How to Avoid a Candy Overload This Halloween

Trick-or-Treat! It’s almost that time - that time when your home overflows with all kinds of sticky, chewy candies. Sound’s like a dental nightmare, no?

But Halloween doesn’t have to be coated in sugar! Here are a few tips on how to avoid a kid candy coma:

Treat Your Kids in Moderation

Agree ahead of time of how much your kids are allowed to have and during what times. When they are done trick-or-treating, allow them to pick out a few pieces for the night. Put the rest of the candy out of sight (out of mind!). Set up a “treat time” and reward your kids when the time is right.

Upcycle Candy

Just because your children shouldn’t eat all of the candy doesn’t mean you can’t use all of the candy! Put some of the candy aside for holiday projects like gingerbread houses or valentines day cards! You can even use it as an advent calendar - countdown the 25 days ‘til Christmas with a piece of candy a day.

Donate Candy

Avoid a temper tantrum from taking your children’s candy away and let them donate it instead! Find a local organization that allows candy buyback’s in your area - like us here at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental - in turn, they collect the candy and send it off to be distributed to troops overseas.

Choose Alternate Treats

Candy isn’t the only thing that makes children happy. Switch out some of their candy for prizes - stickers, school supplies, or small creative toys will do! You’ll be surprised at how much your child will enjoy receiving a surprise that isn’t a sticky, tasty treat.

Enjoy your Halloween - treats and all! But remember, brush for two minutes after indulging in any sticky or sugary sweets! If you have any questions about how to improve your child’s oral health, give us a call! We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment. Visit our website to learn more.

It's National Orthodontic Health Month!

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

 

Along with National Dental Hygiene Month, October is also Orthodontic Health Month. Dental health is something that effects everyone, having healthy teeth and gums contributes to a nice smile and gets you on the right track to a lifetime of comfort and well being.

Orthodontists are just one of the dental practitioners your child could visit at some point in their life. The goal of orthodontic treatment is to enhance the smile, by adjusting the bite (malocclusions). Malocclusions affect the way one smiles, chews, and cleans the teeth. With the right orthodontic treatment and dental health practices, teeth can last a lifetime!

And some of these practices include eating for healthy teeth! With Halloween around the corner, if your child is currently undergoing treatment  - you likely know the dangers of sticky sweets with braces. Caramels, jellybeans, tootsie rolls, laffy taffy, the list goes on! Not to mention the hard candies that could crack braces.

This year try to keep your children in the safe zone with the below options (just be sure they brush their teeth once they're done snacking!):

• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
• Hershey’s Chocolate bar
• Kit Kat Bar
• 3 Musketeers
• Peppermint Patty

Although an orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at age 7. If you are unsure if your child qualifies, make an appointment for a FREE orthodontic consultation at one of our offices. Let us help you identify and reduce problems early on to make sure your child’s orthodontic experience is easier in the long run! Call us today!

 

October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics

www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

Leaves are changing color, temperatures are getting cooler, and our little ghouls and goblins are getting ready for Halloween! But did you know that October is also National Orthodontic Health Month?

In a month full of hard, sticky, crunch, and chewy treats - it's more important than ever to encourage everyone to take proper care of their teeth, especially those going through orthodontic treatment.

So if your children have braces, beware of these treats this Halloween season:

• Caramel
• Popcorn
• Taffy
• Licorice
• Bubblegum

We know that Halloween is filled with sugary sweets so as always please encourage your children to brush and floss after consumption! Sweets lead to cavities and certain candies can lead to damaged braces, we wouldn't want that to happen!

And in honor of National Orthodontic Health Month, our Massapequa Park and Nesconset locations are offering FREE orthodontic consultations. Be sure to call either office anytime this month for  a complimentary consultation for your child!

Massapequa Park Office
1000 F. Park Blvd.
Massapequa Park, NY 11762
(516) 798-1111

Nesconset Office
62 Lake Ave., Suite A
Nesconset, NY 11767
(631) 360-7337

Image Source: AAOInfo.org