Get Ready For August! Things To Do on LI Next Month

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It's the last month of summer vacation, are you running out of ways to keep your kids occupied? Don't worry, we’ve got your back! Make some plans to take advantage of some of these great events listed below.

Hear It! See It! Draw It! (August 7th & 14th)

Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor NY 11576

Admission: Free with museum admission

This event is for children ages 3-5 and their caregivers! Explore the art exhibits, listen to stories, then create your own art inspired by everything you saw and heard that day!

North Hempstead Kidstock (August 16th)

North Hempstead Beach Park, 175 West Shore Road, Port Washington NY 11050

Admission: FREE ($10 Parking Fee)

Head down to this outdoor festival and listen to some music that you and your kids will enjoy!

Creatures of the Night Hike (August 21st)

Center for Science Teaching and Learning, 1 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre NY 11570

Admission: $7 per person

Go take a guided walk through the nature trails at the Center for Science, Teaching, and Learning! Your children will be able to see the nightlife then visit the Amazing Animals Exhibit where they can see the nocturnal animals while they are actually awake!

Friday Night Promenade (EVERY FRIDAY)

Garden City Seventh Street, Garden City NY 11530

Admission: FREE

Each week is a different theme ranging from Mardi Gras to Country Western and much more. This event is fun for the whole family with live music, face paint and a whole lot more.

Movies On The Beach (EVERY SATURDAY)

Long Beach Neptune Avenue, Long Beach

Admission: FREE

Grab a blanket and head down to the beach to watch some fun, family-friendly movies. Everything from Cars to The Goonies or even come and sing along to Grease!

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.

Tuesday Tips for Ending the Pacifier Habit

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For years, pacifiers have been key in helping to calm and soothe fussy babies. However due to the risk of orthodontic problems, the AAPD recommends weaning a child from pacifier use by age 3. Frequent use beyond this age can affect the way a child’s teeth bite together as well as affect the growth of their jaw.

While some parents swear by cold turkey, others have gradually weaned their children off their pacifiers. If cold turkey doesn’t work in your household, take a look at some of the below tips and tricks to help your little one give up the Binky for good:

Offer an alternative. Try and identify which situations set off the need for the pacifier. Once any triggers have been identified (tired, anxious, bored, etc), be ready to replace it with comfort and reassurance. It may be helpful to replace the Binky with a stuffed toy or blanket.

Get creative. Come up with other games or methods to ditch the pacifier. Take your child to a store and have them bring their Binky so they can choose a new toy to ‘trade’ it in for. Or similar to the tooth fairy, introduce a Binky fairy to your household.

Consider the timing. It’s important to make sure the timing is right. Try not to remove the pacifier during any major life changes or transitions that could put further stress on the process. Once you’ve decided the time is right, make sure everyone in your child’s life is on board.

Ask your pediatric dentist. The dentists here at Adelberg Montalvan are fully equipped to handle your little one’s needs - including assisting in encouraging children to stop a sucking habit.

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 to Help Your Child Overcome the Fear of the Dentist

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Fear of the dentist is all to common in young children - but not to worry, it’s nothing that can’t be overcome! At the end of the day, kids (and adults too) fear the unknown. By demystifying their experience and creating a sense of peace and safety surrounding their visits, they’ll lose their uncertainties in no time. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Start early - It’s important to establish a dental home early for your child. This way your child becomes comfortable with their environment and knows what to expect early on.
2. Explain in terms they understand - Let your child know what they can expect upon their visit - and keep it simple. Don’t use words that can scare them (pain, hurt, shot). Let the dental staff introduce their own vocabulary to help get your child through any difficult situation.
3. Schedule a meet and greet - Give us a call to come by and visit our office. Your child will be able to get acquainted with the staff, take a tour, and try out the chair before any procedures are done.
4. Avoid sharing your own fears - Kids aren’t the only ones who have fears of the dentist. Avoid sharing your own personal experiences or uneasy feelings.
5. Stress the importance of good oral hygiene - Remind your child that a trip to the dentist is a necessity to maintain strong, healthy teeth. As important as it is to brush and floss at home, the dentist’s job is to make sure everything is ok!

At Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental, our purpose is to provide exceptional mental and dental care that can impact your child’s life forever.  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. 

Explaining Tooth Decay to Kids

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We know how crucial oral hygiene is to our health, at this point it’s been ingrained in our brains. We know the importance of brushing and flossing, how to prevent cavities, and what happens when cavities are spotted - but do kids fully understand? What does the word “cavity” even mean to your child?

We make every effort to provide our patients with information regarding cavities in a language that they can understand. Here are some additional ways you can help explain it too!

Simplify the basics - For many people, regardless of their age, learning a complicated concept is best done with a relatable example. Simplify the idea of a cavity/tooth decay, explaining that when you eat sugar it sticks to teeth allowing tiny sugar bugs or “mouth monsters” to form and start eating away, leaving tiny holes.

Use visuals - Not all layers of the tooth is seen by the naked eye! Find a diagram that examines all parts of the tooth so your child can visually understand its anatomy. There are also plenty of video resources and apps available that can explain to process as well!

Switch roles - Now that you’ve done the teaching, try becoming the student! Let your child teach you about tooth decay to make sure they’ve got it. Pretend they are the dentist and you are a new patient eager to understand how to keep your teeth healthy!

 

It’s also important to reiterate that regular professional cleanings are a normal part of the process and that the dentist plays a big role in preventing tooth decay - and that's where we come in! 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.

5 Bad Habits for Your Teeth

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Brushing and flossing your teeth daily are important habits to maintain for good dental health. But what about those daily habits that can be damaging to your teeth? Keep your child’s tiny teeth healthy and make sure they avoid these harmful habits:  

1. Chewing on ice: While perhaps refreshing, the cold temperature and hardness of the cubes can cause some serious damage to your teeth. Chomping on ice can weaken tooth enamel, leading you to crack or chip a tooth! 
2. Drinking soda: The acidity of soda is corrosive to tooth enamel and sipping on it for long periods of time is like giving your teeth an acid bath! Work on eliminating soda from daily consumption. 
3. Popcorn: A delicious movie time snack that is notorious for getting stuck in the crevices of your teeth, encouraging the growth of bacteria. Not only that, but biting on kernels can lead to tooth fractures.  
4. Using them as a tool: Opening a bag of chips, unscrewing bottle tops that get stuck, even holding objects in your mouth (like a pen) are bad habits for your teeth! Your teeth are not a tool, they are there to help chew food and speak properly.  
5. Nail biting: It’s not only bad for your hands but it can wreak havoc on teeth as well! Regularly biting your nails can cause your teeth to move out of place and potentially cause tooth enamel to splinter.

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.

Travel Tooth Care Tips

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Have some upcoming vacations planned this summer? Whether it’s a trip to Disney or a trip out of town to Grandma’s, any getaway is bound to take you out of your normal routine. While a break from the daily stresses is always welcomed, there’s one thing you shouldn’t take a vacation from - your oral hygiene.

Make sure you and your family are prepared this season with these travel tooth care tips:

• Pack wisely - Make sure your tooth brush is secured in a travel container that provides enough air circulation. It’s also important to keep that container clean - before, during, and after your trip!
• Let your brush dry - Wet brushes can grow and spread bacteria. When you are done brushing, instead of placing it back in its case be sure to stand it upright so the water can drain off the bristles.
• Stock up on travel sized products - Travel sized versions of mouth wash, floss, toothpaste, and toothbrushes are all available and perfect for keeping in your purse or carry on for on the go use.
• Watch your diet - It’s easy to indulge when on vacation, just try not to go overboard! Watch the amount of sweets and remember to brush and rinse after consumption.
• Schedule a cleaning prior to your trip - Make sure everything is A-OK prior to your vacation 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. Please feel free to contact us at any of our 3 locations. Call (516) 798-1111 or visit our website to schedule an appointment!
 

 

Long Island's Fourth of July Fireworks

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What better way to celebrate our nation’s favorite holiday than by rounding up your little patriots and heading out to one of the many fireworks shows across the Island! Grab your family and friends and make some Fourth of July memories at one (or more) of these events this weekend:

Pyrotecnico Fireworks Extravaganza
Bethpage Ballpart, 3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. liducks.com
$12-$15. When game ends, July 2-4.

33rd Annual Bellmore Striders Independence Day
Pettit Avenue, Bellmore. bellmorestriders.com
$20 per adult. $10 per child. One-mile run for children at 8 a.m. 4-mile run at 8:30 a.m., July 4.

Pyrotecnico Fireworks Extravaganza
Bethpage Ballpart, 3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. liducks.com
$12-$15. When game ends, July 2-4.

July 4th Fireworks Cruise
Captree State Park, Ocean Parkway, West Islip. captreepride.com
$40-$50. 7 p.m. July 4.

Salute to America
John J. Burns Town Park, 4990 Merrick Rd, Massapequa Park.
Free. 7:30 p.m., July 14.

July 4th Fireworks Spectacular at Jones Beach
Jones Beach State Park, Ocean Parkway, Wantagh. Jonesbeach.com
Free. 9:30 p.m. July 4.

For the full list of fireworks happenings this weekend, please visit the Long Island Press website.

 

From all of us here at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental, we wish you all a Happy and Safe 4th of July! Should any dental emergencies arise while out in celebration, you know who to call.