June marks National Dairy Month!

In honor of June Dairy Month, our team at our practice would like to thank all of our hard working families in the Dairy Industry. We all rely heavily on the hard work that our country’s farmers do! In fact, dairy is important to your overall health! A 2008 study from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) found that regular consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, can lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease (also known as gum disease). Results of the study show that adults who consume at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day are less at risk for gum disease. Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Questions about which foods you should steer clear of and which you should enjoy during orthodontic treatment? Give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

What Will YOUR Smile Look Like After Orthodontic Treatment?

It is sometimes hard to believe the transformation your smile undergoes during orthodontic treatment. Charles J. Ruff, DMD loves to see our patients’ smiles light up when they see their new smile in the mirror for the first time. For those of you who haven’t yet started or finished your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Charles Ruff, have you ever wondered what your new smile might look like after treatment?

The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO for short, has recently launched a new tool called “Virtual Smiles”, which shows what your smile might look like after orthodontic treatment. Using the tool will also earn you a free orthodontic consultation coupon, which can be redeemed at our office by yourself, a family member or friend.

Check out the Virtual Smiles tool, and call Charles J. Ruff, DMD to get started on improving your smile today!

Connect with the Braces Brigade!

At the office of Charles J. Ruff, DMD, our patients want to get as much out of their treatment as possible. That includes asking a lot of questions and making sure they take care of both their appliances and oral health.

Would you like to learn more about what to expect during orthodontic treatment, from someone with firsthand experience? Well, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recently developed the Braces Brigade blog, where past, present, as well as future orthodontic patients from coast to coast document their (or their child’s) orthodontic journeys. The blog will serve as a source of guidance for others as the patients undergo orthodontic care.

Our team at Charles J. Ruff, DMD encourages you to visit the Braces Brigade blog to read these great and informative blogs—who knows, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two! As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions about the Braces Brigade or your own orthodontic treatment with Dr. Ruff!

Is your child nearing their seventh birthday?

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Dr. Ruff for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right—seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Ruff to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

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!

Ask Dr. Ruff: when should my child come in for a consultation?

Many parents in Waterville and surrounding communities just assume they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. Consequently, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

What’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for an orthodontist to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or what Dr. Charles Ruff calls “bad bite.”

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age seven, please give us a call at (207) 873-7425 to schedule an appointment.

"Hey Dr. Ruff! Any truth to those rumors about braces?"

Trust us: Dr. Ruff knows there are plenty of myths flying around the topic of orthodontics these days. But, before you buy into those myths, he thinks you should get the facts first! Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts of orthodontics, and we encourage you to check them out before settling for rumors about braces!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment with Dr. Ruff, feel free to give us a call at (207) 873-7425.

Our entire team hope you had a safe and memorable Memorial Day weekend!

This April, play it safe! From Dr. Ruff

You may remember our team last week blogging about the advantage of wearing a mouth guard when participating in sports-related activities. Well, this week happens to be a great time for a follow-up. You see, April is National Facial Protection Month, and it’s a good time to remind our young athletes about staying safe on the field this spring. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

For Dr. Ruff and our staff, that's just not acceptable.

The above video contains five ways to ensure the safety of your mouth this spring, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO. If you have any further questions about any of the tips offered in the video, please give us a call at (207) 873-7425. Have a great rest of the week and remember to protect your mouth!