[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.

Tips for a Tooth Friendly Memorial Day

May is National Barbecue Month and we certainly have some BBQ weather on the forecast for this weekend! We can’t think of a better way to kickoff the summer season and celebrate Memorial Day than with a cookout with family and friends.

Here are some of our tips for having a tooth friendly Memorial Day!

• Go Green - Instead of a plethora of pasta or potato salads, offer up some greens! Be sure to set aside some traditional leafy salads or even try a corn or bean salad to spice things up. Your teeth will thank you!
• Grill Veggies - Veggies on the BBQ are not only delicious, but are great for oral health. Put together some skewers of bell peppers, zucchini, cauliflower, and mushroom and enjoy!
• Offer Meat Alternatives - While hamburgers and hotdogs are a Memorial Day Weekend staple, seafood provides a host of vitamins and minerals that are great for teeth. Perhaps some salmon, trout, or shrimp can be added to the menu this weekend!
• Make Your Own Chips - Potato chips are often greasy and fried in oil with added preservatives. So for a healthier alternative, consider making your own chips for this weekend’s celebration! Check out this baked sweet potato chips recipe here.
• Healthy Desserts - No cookout is complete without some dessert. But instead of a slice of pie or cake - serve some fruit parfaits to satisfy that sweet tooth craving without all the extra sugar or additives.

From all of us here at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental, we hope you have a safe and enjoyable tooth-friendly Memorial Day weekend!

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.

Celebrate National Nutrition Month

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

 

It’s National Nutrition Month! We know it's not always easy to get kids to eat healthy, but sticking to a nutritional, well-balanced diet is essential for tooth-health! Make sure to incorporate the below foods this month, and always:

High fibrous foods: Fruits, vegetables, and grains help to scrub teeth and stimulates saliva, your mouth’s first defense in fighting mouth monsters. Saliva helps neutralize any acids that may attack tooth enamel. 

Building Blocks: Make sure to serve up plenty of foods that are rich in essential vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C, D, and calcium and phosphorous. These nutrients help to protect and rebuild tooth enamel and can be found in beef, eggs, whole grains, poultry, fish, tofu, and many nuts! 

Dairy: Dairy products like milk and yogurt are known to provide the calcium and phosphate needed to help strengthen teeth. Cheese is also a great source of calcium and helps to stimulate saliva as well! Do keep in mind though, that the lactose in milk can attack teeth if left lingering in the mouth. That’s why it’s best to put baby to bed with a bottle of water.

Water: Absolutely the most tooth-friendly beverage, water will rinse away food particles and sugars left behind in the mouth. Fluoridated water in particular, has the most benefit for tiny 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. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for updates and industry news.

Tips for Getting Toddlers to Eat Tooth Friendly Foods

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

Have a picky eater on your hands? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, toddlers often aren’t immediately drawn to snacks that aid in oral health.

If you’re struggling to get your child to try some tooth friendly foods, give some of the below tips a try- courtesy of Colgate»

• Don’t take no for an answer. Often times, toddlers will reject new food when it is first offered. Instead of giving up, introduce healthy foods in a variety of ways to see if your fussy eater will approve. For example, some toddlers prefer raw veggies to cooked, or frozen options to canned.
• Watch the seasonings. Not everyone likes certain spices and what you like may not be your child’s preference. Introduce new foods both plain and seasoned to see what your little one enjoys most. You may find you’ll have to cook things plain only to allow each family member to season as desired.
• Supervise difficult foods. While we know crunchy vegetables and fruits are good for tiny teeth, you’ll want to make sure your toddler can handle them. Supervise them with any tough foods to prevent choking accidents and don’t be afraid to hold off on some snacks until more teeth are in place.
• Don’t forget the milk. Studies have shown that when milk is consumed alongside cavity-causing foods (sweets), it can actually help prevent bacteria from attacking teeth. Do still stick with water at bed time however as milk, formula, and juice can actually cause damage if left lingering on teeth.

These tips plus scheduled dental visits can help pave the way to a lifetime of healthy smiles. If you’re looking to schedule your child’s next dental visit, give us a call! We have offices in Nesconset, Massapequa Park, and West Islip and are always available to talk with you and address any concerns.

Tooth-Friendly Valentine's Day Treats

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

Celebrating Valentine’s Day with your family this weekend? While we know chocolate and sugary sweets are often the norm, they don’t have to be. This year, enjoy some tooth friendly alternatives! 

Apple Chips and Dip: You'll need two ingredients, and heart shaped cookie cutter. Slice apples crosswise into 1/4 inch wide slices. Lay them flat on a cutting board and with a small heart shaped cookie cutter, cut out apple hearts! Serve them with your favorite strawberry yogurt for dipping. 

Heart Toast: Grab a piece of bread, an egg, a heart shaped cookie cutter (or knife), and a frying pan and you’re ready to go! This dish is very easy to make and doesn’t take much more prep time than your typical egg breakfast.

Healthy Valentine’s Day Cookies: This recipe calls for all the health swaps. They’re full of protein, fiber, antioxidants, and have a natural sweetness from honey. Find the full recipe on Chocolates and Carrots » 

Strawberry Pancake Skewers: While these may take a little more effort than your typical pancake breakfast - we can bet they’ll be well received!  Create your pancakes and whipped cream from scratch, cut up some strawberries, and you’ll be ready to go! Find the full recipe on Bargain Briana »

We know it may be unrealistic to completely avoid sweet treats this Valentine’s Day. So in addition to the above, make sure you choose the better of the candy varieties. Dark chocolate for example contains antioxidants that are beneficial to your mouth and teeth. Learn more about your options in last year’s blog!

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! 

5 Fruits for Healthy Teeth

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

Looking for tooth healthy options for your child's lunch box this school year? Or maybe you simply want better options for your own teeth! We know healthy living has always been associated with eating enough fruits and veggies, but did you know certain fruits are known to be particularly beneficial to the teeth? Find out five below!

Apples. Biting and chewing an apple helps to stimulate the production of saliva, which in turn can reduce tooth decay by lowering bacteria in the mouth! Apples also contain magic acid, a chemical used in teeth whitening products that helps dissolve stains.

Bananas. Loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, and potassium, bananas are key to a healthy mouth. Plus the inside of the banana peel can help in teeth whitening! Simply rub the inside of the peel around your teeth for about 2 minutes so the minerals can absorb into your teeth and whiten them.

Watermelon. This summer fruit is rich in Vitamin C, which greatly benefits the teeth and gums. They are also fibrous, which means they can help scrub your teeth as you chew!

Oranges. The citric acid in oranges can help control the acidity levels in your mouth - especially as it encourages salivation. Known to be a source of Vitamin C and calcium, drinking a glass of OJ daily can supplement the calcium in your diet and help build stronger teeth!

Strawberries. A natural tooth whitener that contains both an astringent and Vitamin C. The astringent naturally aids in the removal of surface stains while Vitamin C helps to clear away plaque. 

For more tooth friendly fruits and vegetables, click here!

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. 

Tooth Friendly Summer Snacks

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

Is there anything better than eating a refreshing snack in the dog days of summer? We don't think so! Below are some summer snacks you can really sink your teeth into:

Photo via Flickr/Shutterbean

Frozen Yogurt Dots - Kids love this since it looks and tastes like ice cream, parents love it because it’s not! Pour your child’s favorite yogurt into a Ziploc bag, snip off an end, and squeeze small dots of yogurt onto a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet into the freezer until the yogurt freezes. Once done, grab a handful and enjoy!

Frozen Watermelon Slices - Skip the typical sweet, frozen pops this summer by instead cutting a watermelon into slices, trimming off the rind, inserting a Popsicle stick, and putting them in the freezer! Voila - simple, healthy, and delicious!

Fruit Pizza - Take a whole grain tortilla, pita, or flat bread, spread your favorite ‘sauce’ (greek yogurt, jam, nut butter, etc), and then add your desired fruit toppings. Cut into wedges and serve! Or feel free to fold it like a quesadilla for a grab and go snack.

If you have any go to summertime treats, share them with us on our Facebook page!

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.