Sports Drinks - Should Your Child Be Drinking Them?

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

When it comes to beverages for our kids, especially ones who are active in sports, there’s an enormous selection of sodas, juices, teas, and bottled waters to choose from - including the popular buzzword: sports drinks.

Sports and energy drinks include anything from vitamin waters to “high energy” supplement drinks, all with common ingredients to “do” something extra (ie: boosting nutrition, enhancing performance, increasing energy, etc). With spring sports in full swing and the warmer weather creeping up on us, kids are likely to reach for a sports drink to hydrate and quench their thirst after play, but are they even a good option for kids?

Not necessarily. Typically, the average young athlete can get all necessary nutrients and hydration simply from eating health foods and drinking plenty of water before, during, and after exercise.  With sugar as a primary ingredient in these beverages, they can contribute to obesity, tooth decay, and enamel erosion if too much is consumed.

Studies have shown the erosive potential sports drinks have. This damage to tooth enamel cannot be fixed and will cause teeth to become sensitive to touch plus make them more susceptible to cavities and decay.

Avoid all of these problems by substituting these beverages with water to rehydrate and healthy snacks to help sustain your child’s performance on the field. If your child just can’t live without his/her favorite sports drink - just be mindful and monitor the amount they consume. Try to limit the consumption to a single serving and replace the other servings with water!

Celebrate Earth Day with Your Kids!

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Image Source: Wiki How

Every April, people honor Earth Day in a variety of ways. Whether they just get out and enjoy nature, participate in earth-friendly activities, or raise awareness about environmental issues; today is the largest, most celebrated environmental event worldwide. Exposing kids to nature not only gives them an opportunity to learn more about our planet, but it also supports creativity, improves academic performance, and betters their health.

In honor of this special day, we’ve rounded up some family-friendly Earth Day actives to help teach your children how to act in environmentally responsible ways:

Watch a movie about the environment - Not only is it entertaining, but it can open the floor for conversation. Try movies like Disney’s Earth, WALL-E, Free Willy, or FernGully: The Last Rainforest.

Clean up your community - Give a hands on lesson in how much time it takes just to clean up one area of your local park.

Create a nature journal - Perfect for your little artists, authors, and nature lovers. Like a personal journal or diary, the nature journal allows your kids to record their outings. Record your time outdoors in drawings, include inserts of leaves or flowers, the ideas are endless.

Make Earth Day crayons - Recycle and reuse your old broken crayons. Collect all the small, broken bits and arrange them in a muffin tin. Bake them in the oven so they melt, wait for them to cool, vuala - good as new!

Although Earth Day is only once a year - it’s important to keep the environment in mind all year long. Let us know how you plan on being green today on our Facebook page!

Participate in our Facebook Contest!

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

No, this is no April Fool’s joke - we will be running Facebook contests for our patients! We want to get a little personal and give you the chance to “get to know” your favorite doctors.

For the month of April, Dr. Marc Adelberg will be in the spotlight. All you have to do is head to our Facebook page and answer the question below. Two winners will be randomly selected from the correct answers and will win either a $25 Gift Card to Tanger Outlets or a beach chair & umbrella package. Contest is only open to patients at our practice and their immediate family members, one vote allowed per family!

Winners will be announced  and contacted Thursday, May 1st with details on how to claim your prize. Good luck!
 

Food Allergies and Thanksgiving Dinner

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Thanksgiving is quickly sneaking up on us. As exciting as it may be to spend time with your loved ones and enjoy a home cooked feast, parents of children with food allergies can start getting anxious.

We don't want this holiday to cause you stress. Check out these great tips (for parents AND hosts) to ensure a safe and happy Turkey Day meal for all, courtesy of SheKnows.com:

If one of your guests has a food allergy:

• Call ahead and ask how you can work with them to ensure a safe dinner
• Always be mindful of cross-contamination (washing hands, separating utensils)
• Save packages of prepared food so you can check the ingredient list - or have the home cooked recipes readily available

If your child has a food allergy:

• If eating Thanksgiving away from home, call ahead and see what the host's menu plans are
• Don't be afraid to pack safe food alternatives
• If bringing an allergen-free food option, also bring separate serving utensils

These tips are great to keep in mind during any holiday meal. Does your child have a food allergy? Share some of your tips in handling the situation with us on our Facebook page!