Labor Day Tooth Tips

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Will you be spending time BBQing with your family this Labor Day?  Here are a few tips to help you and your family stay healthy over the holiday weekend.

Labor Day Tooth Tips:

• Provide Choices – Give kids the option of choosing between fruit or a granola bar.  This will help them feel involved and in control of picking a healthy food option.
• Limit Portion Sizes – Limit portion sizes, especially when sweets are involved.  If you can, entice your kids with fruit instead!
• Stay Hydrated – Don’t forget to drink lots of water!  Sometimes people crave sweets when they are dehydrated. 
• Avoid Sticky Sweets and Sugary Beverages – Sticky foods are more likely to stick to teeth and lead to cavities.  Sugary beverages also break down the tooth enamel and put your teeth at risk of decay.

For more tips on how keep tiny teeth healthy over the weekend and every day, read this article or contact our office!  You can also contact our office with any questions or to schedule your child’s back-to-school dental cleaning and exam!  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

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Healthy Back-to-School Breakfast Tips

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Did you know that nearly half of all families skip breakfast?  As children head back to school, remembering to eat a healthy breakfast is important.  Breakfast can improve memory, test scores, attention span, and overall health.  Here are a few tips to help make breakfast planning simple for busy parents. 

Breakfast Planning Tips:

• Schedule Time – Sitting down to share a meal as a family is important, but not always realistic for busy families in the morning.  However, you should always make sure that you allow enough time in your morning schedule for your child to eat without pressure. 
• Plan Ahead – Fix breakfast the night before to save time in the morning rush.  Hard-boiling eggs or dishing out cereal can make sure that your child has a balanced breakfast.
• Grab-and-Go Breakfast – Try stocking up on nutritious food that kids can grab on the go.  Hard-boiled eggs, sliced apples, homemade muffins, or bagels with low-fat cream cheese are great options.
• Get Enough Sleep – Tired and cranky kids are less likely to sit down for a well-balanced breakfast.  Getting enough sleep is an important part of children’s overall health.

For more tips on how to plan for simple, but well-balanced breakfasts this year, read this article from the American Academy of Pediatrics.  You can also contact our office with any questions and to schedule your child’s Fall dental cleaning and exam!  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Family Fun Events on Long Island This Weekend

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Looking for something fun to do this weekend?  There are plenty of family-friendly activities happening across Long Island.  Here are a few of the top picks!

Turtle Hatch Day

Families can watch the teaching of the baby turtles with refreshments and crafts.

Where: Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium

When: Saturday, 10am-3pm

Price: $6 Adults, $4 Kids Ages 3-12, Free for Kids 3 and Younger

Riverhead Railroad Festival

Learn about Long Island’s railroad history.  This year’s festival celebrates he LIRR G-16 Park Train that appeared 50 years ago at New York’s World Fair.

Where: Railroad Museum of Long Island

When: Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm

Price: $8 Adults, $4 Ages 5-12, Free For Kids Younger Than 5

Big Apple Circus

This popular circus has horses, acrobats, and clowns.

Where: John Drew Theater at Guild Hall

When: Sunday at 5:30 pm

Price: $50 and $75

Read more about the fun family events going on this weekend in Newsday. 

Remember, you can contact Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove with any questions you have about your child’s smile health this weekend.  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Healthy Breakfast Alternatives for Picky Eaters

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Photo Source; Flickr / machechy

Breakfast is an important, but not always simple meal for parents with picky eaters.  Not all kids like traditional breakfast foods like cereal and toast.  Fortunately, there are some alternatives that are good for your body and your teeth.

Healthy Breakfast Alternatives:

• Breakfast Shake – Add milk, fruit and ice into a blender for a great breakfast on-the-go.
• Frozen Banana –Dip a banana in yogurt, roll it in crushed cereal and let it freeze overnight.
• Peanut Butter Snack – Peanut butter has lots of protein.  Spread peanut butter on whole wheat crackers, a tortilla or slices of apple.
• Leftovers –Whole wheat spaghetti or cold chicken might not be a traditional breakfast, but they can help get your kids’ day started right.

Breakfast is a great way to give kids the energy they need to be active in the morning, to concentrate at school, and to play! Kids who eat breakfast are also less likely to eat unhealthy foods as snacks throughout the day.

Read this article for more healthy breakfast tips.  You can also contact Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove with any questions you have regarding your child’s smile health.  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Start Smile Care Early for Healthy Teeth

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

It’s important to help your kids begin caring for their teeth at a young age.  Starting these habits early will help them be prepared for a lifetime of good dental health!  Here are a few of the problems that commonly affect tiny teeth.

Common Smile Problems:

• Cavities – Early childhood cavities are the number one chronic disease affecting young children. 
• Sugary Foods – Soda, juice and energy drinks increase a child’s risk of tooth decay.  It’s important to remind kids to brush their teeth twice daily!
• Sports Injuries – Mouth guard should be worn whenever children participate in contact sports.  They are a great way to cushion blows that would otherwise cause tooth injuries.
• Alignment – Malocculusion is a condition where crowded and crooked teeth cause jaw and bite problems.  If these problems are not treated early on, they can make it difficult to keep gums and teeth clean.

Teaching children good habits is a simple way to keep teeth healthy for a long time to come.  Parents should bring their child in for their first visit no later than their first birthday.  As teeth come in, we may suggest sealants that help protect hard to reach molars from tooth decay.

For more information on how to care for tiny teeth, check out this article.  You can also contact Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove with any questions you have regarding your child’s smile health.  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

10 Things About Dr. Cece

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Have you met Dr. Cecilia Kolstad?  Dr. Cecilia is our newest pediatric dentist and we are so happy to welcome her to our practice!  Here are a few fun facts to help you get to know Dr. Cecilia a little better!

10 Things About Dr. Cece:

1. Earliest Childhood Memory: 

Getting stung by a bee at Disney world... But I still think it's the "happiest place on earth."

2. Favorite Disney Princess: 

Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.

3. Favorite Ice Cream: 

Mint chocolate chip.

4. Team Jacob or Team Edward? 

Team Edward.

5. Most Recently Watched Movie: 

Karate Kid.

6. If I Wasn't a Dentist, I Would: 

Own a bakery.

7. Favorite Part About Being the Youngest: 

Hand-me-downs.

8. Favorite Girl Scout Cookie: 

Samoas.

9. Favorite Color: 

Purple.

10. Childhood Pet: 

A little bunny named "Fufu."

Visit our website to learn more about Dr. Cecilia Kolstad.  You can also call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

Juice Recommendations for Kids

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Photo Source: Wikimedia

How much juice does your child drink every day?  Although juice tastes good, it can lead to poor nutrition, obesity, and tooth decay if kids drink too much!  This guideline from the American Academy of Pediatrics will help you determine if your child is drinking the right amount of juice every day.

Daily Juice Recommendations:

• < 6 Months – Children younger than 6 months old should not have fruit juice.  It has no nutritional benefit for infants.
• 1-6 years old – Parents should limit juice consumption for 4 to 6 ounces per day.  For children older than 6 months old, whole fruits re preferred over juice.  Whole fruits contain fiber and other nutrients too!
• 7-18 Years old – It is recommended that juice consumption in this age bracket is limited to between 8 and 12 ounces per day.

For more nutrition tips and information on how much juice your children should be drinking every day, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website.  You can also contact Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove with any questions you have regarding your child’s smile health.  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

Benefits of Electric Toothbrushes

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Photo Source: Wikimedia

Having a hard time getting your kids to brush their teeth?  Try using an electric toothbrush!  Fun characters, colors, and shapes are just a few of the reasons why they are a great choice for kids.

Benefits of Electric Toothbrushes:

•  Provides a Thorough Cleaning – Electric toothbrushes are a great way to get to hard-to-reach areas, including the molars and the gum line!
• Keeps Kids From Brushing Too Hard – Brushing too hard can actually injure your gums and enamel.  Electric toothbrushes provide the perfect amount of pressure.  Some even have sensors that reduce the power if you start brushing too hard.
• Easy To Grip – Since electric toothbrushes have larger handles, they are easier for kids who are developing motor skills to grip.
• Keeps Track of Time – You should be spending 2 minutes brushing your teeth twice a day.  Some electric toothbrushes come with timers that let you know when your 2 minutes are up.
• Reduces Environmental Impact – According to some experts, electric toothbrushes are a greener choice.  It can take between 14 and 42 toothbrush replacement heads to equal the amount of plastic used to make one manual toothbrush!

Read this article for more electric toothbrush benefits and tips on how to help your kids brush better.

Contact Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove for more smile care tips!  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.