Sing Song, Brush Along!

Posted on November 1, 2016November 29, 2016 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, hoping you all had a BOO-ti-ful Halloween!

In honor of today being National Brush day, I’m excited to share some of the best tooth brushing songs for kids that I came across (compliments of the ADA-American Dental Association).

What better way to get your kiddos to brush at least 2x a day than with some tunes. Most children respond to music in a very positive way. Songs can be easily used to learn with a modeling approach and to help with transitioning to non-preferred tasks–such as brushing! Below are some favorites I think both kids and parents will enjoy!

“Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me: Brushy Brush PSA” from Sesame Street

“This Is the Way We Brush Our Teeth” from Little Baby Bum

Set to the children’s nursery song, “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”, this song emphasizes the importance of brushing twice a day with an easy-to-remember tune.

“Brush and Floss” from the American Dental Association

Dudley the Dinosaur and friends break down all the steps for good dental care in the ditty you’ll be singing all day long.

“Plants vs. Zombies & the ADA Present: Stop Zombie Mouth!”

Stop the Putrid Posse with this two-minute song that teaches kids of all ages about good dental care.

“Toothbrushing Song” from EZTales

Add some rockabilly flair to your family’s brushing routine.

“Brush Your Teeth” from KidsTV123

This pleasantly mellow song, combined with fun sound effects, can make brushing a fun and relaxing time for your little one.

“Kids Just Love to Brush” from Sesame Street

Any of these fun and catchy songs can be played on your iPad while you and your kiddos go brush in the bathroom! I hope you all enjoy jamming while you wash those mouth monsters away!:)

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter , Yelp, Youtube, & Pinterest to hear all about our daily news! You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

Tricks and Healthy Treats

Posted on October 25, 2016November 29, 2016 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, wishing you a Boo-ti-ful day!:)

I really enjoy digging up some fun and healthy ideas for holiday NON-CANDY treats. Today I would like to share some of my finds. My favorite place to look for crafty and creative ideas is Pinterest. There are sooo many, but I chose a handful of my favorites to share with you today. It’s amazing how you can engage and entertain your kiddos with NON-CANDY tricks and treats. Be sure to check out this site as well, for more creative holiday alternatives. Make sure to click on the images to be directed to more detailed information and instructions about each fun treat.

Light up the way while you Trick or Treat with fun glow sticks! (Free Printable included in the link) Very cost effective treat bag stuffer that can be found at your local dollar store.

2. All kids love bubbles,…only these are Booo-bbles, LOL. Click the image below to access the free printable to attach to your bubbles. Again, very cost effective treat bag stuffer that can be found at your local dollar store.

3. The beauty of this clever idea is that it will keep the kids busy building instead of looking for sticky unhealthy treats after your spooky Halloween night!

4. Everyone can use some lip balm! Useful treat bag stuffer that can be used beyond the Halloween festivities.

5. Stuffed peppers look like mummies for Halloween!

6. Witches and healthy/scholastic broomsticks:)

I hope these really fun and affordable ideas help with having a healthy Halloween! I”m sure that somehow there will be some sticky treats that sneak into those treat bags, so with that in mind, help filter the candy by making the better choices to try to keep the Mouth Monsters away! Don’t let your little monsters go to sleep without brushing and flossing the Mouth Monsters away! May you and your family have a very safe and Happy Halloween:)

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

Avoiding Sticky Situations!

Posted on October 18, 2016December 8, 2016 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here…wishing you all a lovely fall day!

The month of October is not just about Spooky Monsters, but also about keeping the Mouth Monsters away! In light of National Orthodontic Health Month, I would like to share some tips from The American Association of Orthodontists. Ironically, the months of October through December are probably the busiest months for Orthodontists because of the re-occurring broken brackets and issues related to eating the wrong things during all the holidays.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) offers these five timely tips to protect braces, aligners and other orthodontic “appliances” you can give to your patients all while protecting teeth from decay:

Avoid sticky situations with your braces and aligners. Stay away from hard, sticky, crunchy or chewy candy and snacks. These include caramel, gummies, licorice, taffy, bubblegum (even the sugarless kind), jelly beans and soft drinks.
Say “BOO” to hard treats – including hard-shelled peanut candies, nuts or nut-filled candies, taco chips and popcorn (especially unpopped kernels). And whether undergoing orthodontic treatment or not, we advise that no one should ever chew ice.
Brush up! Sweets can cause cavities, which means brushing and flossing are more important than ever during the Halloween season. Orthodontic patients should be especially vigilant about brushing and flossing after consuming sugary or starchy foods.
Spooktacular news: Not all Halloween candy is off-limits! Good alternatives include soft chocolates, peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth varieties. The AAO even offers orthodontic-friendly recipes for Halloween on its website here.
Make a commitment to oral health. Deciding to avoid hard and chewy sweets before the Halloween season increases your rate of success – and reduces the likelihood that you’ll break braces.

The AAPD is always providing fun activities all year long! Click on the image below and find out what your candy personality is:)
Are you sweet as candy? Take our Halloween Candy Personality quiz to find out! Plus, get expert tricks to scare the Mouth Monsters away for healthy, happy smiles all year long.

You know your kiddos best…for those that feel that their kids will have a hard time making the smarter candy choices, stay tuned for this year’s non-candy treat ideas. With some creative and fun ideas, you can re-direct your little ones away from all the harmful sugar and toward some non-candy fun!

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

Breast Cancer Awareness and National Orthodontic Health Month:)

Posted on October 11, 2016December 8, 2016 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, wearing pink in honor of all the Breast Cancer Survivors out there, including my mom:) Go Pink Warriors!!

The month of October is both National Orthodontic Health Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Casa Smiles is proud to bring awareness to both topics.

I’d like start today’s report with some Breast Cancer FACTS:

-Women who had gum disease or missing teeth were 11 times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Interestingly, 75% of American adults suffer from various forms of gum disease.
-1.3 Million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
-Every 3 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the US.
-40% of those who had chemotherapy have oral symptoms, such as sore gums, cavities, mouth infections, and dry mouth.

If you or someone you know is undergoing treatment, here are some helpful Oral Health Tips during Breast Cancer Treatment:

Use a soft toothbrush or sponge brush
Rinse with alcohol-free mouthwash
Avoid dental treatments 1 week after Chemotherapy
Floss gently
Use a toothpaste or Gum with Xylitol

*Information about Facts and Tips gathered from The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Statistics, Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures, 2012, ACS, Breast Cancer Research & Treatment Journal, American Dental Hygienist Association, National Cancer Institute, and Total Health Magazine.

Casa Smiles is proud to Support Breast Cancer Awareness by donating 50% of sales of all PINK Sonicare toothbrushes to the Susan G. Komen foundation. Stop by and support Breast Cancer today:)

In honor of National Orthodontic Month here are some “Ortho-Friendly” spooky recipes: (click on each image for detailed instructions) *Recipes provided by the AAO*

National Orthodontic Health Month Recipes:

Delightfully Devilish Deviled Eggs Quirky Quesadillas

Mummy Pizza Biscuits Scary Skull & Ghastly Ghost Cookies

Spooky Spider Web Bean Dip

Stay tuned in the month of October for continued Breast Cancer support and for more Orthodontic Health information and tips. Don’t forget to call Casa Smiles and make an appointment for your complimentary Orthodontic consultation today. The AAO recommends that every child visit the Orthodontist by the age of 7.

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

MEET THE C-R-E-W–PART 3

Posted on October 4, 2016December 8, 2016 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, wishing you all safe preparations for the arrival of Tropical Storm weather.

Today’s post is very special because MEET THE CREW PART 3 is where I get to introduce the professionals at Casa Smiles. They specialize in Oral Care for your most cherished little ones. These angels went through advanced dental education in order to properly dedicate their practice to the diagnosis and treatment of children.

At Casa Smiles we have 4 amazing doctors. Our family leaders consist of 3 Pediatric Dentists and 1 Orthodontist. I only have wonderful things to say about each one of them, but below are a few words directly from them. 🙂

Dr. Abreu-Hernandez:

” I am Maigrely Abreu-Hernandez, Owner and Pediatric Dentist. I love working here because I love kids. Being a pediatric dentist is very rewarding and fun- lots of fun! I had gone to the Dominican Republic and Haiti while in dental school, and I worked with people who did not have access to oral health care. Most of my colleagues were apprehensive to work on children because they would cry and complain- so I tried and fell in love with it. I knew then that working with children was a passion of mine.”

Dr. Llamas:

“I am a Pediatric Dentist. I’ve loved working with kids even before I studied dentistry. I knew I wanted to study Pediatric Dentistry in particular after I served a year in Costa Rica working for the government with kids in the villages–this really inspired a love for helping children.”

Dr. Nazario:

“I am a Pediatric Dentist. I love my team. I love kids and I feel so comfortable here. I never thought I’d work with kids… This was all by accident, but it was a happy one. 🙂 I was a general dentist and I came to replace a doctor on maternity leave for 3 months and discovered that I LOVED IT! Good days or bad days–I could not be happier!”

Dr. Iwanowski:

“I am an Orthodontist and an Owner here at Casa Smiles. At Casa Smiles I feel we are all a big family. I’m able to do what I love in an office that is fun and with people that really care about their patients. We are very proud of having such an amazing team and amazing patients that make our days so enjoyable! I wanted to be able to change how kids felt about their teeth and to be able to give them a beautiful smile. At the same time, it is very important to me to make the process enjoyable and fun for them. Some kids have to start orthodontic treatment at a very early age. Therefore, we work with patients and parents to understand what the child would be comfortable with, and customize our treatment depending on their specific needs. I LOVE giving our patients a beautiful smile and love how they love coming to see us!”

Our doctors truly care about what they do and take lots of pride in the way Casa Smiles operates. We welcome you to join our family and make Casa Smiles the dental home for your children. Our Professional C-R-E-W ~Caring–Responsible–Engaging–Welcoming–are the roots that make Casa Smiles bloom. They are honest, informed and have big hearts that help keep your children’s smiles healthy. Enjoy the clip below–you can see our Professional angels in action and just being themselves–loving what they do!

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

MEET THE C-R-E-W–PART 2

Posted on September 27, 2016October 4, 2019 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here…wishing you all a happy start to Fall!

Part 2 of our C-R-E-W ~Caring–Responsible–Engaging–Welcoming~ is a group of girls that spend quality time with your child during your visit to Casa Smiles. These very special individuals are the dental hygienists that clean your little ones’ teeth, take their x-rays, and get them ready to be examined by our Pediatric Dentists.

Why are these girls so special? When we asked our team why they loved working at Casa Smiles, they all replied, “We love working with kids and showing them that coming to the dentist can be fun”. Our clinical team is not only professional and well-trained, but gentle, kid-friendly and jolly. They take pride in greeting every child by name and getting down to their level to introduce themselves. If the child is already warming up, they will extend their hand to lead them to where they can pick a movie to watch while they check out their cute little teeth.

We truly feel that our gentle approach helps to ease the fears children often have to help establish a more fun and comfortable experience. Our C-R-E-W takes pride in trying to get to know our patients on a personal level by asking them what their favorite colors are, what their favorite Disney character is, or what they like to do for fun. Based on this, they give them something to look forward to by letting them know that if they open big to get the mouth monsters out of their teeth, that they will get an awesome sticker and a fun trip to the treasure box!

Our clinical C-R-E-W takes the time to explain what everything is and what to expect. Letting children know what is up next helps build trust. At Casa Smiles we don’t jump right into the exam, we like to explain how each tool works so that the children become engaged and interested in having clean teeth. We ask our kiddos to help us by counting teeth and like to talk about things like the Tooth Fairy.

Our goal is for kids to find it fun to visit Casa Smiles. With the conjoined efforts of moms and dads keeping a good oral hygiene schedule/routine along with the help of our great clinical C-R-E-W, your kids will grow up loving to visit the dentist. Hope to see you soon! In the meantime, here are some of our special C-R-E-W members and just a few of our happy visitors.

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter , Yelp & Pinterest to hear all about our daily news! You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)