regular basis. Children should start seeing a dentist within six months of getting their first tooth.

* Ask us what toothpaste family members should use. Remember that not all toothpaste is appropriate for all ages.

* Eat a healthy diet, rich in fruit and veggies. Avoid sugary foods and eat a high fiber diet of fruits and veggies such as apples and carrots to help prevent tooth decay.

If you have any question, we invite you to ask us on Facebook or give us a call at 321-453-7750.

Which foods should you avoid while in braces?

There are a variety of foods Dr. Paul Ouellette and Dr. Ryan Collins want you to avoid while you're wearing braces. Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces! If you have braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch cause plaque, cavities and tooth decay.

Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods to Avoid
• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
• Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give us a call or ask our staff during your next visit! Lastly, have answered all our question for the iPad giveaway? It's not too late to join - just head to our Facebook page and check out the five questions!

Access your account—any day, any time, anywhere!

At Dental Specialists, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic and dental treatments we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern offices conveniently located in Merritt Island, Satellite Beach, Titusville and Kissimmee.

Did you know that patients of Drs. Ouellette and Collins have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call at 321-453-7750 if you have any questions about getting started! Lastly, are you participating in our iPad giveaway? For more information, head over to our Facebook page!

Dr. Paul Ouellette, reminding you to wear your mouth guard this summer

With the summer winding down, Dr. Paul Ouellette and our staff at the Dental Specialists would like to take this moment to remind all our young athletes in orthodontic treatment to take care of both your mouth and appliances while participating in contact sports (and non-contact sports) this August. Whether you're playing toch-football in the backyard or participating in full-contact football practice, only by using a mouth guard can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. The next time you're in for a visit with Drs. Ouellette or Collins, be sure to ask them or our staff for a mouth guard, and we will provide one!

We hope you're enjoying your summer so far!