Tips for Celebrating National Nutrition Month

Image courtesy of Eatright.org

It’s time to put your best fork forward in honor of National Nutrition Month! This year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds us that by making small changes this month and over time, you can easily help improve your health now and for the future!

Not sure where to begin? See below for some nutrition tips for the whole family:

Make eating fruits and veggies fun! Trust us, it’s easy. On your next pizza night, add spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, or broccoli as a topping. For breakfast, treat yourself to a healthy smoothie — with strawberries and a banana. Get saucy with fruit — puree berries or apples in a blender and use the thick, sweet sauce on pancakes or meats. Enjoy a loaded baked potato — with beans, tomatoes, and low-fat cheese. For 16 additional tips, download this handout! 

Choose smart snacks. Eating the right snacks throughout the day helps keep you energized and focused between meals — necessary for kids in school and even adults at work! Try making stuffed pita pockets: whole-grain pita, stuffed with ricotta cheese, granny smith apple slices, and a dash of cinnamon. Spread celery sticks with smooth nut butter or low-fat cream cheese, top with raisins for the traditional “ants on a log.” For more sacking tips, download this handout!

Cook more, eat out less. Eating right isn’t impossible, even if you’re on a budget. All it takes is a little extra planning before you shop! In fact, when you prepare meals at home, they end up being cheaper and more nutritious. So before your next grocery run, plan your meals for the week, check recipes, and consult your kitchen cabinets to create a list of must have items. Additionally you’ll want to:

• Shop for foods(fruits and vegetables) that are in season. Since they’re easier to get, they tend to be less expensive.
• Focus on nutritious, low-cost foods! Foods like beans, peas, white potatoes, eggs, peanut butter, canned tuna, brown rice, quinoa, and frozen vegetables are all nutritious and often less expensive.
• Consult your newspaper and look online for sales and coupons — especially when it comes to the more expensive ingredients like meat or seafood. Compare prices while shopping as well! Different brands may increase the charge.
  

Reduce sources of added sugars! Too much sugar is bad for your health — and for you teeth! Choose water over sugary sports drinks, juices, or sodas. Add cinnamon or dried fruit to plain oatmeal instead of instant flavored oatmeal. Switch to unsweetened or no sugar added applesauce or jams/jellies. Small substitutions go a long way!

Just as a balanced diet is good for our waistline - it's just as necessary for a healthy smile! 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 welcoming environment. Contact us today at one of our three convenient Long Island locations!

Healthy Foods For Teeth - National Nutrition Month

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

Since we’re more than halfway through March we wanted to check in and see how you’ve been celebrating National Nutrition Month. We know the importance that smart food choices and sound eating habits have on the body as a whole, but they also play a big role in the health of the mouth, teeth, and gums.

Just as a balanced diet is good for our waistline - it’s just as necessary for a healthy smile. So to finish off the month strong, we wanted to provide some key foods for your oral health that you should be incorporating into your meals:

• Cheese: The casein protein found in cheese (or other milk products) helps to fortify the tooth’s surface and protect against cavities. It’s low in sugar and acid, and high in calcium!
• Leafy Greens: Rich in folic acid, this food group supports cell growth and regeneration.
• Cucumber: Did you know gum disease can be effectively treated with cucumber juice? Consuming raw cucumber can increase saliva and will serve to neutralize the acid and base in the oral cavity. These veggies also contain a photochemical that fights the bacteria in the mouth that causes bad breath.
• Ginger: Have a toothache? The anti-inflammatory properties found within ginger root serves as a pain killer and can aid in minor infections, swelling, and discomfort usually associated with a minor toothache!
• Carrots: Eating raw carrots helps stimulate the mouth’s natural cleanser, saliva. Not to mention they are rich in vitamin A - which is necessary for healthy tooth enamel.
• Strawberries: A natural tooth whitener due to the malic acid found inside this delicious fruit.
• Sesame Seeds: These little seeds are rich in calcium which helps to keep teeth healthy. They work to dissolve plaque buildup on teeth as well as strengthening tooth enamel.

Year Round Tips for Healthy Smiles

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

National Children’s Dental Health Month is coming to a close, but it’s not too late to save your children’s teeth - or your own! Establishing an oral health routine is not only important now, but for your child’s teeth year round.

So while this month was dedicated to raising awareness, continue to use the below tips to reduce your child’s risk of tooth decay:

• Limit between-meal snacks, should your child want something offer them nutritious options
• Purchase sugarless gum! Chewing sugarless gum after eating can increase saliva flow and help wash out food and decay-producing acid
• Monitor beverage consumption, offer your child water rather than soft drinks
• Encourage your children to brush and floss twice a day
• Schedule regular dental visits with us!

If you’re looking for a pediatric dentist on Long Island - look no further! We have offices in Massapequa Park, Nesconset, and West Islip with board certified pediatric dentists and orthodontists, and we provide laser dentistry, sedation dentistry, plus we also treat special needs patients.

Give us a call and visit us today!
Nesconset Office - 631.360.7337
Massapequa Park Office - 516.798.1111
West Islip Office - 631.661.7337