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.

Tips for Healthy Teeth While Traveling

  

The unofficial start to summer - Memorial Day Weekend - is just around the corner! Do you have an exciting family trip planned? Whether you are traveling near or far - make sure you and your family are prepared this season with these travel tooth care tips:

Keep healthy snacks on hand. Try not to stock up on chips or candy and instead grab some portable tooth friendly options. Baby carrots, apples, string cheese, and some water are all much better options for teeth.

Pack your carry-on. Heading to the airport? Keep travel sized toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash in your carry on. This way you can easily freshen up after a long flight - your mouth will thank you!

Take a brush break. Whether you are camping, flying out of state, or taking a road trip - factor in some brush breaks whenever you can. Remembering to brush for two minutes, twice daily is essential for good oral health!

Avoid dental emergencies. Accidents can always happen, but taking simple precautions can help prevent an emergency. Avoid chomping down on anything hard, don’t open things with your teeth, and have a Dental Emergency Kit on hand (which includes: mouth guards for sporting activities, pain relievers, orthodontic wax for those with braces, cotton/gauze, and floss).

Schedule a visit with us. Make sure everything is A-OK prior to your trip by paying us a visit. This way we can make sure there’s nothing that will cause tiny teeth to have any big problems.

For any questions, concerns, or emergencies - we’re here for you and your child. Our practice has been providing excellent pediatric dentistry to children of Long Island for over 14 years.  Please feel free to contact us at any of our 3 locations!

5 Tips for Preventing Cavities

No one LIKES dealing with cavities - they’re annoying and painful. But ignoring cavities in baby teeth assuming they’ll fall out anyway is a dangerous misconception. 

To help prevent cavities in your family, use these five recommendations from an expert pediatric dental practice (aka - us!):

1. Teach your children the importance of dental health.
First and foremost, it’s important to teach your children the importance of routine dental care. Help your children understand the importance of brushing for two minutes twice daily and once daily flossing.

2. Up the intake of crisp fruits and veggies.
Crisp, water dense fruits and veggies are not only a great way to keep your child’s mouth hydrated - but they also help stimulate the production of saliva. The proteins and minerals found in saliva help protect tooth enamel which prevents tooth decay!

3. Avoid excess sugar.
We’re not saying to avoid ALL sugar - remember, moderation is key. When you can, limit your child’s sugar intake. Instead of a glass of juice with lunch and soda with dinner, substitute one meal with water and encourage water consumption throughout the day. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is an effortless habit for preventing cavities!
 

4. Make routine dental visits.
Bring your kids into their regularly scheduled dental appointments with us! This way, we have the opportunity to spot any irregularities and catch problems fast. We know it’s easy to skip appointments, but committing to visiting us twice a year will allow us to address problems early when things are typically more treatable.
 

5. Ask us about sealants.
The grooves and depressions that form the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are extremely difficult (if not impossible) to clean of bacteria and food. As the bacteria reacts with the food, acids form and break down the tooth enamel, causing cavities. Tooth sealants help prevent this! Sealants are just a thin, plastic coating painted on teeth. When applied to the chewing surfaces of molars, sealants act as a barrier between the tooth and harmful bacteria. It lasts for several years and just needs to be checked during your child’s regular appointments.

For more tips on how to prevent cavities in your children - 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 West Islip.

FAQs: Fluoride

At Adelberg Montalvan, we take great pride in our practice and in educating our patients. We understand that the topic of fluoride may confuse some parents. And with the internet at our finger tips, it’s easy to search and find articles from non-credible sources recommending to steer clear of fluoride use. 
 
But we assure you, as board certified pediatric dental specialists, we follow the strictest of guidelines established by the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in our fluoride recommendations. 
 
To help shed some light on fluoride, we pulled together some common FAQs parents tend to ask:
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter. It occurs naturally in varying water sources and certain foods and beverages but the levels vary widely. 
 
Where is fluoride found?
Fluoride can be found naturally in some foods and water and has known to be added to the water supply of certain areas. On Long Island - the water supply is not fluoridated however in New York City and the boroughs, it is. Fluoride is also added to some dental products like toothpaste to help prevent cavities. 
 
How does fluoride protect teeth?
Fluoride has been shown to dramatically decrease a person's chances of getting cavities by making teeth stronger. It also helps stop early stage tooth decay. The fluoride consumed naturally from foods and water, plus fluoridated toothpaste, helps provide topical benefit. The tiny amounts of fluoride becomes part of saliva and helps rebuild weakened tooth enamel. 
 
Why should I use fluoride toothpaste?
Brushing for two minutes, twice daily, helps remove plaque and debris from teeth. But only using fluoride toothpaste will do all that plus strengthen tooth enamel!
 
Should my child use fluoride toothpaste? 
For children younger than 3 years of age, when the first few teeth erupt, begin brushing with a smear (size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste. For children ages 3 to 6, dispense no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Supervise your children and teach them how to spit out the toothpaste vs. swallowing it. Over the age of 6, ensure the appropriate amount of toothpaste is being used and that they are brushing thoroughly in the morning and at night.
 
I’m nervous to brush my infant’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste - is there another option?
Sure is! Many parents visit our office and wonder what they can be using as a toothpaste for their young child who doesn’t spit out yet.  The good news is there is an alternative for your child that can still provide anti-cavity effects: Xylitol Toothpaste. Xylitol is a natural sweetener found in plants. It is a low glycemic sweetener and even safe for diabetics. It does not break down like sugar and can help keep the saliva in your mouth a more neutral pH level. Xylitol also aids in preventing bacteria from sticking to the teeth.  

If you have additional questions or concerns surrounding fluoride use, we encourage you to give any of our three offices a call. We'd be happy to answer any and all of your questions!

Enter to Win a $1,000 College Scholarship!

Attention graduating high school seniors - we have an amazing opportunity sure to make you smile! Adelberg Montalvan is proud to announce a scholarship opportunity for the Class of 2016. Read on below for details:

"This July will mark 18 years since I opened Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental.

It recently dawned on me that I have had the pleasure of knowing and caring for many patients from their cribs to college. In recognition of this milestone, our office has decided to award $1,000 scholarships to each of our three locations.

The criteria:

1. You must be an active patient in our practice
2. You must write an essay about how our office has inspired you
3. You must be a graduating senior

We will choose one essay in each location. We will require you to share the essay on our social media sites, with a photo of the winners. 

The deadline for submission is Wednesday June 15th.

Please include the office location where you are seen and submit your essays to AMPDscholarship@gmail.com

Good Luck!!
- Dr. Marc and rest of our team at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics."

There you have it! Parents, please share this news with your graduating teen plus these tips on how they can get started:

Plan Ahead. You have about a month to submit your essay to us. Use this time to outline your essay and ensure you answer the question at hand. Think of the main points you want to make in response to our essay question, add some supporting information under each, and consider a sentence or two for your introduction and conclusion. Now you're well organized and ready to begin the writing!

Make it Personal and Passionate. After all, we want to know how our office has inspired you! Try and elaborate on the points you just outlined above and show us why you stand out. Don't be afraid to toot your own horn!

Find an Editor. Whether it's a parent, teacher, or friend - it's always beneficial to have another set of eyes go over your essay. Finding someone to proofread your work can help catch any errors you may have missed from staring at it for so long. 

Celebrate Mom this Sunday!

Mother’s Day is this Sunday and if you're looking for a fun way to celebrate Mom, we've found some family-friendly venues to do just that:

Mother’s Day Storytime at Barnes & Noble
5224 Sunrise Highway, Massapequa Park, NY 11762
In celebration of Mother's Day, head over to Barnes & Noble tomorrow at 11am for Mother’s Day Storytime. Read about becoming an expert grandma sitter in How to Babysit a Grandma followed by Mom School. In Mom School a little girl imagines where her mom picked up all her amazing skills, like fixing a bike tire and baking cupcakes. Stay after story time to make cards for mom or special caregiver. 

Mother’s Day Festival at Harbes Family Farm!
715 Sound Ave, Mattituck, NY 11952 United States
It’s opening weekend of Harbes Family Fun Farm with plenty of activities for families on Mother’s Day. Kids can plant a flower for Mom, partake in pig races and hayrides, and enjoy live music. And in celebration of Mother’s Day, all Moms will receive FREE admission into the Barnyard Adventure on Mother’s Day!

Mom's Play Free Mother's Day Weekend at Boomers Long Island

655 Long Island Ave, Medford NY 11763
Head out to Boomers in Medford this Saturday or Sunday and purchase a Champ Pass at regular price and receive another for Mom FREE. Champ pass includes all day unlimited miniature gold and rides!

Mother’s Day at Houlihan’s
Locations in Westbury & Farmingdale
This Mother’s Day - enjoy a meal at Houlian’s. As a special treat, all moms will receive $10 off a future visit at any NJ or LI Houlihan's location on Mother's day + a complimentary box of chocolates (while supplies last).

Mother’s Day at the Long Island Aquarium
431 East Main Street, Riverhead NY 11901
While the Mother’s Day Brunch is now sold out - you can still enjoy a day at the aquarium with the family! All Moms will receive FREE aquarium admission with the purchase of her child’s admission this Sunday!

Last Minute Prom Beauty Tips for Girls

 

Let the prom countdown begin! While getting ready for prom can be a lot of fun, it can also require a lot of preparation.

Whether you’re reading this for yourself or you’re a parent looking to give your teen some last minute advice - we’ve got a few prom beauty tips to share:

• Practice Your Hairstyle: Scheduling a hair trial for prom is a sure-fire way to ensure that you love your hair the day of. In the event your hair doesn’t turn out the way you envisioned, you can play around with other options, ultimately deciding on the perfect ‘do.
• Choose the Right Shoe: Not only do you want to find a style to compliment your dress, but you also want to make sure they’re comfortable. Prom night is filled with dancing and running around, so making sure you can walk in your shoes is key!
• Pack An Emergency Kit: “Do I need more lipstick?” “How is my breath?” “Is my eyeliner wearing off?” These are all questions you may ask yourself throughout the night and by having a stash of goods in your purse, they won’t be a problem! Make sure to pack things such as toothpicks, floss, sugarless gum, makeup and band-aids too.
• Make Sure Your Smile is Prom Perfect: On a night that is all about taking photos and making memories, your smile really is your best accessory. Maintaining proper hygiene will ensure a smooth prom prep transition. That means brushing for two minutes twice a day and flossing daily. Want to make your teeth appear whiter? Choose a lipstick with a blue undertone to really make them pop!

While makeup can help with the appearance of whiter teeth, the only way to really be sure your smile is up to par, is to schedule an appointment with us for a teeth cleaning before prom. The cleaning will help eliminate bad breath and remove surface stains! Bonus - if you’re a new patient to our practice, as a courtesy you will receive $105 OFF a new patient exam, cleaning, and fluoride with our coupon found on our website.

Give any of our three locations a call to schedule your appointment today!