Share your Independence Day weekend plans with us!

Like most Americans this weekend, our staff at Advanced Dental Concepts will celebrate America's 234th birthday. For most folks we know here in Pace, Independence Day means a time of celebration, and a time to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of America's Declaration of Independence. It's also a time to pay homage to think of all our soldiers who continue to place themselves in harm's way every day so that we may enjoy our freedoms.

Tell Drs. Faulkner and Spurlock: what are your Fourth of July plans? Are you heading to a barbecue? Hitting the open road with family? Are you planning on using fireworks to light up the Florida sky?

Whatever you and your family end up doing over Independence Day weekend, we hope you have a safe (and happy) Fourth of July weekend! Feel free to post your plans and adventures on our Facebook page!

- The Advanced Dental Concepts team

Ask Advanced Dental Concepts: how do people get teeth plaque?

Nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth, which, according to our friends at WebMD, "develops when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) such as milk, soft drinks, raisins, cakes, or candy are frequently left on the teeth."

So, how should you avoid plaque? Let’s start with brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth. You should also remember to floss daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, evading your dentist is probably not a great idea. Even if you brush and floss daily, you’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar, which is why it's important to visit Advanced Dental Concepts at least twice a year (or as recommended by Drs. Faulkner or Spurlock). You’ll also want to eat those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth - they include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. Finally, before you pick that candy up, think about giving in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages your teeth.

We hope these tips helped! We encourage you to give us a call at (850) 304-0027 if you have any more questions about keeping your teeth in between your visits to our Pace office.

Advanced Dental Concepts in the news!

Last month, our team at Advanced Dental Concepts were featured in an article in the Pensacola News Journal for our work in Dentistry From the Heart on April 30. The event - our second annual - was our way of giving back to the community and being there for the people who are in need of dental work.

More than 160 people - on a first come, first serve basis - were able to receive cleanings, fillings or extractions and we were happy to provide $22,800 in free services to those most in need in our community. Our dedicated team - 24 staff members and 10 volunteers - helped out.

Kathryn Lewis was the first person in line, and showed up at 6 p.m. the night before the event. Here's what she had to say:

"This event is such a blessing for me and my family. My husband has been out of work since September. I couldn't afford to get my teeth fixed. It was well worth the wait. May God bless everyone that had a part in this."

We're glad to have helped, Kathryn, and we look forward to helping our patients from Pace, Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Cantonment, Jay, Navarre and nearby communities attain a brighter smile again next year.

For photos from this year's Dentistry From the Heart, please head over to our Facebook page!

Drs. Faulkner and Spurlock want to know: how clean is your toothbrush?

At Advanced Dental Concepts, we'll always tell you keeping your toothbrush clean and germ-free should be a high priority. There are millions of germs in our mouths, so how should you make sure your toothbrush is always clean?

Dr. Andrew Weil has some ideas, and we'd like to share them with you. When using a toothbrush:

1.Rinse the brush thoroughly after use and let it dry in an upright position.

2.If you keep your brush in the same holder as others in your family, make sure the bristles don't touch each other.

3.Don't share toothbrushes.

4.Keep your toothbrush in a location well away from the toilet - flushing can allow bacteria to travel from the bowl to your brush

5.Never store your toothbrush in a closed container - bacteria are more likely to multiply in a warm, humid, closed environment.

6.Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if you notice that it looks worn (look for bristles that are splayed or bent out of shape).

And, as always, we want to stress that it's important to brush at least twice a day, floss and visit our office on a regular basis for checkups and cleanings. Have you been in lately? Give us a call to schedule an appointment!

Advanced Dental Concepts, supporting National Smile Month

Our friends at the American Dental Association discovered that a person's smile was important than their eyes, hair and body as the most important physical feature. After all, there's a big reason why Americans spend about $2.75 billion each year on cosmetic dentistry: people want to look (and feel) great.

That brings us to June, also known as National Smile Month. It's a great time for Drs. Faulkner and Spurlock to remind all of our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to Advanced Dental Concepts.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks.
* Visit our office regularly (usually every six months).

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call at (850) 304-0027. We hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend everyone! Get out there and share your beautiful smiles with the world!