Helping Your Kids Make New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for parents – kids can also work to better themselves in the New Year as well. Help get the entire family involved in the New Year, New You mentality by following these steps before the ball drops!

Be a Role Model
Just like you’re a dental health role model for your kids, you need to practice what you preach when it comes to resolutions. Sit down with your kids to discuss their goals for the year, and how as a family you can all motivate each other to keep them.

Help Guide Them
The best way for your kids to take ownership and learn how to plan, is by creating resolutions themselves. As a parent, you can absolutely give guidance by making suggestions, but it’s important to ask them what they want for themselves and listen to their responses. Guide them with broad categories – school goals, friendship goals, family goals – but let them fill in the specifics!

Pick a FEW Goals
It’s easy to come up with a laundry list of things to work on, but in the end – it’s harder to actually follow through throughout the year. Help your kids narrow down to two or three goals that are realistic and age appropriate. And then teach them how to…

Take Baby Steps
It takes a long time to create a habit – which may discourage your child if their resolution is to keep their room clean. Instead, help them plan how they can take baby steps to achieving their goal. One week, your child should remember to always put their shoes away, the next week to make their bed, and so on. By creating small, actionable steps, you’ll help keep your child engaged in their goal. Remember to acknowledge how they’re doing throughout the year!

Make Resolutions Together
In a time where families can live isolated lives, resolutions can help bring families together. Perhaps as a family you resolve to give back – each month sit down and brainstorm how you can do so. From donating old clothes to volunteering at a local charity – there are countless ways you can work together to meet a goal! One of our favorite family resolutions – resolving to brush for two minutes, twice a day, and floss regularly!

From all of us here at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental, we wish you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year! 

Resolve to keep your family’s smiles bright in 2017, schedule your next appointment with us today! We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment, in three different Long Island locations. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for updates and industry news!

Dental Health New Year's Resolution Check In!

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As we head into February, now is a great time to assess the changes you’ve promised to make this New Year. Whether big or small, keeping your resolutions not only serves as a morale booster, but it can in many ways improve your overall well being! 

Remember, consistency is key to any resolution you make. If achieving great oral health is something you and your family are dedicated to, here are a few tips to help you ensure that you stay on track:

Improve Your Diet - While sugar isn’t the worst thing to consume, it’s not smart to let it sit in your mouth after a snack! Sugar filled treats (including fizzy drinks and carbohydrate-rich foods) can accelerate tooth decay, leading to cavities and other mouth related issues. To help remedy this, try to limit the amount of sugar consumed and chew some xylitol infused gum to help reduce cavity causing bacteria!

Try New Flossing Options - While traditional flossing is very effective, switching things up can make the “chore” fun again! Try incorporating a Waterpik into your kids flossing routine. Floss first to loosen the plaque, then Waterpik to flush it away! Waterpiks are also great for those with braces since it can get behind the metal wires to rid any trapped food particles. 

Keep Dental Visit Promises - A typical dental check-up takes usually no more than an hour. We know it’s easy to skip appointments, but it’s just as easy to commit to going twice per year! By keeping these visits, we can make sure problems are addressed early - when they’re more treatable. 

If you have any questions about your child’s teeth throughout the New Year, give one of our offices a call! We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment, in three different Long Island locations. 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! 

#TuesdayTips - for Healthy Teeth in 2015

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Now that 2015 is underway, many people have started on their goal to lead a healthier lifestyle in the new year - so why not add improving your dental health to your resolution list?

The following are some tips for healthy teeth to make sure you and your family have a healthy smile all through 2015:

• Brush and floss daily - Brush your teeth for two minutes, two times per day and complete your dental care routine by flossing. Flossing helps to remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth where the bristles can’t always reach.
• Smart snacking - Eating a variety of nutrient rich foods from all food groups helps promote healthy teeth and gums. Make sure your family has a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, low fat dairy products, and whole grains for optimum oral health.
• Limit sugary beverages - A steady consumption of soft drinks/sugary beverages is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. The sugar in these drinks combines with the bacteria in your mouth forming an acid that wears away at enamel, causing cavities. Limit the amount of sugar beverages daily and incorporate more water into your everyday consumption.
• Schedule regular dental visits - Regular dental appointments are crucial in spotting oral health problems early, when treatment options tend to be easier and more affordable. Plus these visits also help to prevent many oral problems from developing in the fist place!

Start the new year off fresh and schedule your dental visits with us! We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment. Call (516) 798-1111or visit our website to schedule an appointment at any of our three Long Island locations.

Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for updates and industry news!

Make Brushing Fun!

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New year, new challenges - regardless of your "improve oral health" resolution, teaching your child to brush may still come as a struggle. Often times, children view brushing their teeth as another chore - specifically one they'd like to avoid whenever possible. Change their perceptions this year by following some of these tips and make brushing family fun:

• There's an App for That! - Of course there is! Apps like Brush DJ is a free app that will play random music from your phone or iPad for 2 minutes in order to keep your child brushing longer. This app also reminds you about dental checkups and when you should replace your toothbrush!
• Be Connected - The Beam Brush is the world's first smart toothbrush! This manual brush monitors oral hygiene habits and reports them to a smartphone app. One smart phone can hold multiple Beam Brush data - have the whole family compete to be the best brusher! You have the option of watching the light 'beam' turn off after 2 minutes or listening to music while you brush for the allotted time. Create goals to form new habits and even earn rewards for your progress! Great way to ensure kids are building and maintaining good oral care habits.
• Offer Variety - Try buying a flavored floss in berry, winter-mint, or even cupcake flavors! An easy and tasty way to encourage your little one to floss. Floss picks in your child's favorite color, cartoon, or animal is much more exciting to them as well.
• Use Incentives - Create rewards to help your child along the way. If your child remembers to brush their teeth without having to be reminded, give a point or sticker. Once enough points or stickers are accumulated, allow your child to trade them in for a small prize. Keep a daily chart in the bathroom to keep a running record.

Your child may not understand the importance of a dental routine, but they do understand fun! Try some of these tips with your kids and let us know if they've helped! Share any other tips and tricks of your own on our Facebook page.

New Year's Resolution Check In - Healthy Eating

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More often than not, one of the most common New Year's Resolutions is to get in shape / eat healthy. Not only is this good for your overall health, but eating certain foods are also beneficial for your teeth. Getting into a healthy eating habit is something you and your entire family can do to kick start the year.

As you move forward with your commitment to your family's healthy eating habits, we wanted to share some tips for success - inspired by Mommy blogger, Charity, of Foodlets:

1. Everyone (over the age of 2) Eats the Same Meal - Add a few different options to the meal and make note of each person's favorite ingredients so there's always something for everyone.
2. Add Spinach to Everything - Charity states the reason her kids eat it is because she tells them its going to be included in the meal rather than sneaking it in. Look for different ways to incorporate the good stuff into those tiny bodies. And as an added bonus, since spinach is rich in zinc and iron it makes for healthy and strong teeth.
3. Make it Fun - Make mealtimes enjoyable, offer pretty plates and bowls, special spoons, or tableware with your child's favorite characters. Try a game, make your children the critics. Have them try a small bite and let them vote thumbs up, middle, or down. If there's a thumbs down verdict just assure them it's ok and perhaps another time they can try it and see if they change their minds; planting the seed.  The more enjoyable meal time is, the better your kids will associate eating real food with pleasure.
4. Homemade is Better Than Processed - Especially when it comes to snack foods! Offer healthier options, sliced cucumbers, hummus and veggies, cheese slices. Check out our Pinterest board for some healthy snack ideas. Making something homemade is fresher, purer, and almost always healthier - and better for the teeth.
5. Offer Milk or Water With the Meal - Soda and juices are acidic and full of sugar which aids in tooth decay. Offering these two options for the whole family will make it easier for the kids once they see you drinking the same.

Encouraging healthy eating habits now can go a long way, not only for you but for your children as well. Has this been one of your resolution's for the New Year? Share your tips with us on our Facebook page!

New Year, New You: Resolutions for a Healthy Smile

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

With New Year's quickly approaching you may have already started to consider what your 2014 resolutions will be. Maybe saving money, eating better, learning something new, etc. While these goals are great, why not add a resolution to improve your dental health?

 
See below for some great oral health resolutions that you and your family can practice this coming year:

1. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables - eating well is important for your oral health. Adding more fruits and veggies to your family's diet can improve the body's ability to fight bacteria and inflammation, clean plaque from teeth, and freshen breath.
2. Brush and floss regularly - brush, 2 minutes 2 times a day and floss at least once daily. Decay-causing bacteria still lingers between teeth where toothbrush bristles can't reach.
3. Visit your dentist regularly - seeing your dentist for regular checkups can help prevent any dental health problems before they cause discomfort or require more comprehensive or expensive treatment.

For the new year, resolve to treat your mouth right by improving your diet and oral hygiene habits for the whole family. Schedule a check up appointment with us for your kids at any of our offices - we look forward to ringing in the new year with you!