Our sixth annual American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held on Friday, May 4th from 1-6pm at St. Anthony of Padua Parish Hall, 33 Chapel Street, Shirley. The Ayer-Shirley Lions Club will be co-sponsoring the blood drive with me again this year.

First, I want to thank everyone in the community who has generously donated their blood in the past. There is no greater gift than the gift of life and I am extremely grateful to all the wonderful donors who have supported our blood drives each year.

On May 4th, all blood drive participants will be eligible to win a pair of great Boston Red Sox tickets on the first base side of Fenway Park. Two lucky blood donors will each walk away with 2 tickets to the July 22nd Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays game. All donors will also receive a coupon for a free whopper value meal or salad from Burger King as well as a toothbrush. A “Children’s Corner” will be available with toys and books for children who come with their parents.

Nationally, less than five percent of the population gives blood, supporting the other 95 percent. According to the American Red Cross, the number one reason why people do not donate is because they have never been asked. With that fact in mind, we are asking everyone in the community to consider donating blood. There is no substitute and it cannot be manufactured. Its only source is a healthy volunteer donor.

Donating blood is a safe and simple process. To give blood, you must be healthy, weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 16 years of age (16 year olds need a signed parental consent). Most medications are okay. You can donate red blood cells every 56 days or double red cells every 112 days. Positive ID is required.

Walk-ins are welcome. However, to ensure less waiting time, make an appointment at1-800-RED CROSS or log on to www.redcrossblood.org

Please join us on Friday, May 4th from 1pm to 6pm at St. Anthony’s Parish Hall. There is no better way to support our community than by giving the gift of life!

Dr. Arthur F. Eddy

Co-sponsor American Red Cross Blood Drive

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends choosing a toothpaste which contains fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that makes your enamel stronger and provides a protective barrier on the tooth surface limiting damage from bacteria and acid.  It has been used over the past 50 years to help decrease the rate of decay.  It is important to choose toothpaste with the ADA seal of approval.  Other ingredients in toothpaste include abrasive agents (which help polish off food and plaque), flavorings and sweeteners (to make the toothpaste taste better) and detergents (which cause toothpaste to foam). It does not matter what brand of toothpaste you use. Ultimately, when brushing your teeth, it is the frequency and proper brushing technique which is responsible for adequate plaque removal not the specific brand of toothpaste.

Are Sports Drinks More Damaging than Soda?

By: Tania McPherson RDH

      Thanks to decades of dental professionals advocating against the consumption of carbonated beverages, parents are far more aware of the dental risks to their children’s oral health by consuming too much soda.  Sports drinks, however, are substantially more damaging to teeth than soda. . Many parents are unaware that when they send their child to school or a game with a sport drink in their bag or allow them to purchase such beverages from the school’s vending machine their child’s dental health could be at risk. 

     A study in the Jan/Feb 2005 issue of General Dentistry states that, depending on the brand, there can be up to an 11 times greater risk of damaging the tooth’s enamel (outer surface) from drinking a sports drink than from a soda!  This increased risk is a result of the added ingredients found in sports drinks. Many contain additional organic acids that attack and weaken the enamel layer of the tooth. This is called dental erosion. These weakened areas are then prone to decay due to the excessive amounts of sugar found in these products. The acids are added to help make the product taste good and to help speed up the body’s absorption of the fluids.  Sports drinks have been heavily marketed towards athletes. However, there are conflicting studies as to whether these drinks are truly better than plain water.

     There are some ways to help reduce your child’s risk of dental erosion. The simplest and best way is to give them plain water. Unless the child is involved in extremely vigorous activity, water should be enough to keep them hydrated.

     There are other ways to limit the amount of dental erosion your child may experience. It is recommended that the child drink the beverage quickly rather than taking small repeated sips helping to reduce the enamel’s exposure to the acidic beverage.  The use of a straw can also help by allowing the beverage to pass through the teeth with minimal contact time.  Rinsing out with water after drinking a sports drink will help by washing off any residual acids.

     Regular dental check-ups are a good way to protect your child. The Dentist and Hygienist will evaluate your child‘s teeth to determine if any damage has occurred and recommend any treatment options that may be indicated. Dental x-rays will reveal any hidden damage between the teeth where most erosion begins. Home-care techniques will also be reviewed with you and your child to ensure the only thing your child will need to worry about at the game is the score! 

Welcome to the Blog of Dr. Arthur F. Eddy!

Whether you are an existing patient or searching for a dentist in the Shirley area, we're excited you are here. With the dental industry advancing, we recognize the importance of keeping our patients and visitors up to date with all of the new and exciting things taking place in our practice.

As we move forward with our blog, we hope to promote dental awareness as a vital part of your healthy lifestyle. Here you will find a variety of articles and topics including dental news, advancements in dental technology and treatment, practical dental health advice and updates from Dr. Eddy and his staff.

We hope you find our blog to be helpful, engaging and informational to ensure your best dental health.

As always, feel free to contact us with any dental questions or concerns.

--Dr. Arthur F. Eddy