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!!

When should you call our office?

The folks at the American Association of Orthodontists have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call the office of Dr. Charles Ruff. Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with Waterville and Dover-Foxcroft orthodontist Dr. Ruff and team:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give us a call at (207) 873-7425.

Invisalign treatment with Dr. Charles Ruff: How does it work? [Video]

Maybe you've wondered how Invisalign treatment by Waterville orthodontist Dr. Charles Ruff manages to straighten your teeth without using traditional metallic braces? The Invisalign system is a state-of-the-art system of clear, removable aligners that we proudly offer at our convenient Waterville office. To learn more about how Invisalign treatment with Dr. Ruff can give you that beautiful smile you've always wanted, please give our office a call at (207) 873-7425. Dr. Charles J. Ruff is a Certified Invisalign Provider in Maine.

Have a GREAT week, everyone!

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.

Talking cavities with Dr. Ruff

Dr. Charles Ruff knows that one word no patient wants to hear when they visit their dentist or orthodontist is "cavity." Oh, those dreaded cavities! But what exactly is a cavity and how do you get one? A cavity is a hole that develops in a tooth when the tooth begins to decay. It’s important to get a cavity filled as soon as it’s detected so that it does not grow bigger.

So, what causes a cavity? A cavity is caused by plaque, a sticky substance that forms on the tooth as a result of germ and bacteria build-up. Plaque is acidic and as it clings to your teeth the acids eat away the outside of the tooth (also called the enamel) and a hole is formed.

Yes, cavities can be repaired by your dentist, but here are a few simple steps you can take to prevent cavities during your treatment with Dr. Ruff:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily
• Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (when choosing a toothbrush it is recommended to use soft bristles)
• Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food that may be caught between the teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach
• Limit the amount of soda and sugary treats you eat/drink
• Be sure to visit your dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning and check-up

We hope this helps! Give us a call for more info about your oral health or your treatment at our office!

"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!