National Dental Hygiene Month FAQs

The month of October is National Dental Hygiene Month, which means it’s the perfect time to teach your child about dental hygiene -- and how a good dental care routine now will last throughout adult years later.

Here are the top pediatric dental hygiene questions, answered, so you and your child can feel confident with their oral care now and in the future.

What is the best way to brush your teeth?

• Use a toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.
• Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of the teeth.
• Brush in gentle up-and-down strokes to clean the inside of the teeth.
• To remove bacteria and freshen your breath, don’t forget to brush your tongue!

Need help getting your little ones to clean their chompers? Check out our tips and tricks here.

Is fluoride good or bad for children?
Too little or too much fluoride can both affect your child. Little to no fluoride will not help strengthen the teeth to fight against cavities. On the other hand, excessive fluoride can lead to dental fluorosis, which is a chalky white to brown discoloration of the permanent teeth.
TIP: Make sure your child uses the proper amount of fluoride toothpaste while brushing.
 
What is the right amount of fluoride for my child?
Fluoride has been shown to dramatically decrease a person's chances of getting cavities by making teeth stronger! As such, we recommend using fluoride toothpaste. If your child is younger than 3 years old, brush their teeth with an amount of fluoride toothpaste no larger than a grain of rice. Children, ages 3 to 6, should brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount. Once children are over the age of 6, ensure they are using fluoride properly and maintaining their dental care routine daily.
TIP: Teach your children right away how to spit out toothpaste rather than swallowing it.
 
How can I get rid of bad breath?
Halitosis, better known as bad breath, is caused by poor dental hygiene and plaque buildup. Remind your child to brush twice daily, floss, and rinse thoroughly in order to keep those mouth monsters away! 

When should I take my child to the dentist?
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the first visit to the dentist should be by your child’s first birthday. After that, depending on the child, you should schedule follow-up visits with your dentist every six months. This allows you to have peace of mind knowing that your child’s teeth are developing properly with a clean dental bill-of-health! 

To help your child maintain a healthy smile, make sure they keep up with their daily oral hygiene routine -- and, don’t forget to schedule your next appointment with the professionals at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dentistry. We have three Long Island locations that specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment. 

Your Comprehensive Guide to Athletic Mouthguards

You know what they say, “kids will be kids.” And with kids so full of energy, it’s no surprise they experience frequent bumps and bruises — especially when involved in athletics.

Chances are, at one point or another, you’ve had to comfort your little one over a bruised knee or scraped elbow. As such, you’ll invest in some extra protection, like elbow and knee pads, to keep them safe.

But there’s one piece of equipment that often gets overlooked, despite its importance. That’s right, you’ve guessed it — a mouthguard! Did you know, mouthguards can prevent more than 200,000 oral injuries a year? Yet despite this statistic, mouthguards are often seen as an optional piece of a uniform!

Who Should Wear a Mouthguard?

Everyone! Mouthguards aren’t just for professional boxers, they’re critical for all organized and unorganized sports, both at recreational and competitive levels.

Mouthguards are important for:

• Protecting against jaw joint and neck injuries
• Reducing risk and severity of a concussion
• Preventing chipped or broken teeth
• And more!

No matter your child’s age, gender, or skill level, there is a risk of sustaining a dental injury. While contact sports — like boxing, football, and lacrosse — seem most obvious, dental injuries are also prevalent in non-contact activities, like skating and gymnastics.

Are There Different Types of Athletic Mouthguards?

There are three types of mouthguards:

1. Stock guards — These are available for purchase in sporting goods stores as is. A low-cost option, stock guards offer the least protection since there is no fit adjustment.
2. Mouth-formed guards — One of the more popular solutions, these guards can be submerged in boiling water and formed to the mouth with biting pressure. Certainly more unique to the athlete’s mouth than the stock guard, it’s important to note that typically these often do not cover ALL of the back teeth.
3. Custom-made guards — Provided by your dentist (like AMPD!). These guards are made from exact molds of your child’s own teeth and created from resilient and tear resistant materials ensuring the best fit.

Each of the above guards varies in comfort and price but do all provide some degree of protection. And while any mouthguard is better than no mouthguard, we encourage you to choose the custom-fit solution. Why? They’re the most comfortable, as they’re fit uniquely to your athlete’s mouth. And being custom-made, you’ll find it does not restrict speech or breathing — which is so important!

How to Care for Your Mouthguard

"Everything that a microorganism needs to survive, including food and water, can be found in a mouthguard. While mouthguards appear solid, they are very porous, like a sponge, and with use, microorganisms invade these porosities." — Thomas Glass, DDS, PhD, lead author of a study from the Academy of General Dentistry.

That being said, keeping your mouthguard clean is of utmost importance. Before and after each use, clean the guard using a toothbrush and toothpaste — you can also opt for washing with soapy water, rinsing thoroughly. In terms of storage and transportation, keep the mouthguard in a well ventilated, sturdy container (making sure not to leave it in the sun). Finally, examine the guard daily for wear and tear and replace immediately if it becomes loose or damaged.

Make an Appointment for Your Child at Our Mouthguard Center

We’re pleased to offer the Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental Mouthguard Center in each of our three locations! And you don’t have to be one of our regular patients to take advantage of this service! Contact us today to make an appointment; we’ll take an impression of your child’s teeth and create a guard with the highest level of comfort and protection. We can even use colors to coincide with their school, intramural, or PAL league’s uniform.

Sports Safety Tips: Stay Protected [Infographic]

Playing sports and enjoying recreational activities is a normal part of being a kid, but unfortunately, with these activities, injuries can and do occur. One way to help reduce injury risk? Make sure your athlete is wearing the right protective gear for their activity. Here’s how your child can keep their face and head protected this sports season!

Helmets

Designed to prevent skull fractures (not concussions) and worn for football, softball, baseball, hockey, and men’s lacrosse. Pro tip: Look for a helmet with the ‘Meets NOCSAE Standard’ label to ensure it meets performance and protection standards.

Sports Goggles

According to The Vision Council, more than 600,000 eye injuries related to sports occur each year. Eye gear should be worn for any sport that has flying objects (balls, sticks, rackets) or involves close contact with other players (like basketball) to prevent risk of eye injury.

Throat Guards

Throat guards are worn by hockey & lacrosse goalies and baseball & softball catchers, but aren’t required for field players. Injuries to the structures of the throat can be severe or life-threatening, so consider adding this to your child’s uniform.

Mouthguards

Mouthguards can prevent more than 200,000 oral injuries a year! They’re designed to cushion a blow to the face, minimizing risk of broken or knocked out teeth, or other injuries. They also help reduce the risk and severity of a concussion. Mouthguards should be worn in all sports that pose dangers to the mouth and teeth.

If your child is in need of a custom mouthguard, make an appointment at AMPD’s Mouthguard Center of Long Island! We will fit your child with a mouthguard specific to their mouth and they can choose their colors to coincide with their school, intramural, or PAL league’s uniform. Contact us today for more information!

Q&A with Dr. Alyssa Levy

We’re proud to introduce the newest member of our staff, Dr. Alyssa Levy! Dr. Alyssa is super excited to be part of the AMPD family — did you know, her first experience in the field of pediatric dentistry began when she shadowed our very own doctors at our Nesconset location during summers home from college?!

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Alyssa full time and to help you get to know her a bit better we decided to do a quick Q&A. Learn why she chose a career in pediatric dentistry, her thoughts on jello, and what she does in her spare time below!

Q: What led you to a career in dental, and why pediatric dental in particular?
A: After my first year out of college I decided to shadow at Adelberg Montalvan to see if dentistry was a field I would be interested in. After spending only a few days in the office, I quickly realized what an amazing profession pediatric dentistry was. I am honored to say the beginning of my journey started with this practice and I am beyond excited to continue my love for this field by joining the team as a pediatric dentist!

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working with kids every day?
A: Kids have the most amazing imagination and I enjoy being able to form lasting relationships and watching them grow.

Q: Jello, yuck or yum? 
A: Yuck!

Q: What do you do when you’re not in the office?
A: During my free time you can find me hanging out on the beach, spending time with family and friends, trying out new restaurants, and spin class!

Q: Do you have any pets? 
A: I grew up with a golden retriever named Chauncy and its one of my favorite breeds of dogs.

Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: Any tropical island. My favorite trip so far has been to Hawaii!

Q: What is your proudest accomplishment?
A: Being recognized for patient care when receiving the Service Excellence Award during my time in residency.

Q: Do you like to cook? 
A: I love cooking and baking too! I learned to cook from my Italian grandmother and love making my own sauce.

Q: Would you rather swim with sharks or pet a lion? 
A: Pet a lion, they look super soft and I’m fascinated by their mane and large canines!

Q: What advice do you have for students pursuing careers in dental?
A: Stay focused and keep your eye on the prize! There are going to be many successes and struggles throughout your journey but each experience will mold you into a humbled and outstanding clinician. 

Dr. Alyssa will be primarily seeing patients in our West Islip and Nesconset office, be sure to say hello the next time you come in!

Reasons to Wear a Mouthguard [Infographic]

We encourage you to play it safe! Dental emergencies and other injuries can be prevented, with the use of a custom fit mouthguard.

Custom guards are more comfortable, don’t restrict breathing or speech, and provide the highest level of protection.

As you may know, certain sports require the use of mouthguard — like football, lacrosse, wrestling, ice hockey and field hockey. But while they’re not required for others, they should still be worn for sports or activities like basketball, skateboarding, karate, baseball or any sport that poses dangers to the mouth and teeth.

Before this upcoming sports season, be sure to make an appointment at our Mouthguard Center of Long Island! We will fit your child with a mouthguard specific to their mouth and they can choose their colors to coincide with their school, intramural, or PAL league’s uniform. Contact us at any of our three locations today for more information!

Let's Get This Straight: Q&A About Retainers

Hooray -- the time has come, your child’s braces are coming off! No more needing to avoid certain foods or use specialized tools for cleaning, but you're not out of the woods just yet. 

Children’s teeth continue to grow and shift into adulthood, which is why there is a crucial second step to keeping their smiles perfect -- retainers. Here are some answers to the most common retainer questions. 

1. Why Does My Child Have To Wear A Retainer?
Nothing is permanent in orthodontics! We help align the teeth, but they can move after braces come off -- defeating the purpose of all that hard work! Consistent retainer use will help keep their teeth straight and keep you from coming back for braces for the second time, phew!

2. What Kind Of Retainer Will They Get? 
There are multiple kinds of retainers, fixed and removable, which will be chosen based off which one is best for your child’s individual needs. 

3. How Long Will My Child Have To Wear A Retainer? 
Typically, the first six months after braces are removed, retainers should be worn every day. Over time, the teeth will stabilize, and your child can wear their retainer more infrequently -- delivering that news will be a good day!

4. How Can I Help My Child Care For Their Retainer?
First, always make sure your child is carrying the plastic case made to hold their retainer. If they are eating at school or on a playdate, you want to make sure that when they take off their retainer, it is in a safe place and doesn’t contract germs. Your child should remove their retainer before brushing in the morning and at night and clean their retainer before placing it back in their mouth. Give us a call if you have any cleaning questions.

5. Will A Retainer Hurt Them? 
Each retainer is custom fit to a child’s mouth. If they continuously wear it when they are supposed to, it should fit comfortably and not hurt. If your child moves away from the consistent use of their retainer, their teeth will shift, and the retainer will feel tight in their mouth. Help them to remember they can avoid any discomfort and keep their beautiful smile if they consistently wear their retainer.

If you have any other questions or concerns regarding your child’s orthodontic health, please give our offices a call!

Fun Facts About the Tooth Fairy

Have you ever wondered where the Tooth Fairy came from? Or what she looks like? You’re not alone! In fact, the story of the Tooth Fairy varies depending on who you speak to. 

While we don’t have all the answers, we did want to provide you with a few this National Tooth Fairy Day. See below for some fun facts about our fairy friend:

The Tooth Fairy is younger than you may think!
When it comes to American mythology, Santa can be traced to 280 CE, the Easter Bunny - the 1700s, however the very earliest reference of the Tooth Fairy wasn’t until 1908 when featured in the Chicago Daily Tribune!

Losing baby teeth has been long celebrated.
Although the concept of the Tooth Fairy is much more recent, the world has celebrated loosing baby teeth for centuries. In some cultures, the celebration involves throwing baby teeth on a roof or into the sky and asking for a new one! In other cultures, children were warned of the “tooth troll” who will come for them if they don’t brush.

But what does the Tooth Fairy look like?
The Tooth Fairy is certainly very elusive. Is she dainty, resembling Tinker Bell and carrying a wand? Or perhaps she is actually a he, like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Tooth Fairy! Other cultures believe the Tooth Fairy is actually an animal, or that s/he employs animals to help (like Santa’s elves) — more on that below!

Sometimes, the Tooth Fairy is a little mouse!
With all the children across the world and all the missing teeth, it’s not surprising the Tooth Fairy may need some help. In parts of the world like South America and Asia, the Tooth Fairy has been known to send a little mouse to collect teeth — leaving a small treasure behind. Different areas of the world call him Ratón Perez or just little mouse. Instead of hiding the tooth under their pillow, children may put the tooth in a slipper or under their bed.

What does your household think of the Tooth Fairy? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook! 

Adelberg Montalvan specializes in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and welcoming environment, in three different Long Island locations. We understand that kids may fear the unknown, which is why we understand that what we do impacts a child's life forever – so we try to make things fun!