Mouth Healthy Foods for Your End of Summer BBQ

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

Having a barbecue this Labor Day weekend to close out the summer? Make sure you add these mouth healthy foods to your soirée: 

Choose your crunch wisely. Chips may be standard, but they aren’t the most mouth healthy treat for your teeth. Instead, keep your serving dish full of apples, pears, and veggies like carrots, celery, and raw broccoli. These snacks work like natural toothbrushes, stimulating saliva and scrubbing off any build-up.

Crush, don’t cube. Chewing on ice cubes may seem refreshing, but ice is no friend to your teeth. Chewing on cubes can leave your teeth vulnerable to a dental emergency (think chipped teeth) and can even damage enamel. Instead of adding ice to drinks, keep all your beverages chilled in a cooler of ice. If you do need ice, use crushed instead.

Say cheese! Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese are low in sugar and rich in calcium and phosphorous, which aids in strengthening and protecting enamel. Plus, studies have shown that eating more dairy may lower your risk of gum disease. Set out a cheese plate or add a slice to your burgers!

Serve infused water. Sugary beverages, like soda and sports drinks, cause dry mouth and eat away at your teeth. Offer water instead, with a twist! Infuse your water with whatever fruit you’d like - just go easy on citrus fruits as the acid in lemons and limes can be harsh on teeth.

If you have any questions about how to improve your child's oral health please give our offices a call. We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment. Call (516) 798-1111 or visit our website to schedule an appointment.

Back to School Dental Care Tips

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With only a few weeks of summer break left, now is the time to ease your kids into their back to school routine - including brushing up on dental health practices. Help them start the school year off with a smile with the below tips:

Schedule a dental visit. Adolescence is a time of great change in the mouth (losing baby teeth and gaining permanent teeth). Additionally, tooth decay is still the most common chronic childhood disease. As such, it’s important to keep up with preventative dental visits every six months to ensure your child is taking the necessary steps to ward off decay as well as protect their teeth throughout the year.

Be consistent. Both with flossing and brushing! Make sure your child incorporates enough time into their morning and evening schedule to brush and floss. By making these actions routine, your child will develop consistent habits for the rest of their life!

Pay attention to nutrition. When packing lunches, make sure you are choosing tooth friendly options. Also, be sure to include all necessary food groups, missing the daily servings of fruits and vegetables can increase cavity risk. Don’t forget about after school snacks - especially if your child is going from classes to after school activities.

Good health and academic success begin at home. It’s important as a parent, to make sure there are no obstacles in your child’s way that could hurt their ability to thrive. Schedule a back to school appointment with us to make sure no dental problems will prevent them from having a happy and healthy year! Call (516) 798-1111 or visit our website to schedule an appointment.

Christmas Cookie Recipes

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Making Christmas cookies is a tradition for many families. Whether they are made to be gifted to neighbors and friends or just for Santa's arrival - having a simple and delicious Christmas cookie you can make with your kids is sure to be a crowd pleaser. 

Looking for some Christmas cookie inspiration? See some of our picks below, courtesy of Pinterest!

Red Nose Reindeer Peanut Butter Cookies: Simple enough your kids can really take control of this one. Recipe here

Rice Krispie Wreaths: Looking to add color and variety to your cookie platters? Try this festive treat. Recipe here

Sugar Cookie Christmas Trees: Coat the whole cookie in icing and use sprinkles to decorate! Recipe here

Gingerbread People: Let your kids have fun decorating Gingerbread people, feel free to mix in candy or sprinkles for color accents. Recipe here

Do you have a favorite cookie recipe that is too good not to share? Post a link or photo on our Facebook page!

Tips for the Perfect Family Christmas Card

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 
Avoid capturing any awkward family photos for your Christmas card this year by using some of the below tips to take a picture you want to show off to your recipient list:

 

Tips for the Perfect Family Christmas Card

Source: The BMC Report

1. Incorporate a visible message! Pick up some letters from the craft store and spell out your message.

Source: Wild Wandering

2. Pick a palette. No need to match exactly, but pick a palette to choose wardrobe from.

Source: The Kavanaugh Report

3. Create a DIY backdrop. Tired of another Christmas tree photo? Get creative and make your own background.

Source: Snapfish

4. Use online tools for cool formatting. Sites like Snapfish and Shutterfly have templates sure to bump up your presentation points.

Source: Oh Happy Day

5. Get some photo booth essentials. If you'd rather a silly approach, make some DIY props with the kids and ad them into the frame.

Once you've mastered the perfect Christmas card, send them to us to enter to win a $250 gift card! Can't wait to see everyone's cards! Happy Holidays!

 

Questions, Answered: What is Sedation Dentistry?

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If you bring your child for a dental visit and they end up needing to be sedated, you may be quite nervous or skeptical of the process. We don’t blame you! That’s why we want to explain the services we offer to ease your minds.

Sedation dentistry is available to facilitate dental treatment to fearful and anxious patients or those who are unable to cooperate due to lack of psychological or emotional maturity and/or a disability.

Sedation can range from using Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) to General Anesthesia, here we’ll explain the differences should your child ever need either of the two:

Nitrous Oxide – Laughing Gas

Nitrous oxide has a calming effect on patients, especially those who are anxious, phobic, or tend to gag during their dental treatment. It is a mild sedation, administered through a small, scented mask, where patients are still conscious and can talk. The effects of the ‘laughing gas’ do not linger and rarely ever has side effects.

IV Sedation

IV Sedation provides a way for completing all of a child’s dental needs while he or she is comfortable, pain-free, and sound asleep. This type of sedation is utilized in our office with an experienced and qualified dental anesthesiologist, Dr. Boorin. Dr. Boorin uses medications and monitors equal to those currently used in hospitals. Children are awoken soon after the dental treatment is completed and free from any memory of the treatment itself, the IV, and our monitors.

Feel free to discuss both options with any of our doctors. For additional information, visit our website!

Halloween Candy Safety Tips

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics

www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

Halloween is just about here and with that we want to talk about some Candy Safety Tips that everyone should follow.

• Instruct your children not to open their candy until they return home
• Inspect all candy for visible signs of tampering before you let your child eat any
• Accept only wrapped and packaged candy
• Do not eat any candy that has been or looks unwrapped or opened
• Avoid chocking hazards such as gum, hard candies, or small toys to young children

And of course, when in doubt.. throw it out!

You may also want to limit the amount of candy your children consume on Halloween night. A good idea is to make sure they eat a filling meal before or after trick or treating depending on the time. Moderation is key in keeping children, and their mouths, healthy for the Halloween holiday.

For more information on how to enjoy a healthy Halloween, see the AAPD's tips for keeping your children's teeth front of mind.

Children - Pre-teens: Need to Knows About Your Child's Smile

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics

www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

From ages 6 - 12, children begin to lose their baby teeth and their adult teeth start to appear. So what does that mean? 

 
We've already discussed your child's smile from birth - 3 years old and 3 - 6 years old. So we're continuing our timeline and giving you some need to knows about your kid's oral health during their late childhood years.

 
See below for some age specific concerns and tips:

• Establish your pediatric dentist early and stick to regular checkups. The more comfortable your child is with their dental team, the more likely they'll keep up with their oral health care.
• Make sure that your kids get the fluoride they need. Discuss your kids’ specific fluoride needs with your dentist or pediatrician.
• Help your child brush their teeth until they can do so by themselves (usually around age 8). Then it's important to supervise and make sure they brush thoroughly 2min2x and spit out the toothpaste afterward.
• Encourage healthy eating habits! This includes a diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
• Orthodontic evaluations should happen by age 7. At this early age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary, but vigilant examination can anticipate the most advantageous time to begin treatment.
• Make sure your child athletes are prepared - buy them a mouth-guard if they are participating in sports!

  If you have any questions, let us know! Share with us on Facebook or give us a call.

Children's Books to Overcome the Fear of the Dentist

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics

www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

As we know, some children are fearful or anxious about visiting the dentist for the first time. If your little one is one of them, don’t worry, there are quite a few tips on how to keep your child calm; one of them is as simple as bedtime reading.

We’ve recommended some of our favorite children’s books to help you get started:

Show Me Your Smile!: A Visit to the Dentist

It's time for Dora's checkup at the dentist. Dora explores the dentist's office, gets her teeth cleaned, and more! She even gets a special treat for being such a good patient!

The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist
Sister Bear watches Dr. Bearson fill Brother Bear's small cavity. Then it's her turn in the chair to have a dangling baby tooth removed. An entertaining story for preschoolers of a cheerful and informative visit to a dentist.

Just Going to the Dentist
Mercer Mayer's very popular Little Critter is on his way to the dentist. It's a thorough check-up, complete with dental x-rays. When Dr. Ghum insists on filling a cavity, Little Critter goes through it bravely.

Remember, parents can play a vital role in helping your child not be afraid of the dentist. Has you child experienced first time fears? What did you do to help calm the nerves? Share with us on our Facebook page!

Third Location Coming Soon!

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics

www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

Some of you may have already been whispering about a new location opening, but here is the official announcement:

Opening late this summer, we're adding on to our practice and opening a THIRD location in:

West Islip
615 Montauk Highway
West Islip NY 11795
631-661-7337

The construction is underway and ahead of schedule, so we're hoping to open our doors soon - fingers crossed - though as you know anything could happen to alter our opening date.

Some fun things to look forward to:

• Same wonderful staff and Doctors
• Laser dentistry
• Undersea theme (look for the huge boat that will make up the front desk and mermaid at the coffee station holding the TV!)
• Video games
• Ample dedicated parking
• And lots of fun surprises!

We'll keep you all updated on our official opening date but are very excited to share the news. Looking forward to seeing you soon! Any questions share with us on our Facebook Page!