Happy Thanksgiving from the Dental Specialists

With Thanksgiving and the holidays almost here, it's a great time to ask ourselves what we're thankful for. With our friends and family around us, we celebrate the blessings given to us in the past year. What are you thankful for this holiday season? Do you have any Thanksgiving wishes you would like to share?

Dr. Paul Ouellette, Dr. Jason Ouellette and Dr. Ryan Collins and our entire team at the Dental Specialists would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. It’s a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat with those braces! If you have any stories or photos to share with us, we’d encourage you to send them along or post them on our Facebook page!

The Dental Specialists, your local cosmetic dentists

There are many dentists in Florida working hard to bring beautiful smiles to their patients. Cosmetic dentistry has begun to earn the positive acclaim it deserves due to the latest surge of makeover TV shows. Many of our patients have spent great time and effort when choosing Dr. Paul Ouellette as your orthodontist and Drs. Jason Ouellette and Ryan Collins as your general and cosmetic dentists.

Serving Merritt Island, Titusville, Kissimmee, Orlando, Satellite Beach, Florida, we treat patients from all over Florida and provide flexible scheduling to optimize your convenience. When choosing a dentist, please use this blog and our website to learn more about cosmetic and general dentistry, as well as orthodontics in all its forms from smile enhancement via braces, to dental restoration, to regular checkups, and simple teeth whitening. The first step to making Florida smile is to make you smile!

Please call our office to learn more about cosmetic dentistry, or check us out on Facebook! Have a wonderful weekend!

Hey Dr. Ouellette, when should I replace my toothbrush?

Fall is upon us, and with it comes the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Ouellette and our team at Dental Specialists will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs can linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing

• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen

• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster

• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

Hope this tip helps! Feel free to call us at 321-453-7750 if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Happy Election Day, from Dental Specialists

In the spirit of Election Day and democracy, we thought we’d share a few inspirational quotes, as well as quotes about democracy, from U.S. presidents.

"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." – John F. Kennedy

"If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit." – Bill Clinton

“When you are in any contest you should work as if there were - to the very last minute - a chance to lose it.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

"You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time." – Abraham Lincoln

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." ~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt

"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties." – Harry S. Truman

Ask Drs. Ouellette & Collins: What's the deal with Halloween treats?

For parents worried about kids going overboard on candies, sugar and other sweets, Halloween is a dreaded annual event.

All those sweet, sour and sticky candies may taste great, but these treats are known to damage teeth, as well as braces! Did you know sour candies can be acidic to your teeth, and actually wear down the enamel that protects them? This can cause tooth decay and cavities! Sour and fruity candy, such as Starburst and Skittles, are the worst for your child’s teeth since these candies have a low pH value, which can ruin enamel. In addition, we also want your child to steer clear of sticky, chewy, gummy and nutty treats.

So what's a parent to do?

As Halloween draws nearer, try to limit the amount of these candies that your child eats, and when your child does eat them, either have him or her rinse their mouth with water afterward or have them drink some milk or eat a slice of cheese. Lastly, we encourage you to check out these braces-friendly (and delicious) Halloween treats, provided by the AAO.

Hope this helps! Ask us on Facebook if you have any questions!

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!