This summer, don't forget those mouth guards!

Dr. Ruff and our staff can't believe we're already halfway through summer! As the weather stays hot, the chances for mouth injuries for our athletes gets bigger and bigger. We'd like to remind our young athletes orthodontic treatment to always take care of both your mouth and appliances while participating in contact- and non-contact sports.

That includes wearing a mouth guard at all times when you're playing sports. Only by using a mouth guard can athletes with and without braces avoid serious mouth injuries. And don't forget to ask us for a mouth guard - we will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment! We hope you're having a great summer so far!

The Braces Brigade - be a part of it!

At the office of Dr. Charles Ruff, we know that orthodontic treatment can seem long and strenuous to some patients. Or, it can be a fun and exciting time (it is for most of our patients!). This summer, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists would like to reward you for sharing your story in braces with the world. The campaign is called the Braces Brigade, and as an appreciation (if you're chosen), they'll throw in a $100 American Express gift card for your efforts.

To complete your Braces Brigade application, you'll need to provide your:

* Name
* Age – Must be 14 years of age or older
* E-mail
* Phone number
* Stage of orthodontic treatment
* A photo of your braces/smile
* A sample blog post – picture yourself as a member of Braces Brigade and show off your blogging skills! (100-word minimum)

Here's how it works: In your weekly blogs, which you'll write for eight months if selected. If you happen to be under the age of 18, your parents must fill out this consent form along with your official entry.

Dr. Ruff encourages you to apply for the Braces Brigade by August 31st! If you get accepted, let us know during your next visit or on our Facebook page!

Summer heat safety tips, from Dr. Ruff and team

With the summer heat wave sweeping through Maine and the Eastern U.S. the last two weeks, Dr. Ruff and our staff want you to think more and more about sun safety when you’re out and about. Last week, Good Morning America ran an interesting segment on the many ways you can protect yourself from heat stroke and other heat-related conditions this summer. And, here are a few summer safety tips from our friends at WebMD.

Dr. Ruff and our staff encourage you to watch the video clip, and remember to always have a bottle of water when heading out! We hope you're all having a GREAT summer!

Dr. Ruff and team present: Patriotic fun facts!

Tonight, Dr. Ruff and our staff will help celebrate our nation's 234th birthday. And because we know our patients love fun facts, we thought we'd provide you with some fun facts about Independence Day! Enjoy!

- Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

- An estimated 2.5 million people lived in America in July 1776. Today, an estimated 309 million people reside in the United States.

- The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation, which meant that people didn't want to be taxed by a government that did not represent them.

- In 1941, Congress declared 4th of July a federal legal holiday. It is one of the few federal holidays that have not been moved to the nearest Friday or Monday.

- The stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all colonies were equal.

- America's mascot, the bald eagle, can achieve speeds of up to 200 miles per hour when making a predatory dive. During a normal flight, bald eagles can travel up to 30 miles per hour.

- The American flag patch is backwards on U.S. Army uniforms. The reason? The blue field on the flag (the part with the stars) faces forward to symbolize carrying the American flag into battle.

- Someone who specializes in the history of flags is called a vexillologist.

- The word ‘patriotism’ comes from the Latin patria, which means ‘homeland’ or ‘fatherland.’

- According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans consume over 150 million hot dogs during their Independence Day festivities.

Have a great Fourth of July weekend everyone, and we'll see you next week!!