Celebrate Halloween with Healthy Snacks for Your Teeth

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Are your kids ready to celebrate Halloween tomorrow? Here are a few healthy alternatives to candy that you can serve at your Halloween party or have your kids snack on at home!

Healthy Halloween Snacks:

• Clementine Pumpkins - Clementines can look like tiny pumpkins. Just draw a jack-o-lantern face with safe markers and peel it away for a sweet, healthy snack.
• Spiders on a Log - Peanut butter and celery sticks are a common kids snack. While they're usually called ants on a log, try replacing the raisins with black spider rings!
• Ghost Bananas and Strawberries - Try dipping your favorite fruit in white chocolate. Use chocolate chips or cake decorating gel for the mouth and eyes.
• Scary Teeth - Smear peanut butter on apple slices and use miniature white marshmallows to create rows of teeth.

Check out more fun Halloween snacks on the Toms of Maine blog!

Remember to contact our office with any questions you have about your child's oral 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!

Tricks to Help Protect Your Teeth From Halloween Treats

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Halloween is just a few days away!  Are your kids excited to get dressed up in their costumes this year?  While trick or treating is fun, it's also important to remember to keep tiny teeth healthy.  Here are a few tricks to help your kids celebrate without damaging their teeth.

Halloween Tips and Tricks:

• Set a Treat Time - Set up a time of day that it is ok to eat Halloween candy.  This will help keep your kids from eating candy all day long.  Moderation will help keep your teeth healthy!
• Don't Forget to Brush - It's important to remember to brush after eating sweets.  Fluoride mouth rinses can also go a long way towards preventing tooth decay.
• Make Brushing Fun - Make Halloween an occasion to get your child a new tooth brush.  When kids like their brushes, they're more likely to enjoy brushing their teeth.  Try letting them pick out their favorite toothpaste too!
• Drink Water - Have your kids drink water after eating their Halloween candy.  This will help flush away any food debris and reduce the acidity of the sugar.
• Be Careful of Braces - Nuts, popcorn, hard candies and caramels can be a nightmare for kids with braces.  There are safer treats for kids with braces!  Just be sure to brush thoroughly.

Read this article for more tips and tricks on how to have a safe and healthy Halloween.

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!

Tips to Help You Celebrate a Healthier Halloween

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Are you and your kids ready to celebrate Halloween this year?  Before you go trick-or-treating, here are a few tips to help celebrate a healthier Halloween.

Healthy Halloween Tips:

• Limit Candy - Kids are excited to eat candy after trick or treating, but make sure they don't overindulage.  For most kids, the amount that fits in one hand is a reasonable amount.  Always make sure they brush afterwards!
• Avoid Extra Sweets - Skip juice and sweetened drinks the week of Halloween.  Although, we always recommend choosing water instead!
• Healthy Party Treats - Ghost bananas and pumpkin tangerines are easy, festive Halloween treats that are good for your child's health.

Check out this article for more tips on how to celebrate a healthy Halloween.  If you do indulge in any sweets, remember to brush afterwards!

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!

Enjoying Halloween With Braces

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Halloween is right around the corner and for kid's with braces, it's not always easy to know what you can eat.  While we always recommend choosing healthy snacks, here are a few tips to help you enjoy Halloween with braces.

Halloween Tips:

• Choose Soft Snacks - Candies like peanut butter cups that are soft and mushy are a better choice than harder candies that can damage your brackets.
• Eat Festive Fruits - Candy apples and bobbing for apples can be damaging to braces.  Try healthier, thinly sliced apples instead.  You can dip them in yogurt or chocolate sauce for sweetness.
• Avoid Sticky Candies - Taffy, licorice, caramel and other sticky snacks can be tough to chew.  They can get caught in your braces and even break the brackets loose.  Choose treats that are easier on your teeth instead!
• Try Baked Goods - Brownies and other soft baked goods won't damage your braces.  Just make sure that the brownies are free of nuts or other hard foods that could be harmful to braces.

Check out these articles from Parents magazine and ehow for more tips on how to celebrate Halloween with braces.

As always, remember to brush after eating any sugary treats!  Patients with braces should take extra care to make sure they are brushing and flossing their teeth well.  Contact our office with any questions you have about how to keep your teeth healthy this Halloween.  

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 Snacks for National Dessert Day

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Happy National Dessert Day!  Here are a few healthier ways to satisfy your sweet tooth today.  Don't forget to brush afterwards!

Healthier Desserts:

• Chocolate Covered Fruit - Chocolate is far from the healthiest dessert, but it's a great way to get kids to eat fruits like strawberries and bananas. 
• Yogurt - Top plain yogurt with granola, nuts and fruit.  Just make sure that your yogurt is low in sugar.  Many yogurts that are marketed to kids are actually very high in sugar.
• Baked Apple - This treat is perfect for fall.  Stuff the apples with oats, nuts and honey for sweetness.
• Apples & Nut Butter - Sliced apple wedges with peanut butter or other nut butter is a healthy snack choice.  
• Candy Corn Fruit Cocktail - Layer pineapples and oranges in a cup topped with whipped cream for a healthier Halloween themed cup.

If you opt for more traditional desserts like cakes and cookies, choose options that are low in sugar and don't forget to brush your teeth afterwards!  For more healthy snacks, check out these articles on Greatist and Brit + Co.  

Contact our office with any questions you have about how to keep your child's teeth healthy.  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-Friendly Columbus Day Events

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

There are so many great family-friendly events being held this Columbus Day weekend.  Do you plan on attending any with your kids?

The Fantastic and Fabulous Fox
Where: Bailey Arboretum
When: Monday at 6 PM
Kids ages 3 to 6 can visit Bailey Arboretum for story time, crafts and an outdoor ramble.  The event is free, but advanced registration is required.

Meet and Greet Elsa
Where:  Long Island Puppet Theatre
When: Monday at 2:30 PM
Love Frozen?  Your kids can participate in a craft, meet Elsa, and enjoy a sing-along at this theatre event.  The cost of the meet and greet is $13 in advance and $15 at the door.

Snoopy
Where: Nassau Community College
When: Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM
Snoopy is a character that we all know and love.  Check out this children's theatre work.  The cost of entry to this children's theatre work is $6 for children under the age of 12 and $9 for all other adults and children.

Wooden Toy Train Play Days
Where: Railroad Museum of Long Island
When:  Saturday and Sunday from 11-3 PM
Do your kids love to play with trains?  This event features tracks and trains, face-painting, a pumpkin patch, train ride, and stories of Thomas and Friends.

For more family fun events this Columbus Day weekend, check out these articles from Newsday here and here.  The articles are full of great events for kids.  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 Fall Snacks for Kids

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

It's not always easy to keep up with busy kids on the move.  These seasonal snacks are both budget-friendly and healthy!

Healthy Fall Snacks:

Apple Slices - Apples are a great fall snack.  If your kids don't like apples on their own, try dipping them in peanut butter.  Their crunchiness makes them a great choice for your teeth too! 

Ants on a Log - Another crunchy snack, spreading peanut butter on celery with raisins or other dried fruits is a fun snack for kids. 

Pumpkin Muffins - It's pumpkin season!  Baked pumpkin chocolate chip muffins are a great way to start the day or refuel after school.  Whether fresh or canned, pumpkin is a healthy and festive snack choice.  You can find several recipes online or try your hand at your own.

Check out this blog for more frugal fall snacks for your kids.  You can also contact our office for more information on how to keep your child's teeth healthy .   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!

October is National Dental Hygiene Month

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

October is National Dental Hygiene Month!  Are you doing everything you can to keep your smile healthy?  

Dental Hygiene Reminders:

• Brush Your Teeth - Brushing for two minutes is the most important thing that you can do to prevent plaque, cavities and gingivitis.  This helps keep teeth and gums clean.  Even baby teeth need to be diligently brushed!
• Don't Forget to Floss - Daily flossing helps remove plaque and food particles that your toothbrush can't reach.  
• Rinse with Mouthwash - Anti-microbial mouth rinse can help prevent gum disease.  This is another way to help make sure that you reach all of the spots in your mouth that you miss while brushing and flossing.
• Chew Sugar-Free Gum - Chewing sugar-free gum helps stimulate saliva.  This is a great way to protect your teeth after eating and drinking.  Just make sure that the gum is sugar-free!

Learn more about National Dental Hygiene Month on the American Dental Hygienists' Association website.  You can also contact our office for more information on what your child can do to keep their teeth healthy this month and year round.   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!