[INFOGRAPHIC] Tooth Friendly School Lunches

 

Did you know that over the course of your child’s school years (Pre-K through 12), you will have packed close to 3,000 lunch boxes? Smart snacks and proper nutrition are not only key to fueling your kids through the day but equally for keeping smiles healthy and bright.

Make sure this school year you pack some simple, tooth friendly alternatives! Check out our infographic and additional info below:

Pack less:

• Cookies & Chips: Prepackaged treats such as these are often loaded with preservatives, sugars, and more.
• Dried Fruits: Seems healthy, but dried fruits are like sticky candies. They can adhere to teeth for extended periods of time.
• Juice & Soda: Sugary beverages and the acid in soda are known for weakening tooth enamel.
  

Pack more:

• Fruits & Veggies: Crisp, water dense fruits and veggies are not only great for hydration - but they also help stimulate the production of saliva (which protects tooth enamel and prevents decay!)
• Low-Fat Cheese: The casein protein found in cheese helps to fortify the tooth’s surface and protect against cavities. It’s low in sugar and acid, and high in calcium.
• Nuts: Many nuts provide vitamins and minerals that help teeth! 
• Water: The best beverage for healthy teeth - even add some fruit slices to change its taste!
  

At Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental our purpose is to provide exceptional mental and dental care that can impact your child’s life forever. Our practice has been providing excellent pediatric dentistry to children of Long Island for over 14 years! If you have any questions about dental friendly diets give us a call or ask during your next appointment. We have three locations: Nesconset, Massapequa Park, and West Islip.

3 Benefits of Chewing Sugar-Free Gum

 

 

While brushing for two minutes, twice daily, and flossing regularly is still the best defense in the fight against tooth decay - you may find it surprising that one "bad habit" is also good for your teeth.

While chewing gum helps freshen breath - choosing a sugar-free gum actually yields some major tooth benefits! 

1. Prevents Cavities. Did you know that clinical studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after eating can help prevent tooth decay? That’s because chewing gum increases the amount of saliva in your mouth. Saliva not only helps wash away food and debris caught between teeth, but it also helps to neutralize plaque acid.

2. Strengthens Tooth Enamel. Saliva also contains additional calcium and phosphate which helps to strengthen tooth enamel! And if you choose a sugarless gum sweetened with xylitol - an all natural sweetener derived from the fibrous parts of plants - you’ll keep your mouth a more neutral pH, which keeps tooth enamel healthy. 

3. Reduces Dry Mouth. While more common in adults, dry mouth does affect men and women of all ages. And even though there are a variety of treatments for this problem, the goal in all is almost always to increase salivary flow. One of the simplest ways to do this - as you may guess from above, is to chew sugar-free gum.  Chewing sugar-free gum causes your mouth to increase the production of saliva by 10 times the normal rate! 

Next time you purchase sugar-free gum from the store, look for those with the ADA seal on the package to guarantee it’s sugarless. 

For more tips on how to keep teeth healthy - give us a call! At Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental our purpose is to provide exceptional mental and dental care that can impact your child’s life forever. Our practice has been providing excellent pediatric dentistry to children of Long Island for over 14 years. We have three locations: Nesconset, Massapequa Park, and West Islip.

Tooth Tips to Fight the Flu

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While flu season can begin as early as October, continuing well into May - now is commonly its peak time. To help in being proactive in fending off the flu, we wanted to share some tooth tips on how your family can fight the flu this year:

• Store toothbrushes upright and away from the toilet. Find a dry, open space where your toothbrush can breathe, aka not near a toilet or sink! If it’s left on the sink, dirty soapy water can find its way onto it. If it’s nearby a toilet, each time it’s flushed bacteria can become airborne and latch onto the brush - gross!
• Remember the three month rule! Toothbrushes should be tossed and replaced every three months. Old bristles hold on to bacteria and aren’t as effective in cleaning teeth. You may also choose to replace it sooner - after a cold or flu has run its course.
• Brush and floss regularly. Allowing food particles to sit in the mouth can open the door for harmful bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Now, your body will work on ridding itself of this bacteria which can tire the immune system, thus reducing its strength to fight off more serious infections such as the flu.
• No toothbrush sharing! No matter how close you are with your spouse or child, germs and illnesses can easily be transferred from toothbrush sharing. This also means keeping all brushes separated in their holders to prevent bristles from touching.

Proper oral health habits are important year round, but during cold and flu season the prove even more vital. Share this post to help others fight the flu this season!

 

If you have any questions about how to better care for your child’s oral health - give any of our offices a call. Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dentistry has three Long Island locations. 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. 

 

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Did You Know You Can Catch a Cavity?

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Believe it or not it is true! Dental cavities are the single most common chronic childhood disease. While the cause of dental decay is multi-factorial most parents blame Halloween candy, snacking, or sugary drinks such as juice or soda.  These certainty contribute to cavities, however, cavities are also caused by bacteria. The main culprit is a bacteria called Streptococcus mutans. This bacteria lives in plaque on your teeth and feed off the sugars in your mouth. The bacteria produce an acid that weakens your teeth and cause cavities.  

Like most bacteria it can be transmitted from one person to another! This is especially true between caregivers and children and also happens between couples or even people living closely. Research has shown that children usually get the cavity causing bacteria from mom.

The better a parent or caregiver takes care of their teeth the less likely that they transmit the bacteria. Parents can lower the bacteria in their mouth with basic oral hygiene and visits to the dentist. Treating cavities in a parents mouth helps both the parent and child. Just like sharing other germs caregivers should avoid tasting children food, kissing children on the lips, and other actions that would cause the spread of this bacteria.

You can control the bacteria in your child's mouth by brushing and flossing regularly and visiting your dentist at least two times a year. In fact starting early helps a lot. The Academy for Pediatric dentistry advises that the first dental visit is within six months of eruption of the first tooth and no later than 12 months of age. Of course, limiting the sugar also helps so if you want to finally get rid of some of the candy we wont tell! 

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s dental health, give any of our three locations 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. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for updates and industry news.

Wellness Wednesday: Toothache Woes

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While toothaches are common in adults and children, it doesn't make them any less of a nuisance. Kids don't understand why their teeth are causing them pain and as a parent - seeing them in distress can be frustrating. But there are ways you can help! 

First - find the root of the toothache
There are many reasons your child may experience a toothache - whether due to an incoming tooth, lost fillings, eroded enamel, or simply having food stuck between teeth. Try to source where the pain is coming from, look for swelling and redness on the gums and cheek, any discolorations on the tooth, or broken teeth.

Next - try some home remedies for treatment
If you suspect food particles are trapped between teeth, help your child floss the area causing them pain. Use a warm salt-water solution and have your child swish it around the painful area to rinse. You can also try using a cold compress to relieve any pain or swelling. If the pain is more severe, give your child the proper dosage of ibuprofen or acetaminophen (as instructed based on your child's age).

Finally - schedule an appointment with your pediatric dentist
While some toothaches are minor and can fade quickly, those that persist can be a sign of something more serious. Schedule an appointment with us to determine if the gum or tooth is damaged or if the pain simply cannot be relieved. Remember, the earlier you seek treatment, the easier it is to deal with dental concerns.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s dental health, give any of our three locations 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.

Teaching Kids the Importance of Dental Health to Fight Cavities

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

Tooth decay occurs when areas in the hard surface of your teeth become damaged and develop holes - cavities. If these cavities are left untreated, the holes will get bigger and can eventually lead to pain, infection, and tooth loss. While it’s true that some people are more prone to tooth decay than others (even within the same family) - by teaching the importance of dental health we can work together to fight cavities and instill a lifetime of good oral hygiene:

Brushing twice a day - One of the BEST ways to prevent tooth decay. Encourage your children and other family members to brush teeth for two minutes two times a day.

Use toothpaste with fluoride - Research has shown that fluoride is effective in reducing cavities. Should someone in your family be especially susceptible to cavities, we may recommend a daily fluoride rinse or supplements (tablets or drops).

Ask us about applying dental sealants - A sealant is a protective coating applied to the chewing surface of back teeth. Since these areas are tough to clean of bacteria and food, the sealant seals off these grooves to protect tooth enamel. This is recommended for all school-aged children.

Floss, floss, floss! - Flossing is the most effective way to remove food and plaque from between the teeth. Encourage your children and other family members to floss at least once or twice a day for the best cavity protection.

Lower your children’s sugar intake - Sugar is linked to tooth decay because if it is not cleaned off teeth well, the bacteria in the mouth can feed on it and produce acids. Over time this acid wears away at the teeth and the process of decay begins. Lower the amount of sugary snacks and beverages your children consume throughout the day!

Finally, another tried and true method of cavity prevention is bringing your children in for their regularly schedule dental appointments. This way we have the opportunity to spot an irregularities and catch any problems fast. At Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental our purpose is to provide exceptional mental and dental care that can impact your child’s life forever.  Our practice has been providing excellent pediatric dentistry to children of Long Island for over 14 years.  We have three locations: Nesconset, Massapequa Park and our newest location in West Islip.