Teething: Soothe Sore Gums

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Although teething times vary based on the child, somewhere between three and twelve months your child’s teeth will make their grand, grumpy appearance. Classic signs and symptoms to look out for include:

• Drooling
• Chewing on solid objects
• Irritability or crankiness
• Sore or tender gums

Regardless of the symptoms your child exhibits, you’ll be desperate to give them some teething relief. Consider these tips for soothing sore gums:

1. Rubbing - With a clean finger, or damp, clean washcloth, massage your baby’s gums. The pressure can ease your child’s discomfort.
2. Teething Ring - Opt for one made of firm rubber. The liquid-filled kind may break under the pressure of your baby’s chewing.
3. Keep it cool - A cold washcloth or chilled teething ring can also do the trick, just don’t give your baby a frozen teething ring, the contact with extreme cold may be harmful.
4. Dry the drool - Excessive drooling is part of the teething process. In order to prevent skin irritation, keep a clean cloth nearby to dry your baby’s chin!

For additional teething tips click here » If you have more questions or concerns with your child's oral habits - schedule an appointment at any of our 3 locations. We'll evaluate the situation and discuss solutions to ensure your child is paving the way towards excellent oral health!

Don't forget to take advantage of our #SelfieOfSummer Contest! Enter your selfie for a chance to win a $200 AMEX Gift Card! Details here »

Emergency Dental Care For Your Child

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With summer in full swing your kids are likely more active than ever, running from camp, to a friends house, to a sport event, or whatever vacation you have planned. But as we know, the increase in physical activity can lead to an increased risk of injury. 

Parents should be prepared for anything, including dental emergencies such as:

• Chipped or broken tooth
• Knocked-out tooth (and partially dislodged tooth)
• Lost filling
• Broken or loose braces and wires
• Bleeding gums
• Severe tooth ache

While some dental problems may be taken care of at home, others require immediate, professional attention. It’s important to use your best judgment when deciding whether or not to take your child in for an emergency visit. For example: if a baby tooth is lightly knocked out and no pain is felt - it may not be a dire situation as the permanent tooth will grow in and develop normally. Should a permanent tooth fall out - see us IMMEDIATELY, time is a critical factor in saving the tooth!

If you have any questions on how to handle emergency situations, visit our website » 

For any questions, concerns, or emergencies - we’re here for you and your child. Please feel free to contact us at any of our 3 locations. Call (516) 798-1111 or visit our website to schedule an appointment. 

Don't forget to take advantage of our #SelfieOfSummer Contest! Enter your selfie for a chance to win a $200 AMEX Gift Card! Details here »

Braces vs. Invisalign - What's Right for My Child?

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Image Courtesy of stockimages/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As orthodontic methods have advanced through the years, there are now more options than ever for straightening teeth. The two top contenders? Traditional braces and Invisalign.

Benefits of Braces:

• Made of high-grade stainless steel, today’s metal braces are smaller, more comfortable, and more attractive than years past
• The wire and brackets that form part of the braces help support closing of gaps and correcting crooked teeth
• Braces are not removable, and thus can’t be taken out and lost
• Braces typically work quicker in correcting teeth and work efficiently in fixing complex tooth issues

Benefits of Invisalign:

• The invisible smile corrected - Invisalign is a series of clear, removable, custom-made aligners that work to adjust teeth without anyone knowing
• Invisalign can be removed to eat, brush, floss, etc
• Invisalign is extremely useful for ethic purposed and simple dental issues
• Invisalign is comfortable and convenient, and are easier on the teeth overall

So which is the better option for your child? The decision ultimately depends on your child’s specific needs. While braces can be a hassle when eating and can cause mouth abrasions, the success of Invisalign is directly related to the patient wearing their aligners when required.

If you're seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, consult with one of our orthodontists here at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental & Orthodontics. We’ll be able to help you determine which treatment is best for your child.

Braces and Invisalign do more than just straighten teeth - they are valuable in correcting bite issues that often require special diagnosis and treatment. Get your child started on the path to a lifetime of great oral health!

Smile Saving Snacks

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We have a nice weekend ahead of us! Whether you are planning a trip to the beach, have your child’s sport game to attend, or are staying home for a play date, make sure your kids’ bellies are well prepared. Select some filling, healthy snacks that also help their oral health! These smile saver foods actually strengthen kids’ teeth:

Oranges, kiwis, strawberries, limes, peppers - The vitamin C found in these foods help kill bacteria that can be found in your child’s mouth. But, be sure they wait at least 30 minutes before brushing after consuming any citrus foods or drinks as the citric acid can temporarily weaken tooth enamel and leave teeth vulnerable to erosion caused by brushing.

Milk, yogurt, and cheese - These foods are rich in calcium, vitamin D, and phosphate - which raise the pH level in the mouth, lowers acid levels, and reduces the risk of tooth decay. Calcium also helps to repair damaged enamel, strengthen bones around your child’s teeth, and makes them more resistant to gum disease later in life!

Raw carrots, celery, cauliflower, green beans, and snap peas - These foods naturally scrape away plaque that can build up between meals or that may be missed when brushing. Have your child eat these crisp veggies slowly and to completely chew each serving to get the full benefit!

Sesame, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds, and nuts - Oils in the seeds help to strengthen enamel, making them more resistant to cavities. As an added bonus, most seeds also contain calcium! Children over 4 can eat these seeds and nuts as a healthy snack!

Have any other tooth-friendly treats your kids love? Head to our Facebook page and share your ideas! And don't forget to take your kid's selfie for our #SelfieOfSummer contest!!

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.

photo credit: sAM_68 via photopin cc

Baby Teeth Myths

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Image Courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We all want what is best for our children - including their teeth. But with all the information and misconceptions out there, sometimes it can be hard to sort through what is fact and what is fiction. To help you out, we’ve listed some of the most common myths and facts about your child’s teeth below:

MYTH 1 - Since permanent teeth come in, the baby teeth don’t matter
Just because baby teeth fall out, doesn’t mean they aren’t susceptible to the same decay and disease as adult teeth. If your child’s baby teeth aren’t properly cared for, bacteria and decay can easily be passed down to the tooth waiting to come in behind it. Additionally, baby teeth serve as placeholders in the mouth - having these teeth fall out too early (due to lack of care/decay) can cause crowding when the permanent teeth start to move in.

MYTH 2 - Most children have cavities due to their ‘soft’ teeth.
There is no such thing as soft teeth! Enamel of both baby teeth and adult teeth is the hardest substance in the body. Cavities can develop due to a poor diet (take sugary juices into consideration) and from the transferring of utensils/cleaning off pacifiers in the parent’s mouths.

MYTH 3 - My child is able to brush his/her own teeth
While it may appear that your child is capable of brushing their own teeth, chances are they struggle with getting those hard to reach places. While its certainly important to get them into the habit of brushing their own teeth, you may still want to oversee their brushing efforts to make sure they are getting the job done!

MYTH 4- Dentist appointments aren’t necessary for a few years
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child should visit the dentist by their first birthday or six months after the eruption of their first tooth. By establishing a dental home early, you will be more likely to avoid serious dental issues that could result in extensive treatment and even possible sedation.

If you have more questions or concerns about these common baby teeth myths, 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 our newest location in West Islip. 

#SELFIEOFSUMMER Contest!

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

We’re excited to announce the launch of our next contest: Selfie of the Summer! From now until Labor Day, patients of the practice can submit a ‘selfie’ for a chance to win a $200 AMEX gift card!

Enter as many times as you’d like, include your parents or siblings, take one at our office on your next visit, then share it with us on Facebook! A winner will be randomly selected once the contest ends.

See below for additional details:

• Contest will run from now - September 1st
• Must be a patient of our practice (but feel free to include parents, siblings, pets, etc in the photos as well)
• Share your photo to our Facebook page and incorporate the #selfieofsummer tag! Can’t load it to Facebook? Then drop it by one of our offices!
• Winner will be randomly selected and announced the first week of September

And that’s it! Good Luck!

Tooth Tips for Summer!

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Schools out, and before your kids run off to their summer camps, play dates, or sport games - there are a few things to keep in mind. We always tell our children to be careful - look both ways when crossing the street, wear a helmet when riding a bike, but do you also remind them of ways they can be protecting their teeth?

Protecting your child’s smile is just as important as guarding against skinned knees. See below for some ways your can help keep your child’s teeth healthy and strong these upcoming summer months:

Wear a mouth guard while playing summer sports - According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, about 10-39% of childhood dental injuries are sports related. There’s no need to risk it, any mouth guard is better than NO mouth guard. Before your child’s next game - make sure a mouth guard is included as part of their uniform. 

Chew on sugarless gum, not ice! - Yes even though ice is natural, sugar free, and refreshing - it can be risky to your teeth! Munching on hard, frozen cubes can weaken enamel, leading you to crack or even chip your teeth. So leave the ice chomping to the blenders, have your kids pick up sugarless gum instead.

Choose smart tooth snacks - When packing snacks for the beach or even to include in your child’s lunch, opt for ones that are tooth-friendly. Dip a banana in yogurt and freeze for a tasty frozen treat or brew up some refreshing drinks as an alternate to sugary Kool-Aid!

Brush before bedtime - This year round advice hasn’t changed, but in summer months with later curfews and night time Ralph’s Italian Ices runs, it’s important this tip doesn’t slip through the cracks. Make sure your kids brush their teeth before going to bed and only have water to drink after brushing.

These tips plus scheduled dental visits can help your children enjoy this summer with 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.