New Year's Resolutions for a Healthy Smile

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Are you ready to celebrate the New Year?  Don't forget to add a healthy smile to your child's list of New Year's resolutions!  Here are a few tips to help keep tiny teeth healthy through 2015.

Resolutions for Your Child's Teeth:

• Eat More Fruits and Vegetables - Healthy snacks help protect your teeth and gums!  Offer your kids apples, carrots and celery as a healthy snack alternative with their lunch.
• Always Brush and Floss - The best way to keep teeth healthy through the New Year is with brushing and flossing.  Help your kids get into the habit or brushing and flossing twice a day!  
• Schedule Regular Cleanings - Regular cleanings and exams help us catch dental problems early on.  With bi-annual office visits, we can help get rid of plaque before it affects your teeth.

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City and Glen Cove wishes you and your family a happy and healthy New Year!  

If you want to schedule an appointment for 2015, give us a call!  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!

Tooth Care Tips for the Holiday Season

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Don't let holiday snacking hurt your smile!  With all of the sweets and sugary foods, it can be hard to stay healthy during the holidays.  Here are a few tips to keep your teeth beautiful through the new year.

Holiday Tooth Tips:

• Brush After Meals - It's always important to remember to brush your teeth, but with all of the sugary snacks that kids eat during the holidays, you want to make sure you're getting all of the bacteria off of your teeth!
• Use a New Toothbrush - You should replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months.  The holidays are the perfect time to replace your kid's toothbrush with their favorite character or with a festive themed brush!
• Avoid Snacking - Snacking in between meals can be tempting with candy canes and holiday cookies, but snacking is also bad for your teeth.  If you can, limit sweets to meal time.

Remember to contact our office with any questions you have about your child's oral health during the holidays. 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 Hanukkah Recipes for Your Teeth

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Happy Hanukkah to all those who are celebrating this week!  Will you be spending time with your friends and family this weekend?  Here are a few healthy recipes to help you celebrate a tooth-friendly Hanukkah!

Crispy Potato Latkes
Traditional latkes are fried in hot oil.  However, try using a small amount of oil to pan fry the latkes and then bake them in the oven for a few minutes to finish.

While apple sauce traditionally goes with potato latkes, choose apple sauce that is low in sugar!

Take a look at this recipe from Eating Well for a healthy alternative to this traditional holiday staple.

Oven Barbecued Brisket
Brisket needs to be tenderized overnight before it is baked.  While brisket cuts are often fatty, choosing a "first-cut" section is a healthier option.

You can find the healthy brisket recipe here!

Challah Bread 
Will you be making your own bread?  Whole wheat challah bread is a healthier alternative!  Visit this website for the recipe.

Remember to contact our office with any questions you have about your child's oral health during the holidays. 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!

Tooth Tips for the "Nice" List

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

The holiday season is here!  Have you been "nice" to your teeth this year?  The American Dental Association offers a few tips on how to keep your teeth healthy not just through the holidays, but year round!

Tooth Tips for the Nice List:

• Brush Twice a Day - It's important to remember to brush twice a day to keep bacteria from eating away at your tooth enamel.
• Eat Healthy - Choosing healthy, crunchy snacks like apples and pears help keep your teeth clean.  Try to avoid sticky candies and sugary cookies.
• Avoid Sugary Drinks - Sodas and juices high in sugar are bad for your teeth.  Choose water instead!
• Wear a Mouthguard - If you play a sport for school or for recreation, make sure you wear a mouthguard!  Mouthguards help protect your teeth and gums, preventing chips, cracks and lost teeth.
• Schedule a Cleaning - Schedule an appointment at our office for bi-annual cleanings and exams.  This will help make sure that any troublesome spots are caught early on, before they become cavities!

Read this article from Mouth Healthy for more tips on how to care for your teeth through the holidays.

Remember to contact our office with any questions you have about your child's oral health during the holidays. 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!

Tooth Friendly Stocking Stuffers for Kids

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Are you taking advantage of all of the holiday deals?  When you're out holiday shopping this weekend, here are a few tooth-friendly stocking stuffers you might want to grab!

Tooth-Friendly Gifts:

• Xylitol Chewing Gum - Sugar-free gum helps stimulate saliva and buffer the acids that damage your teeth after a meal.  Xylitol is a natural sweetener that can even help prevent tooth decay!
• Flavored Tooth Paste - Kids toothpaste comes in a variety of flavors, including mint, bubblegum - and even unique flavors like bacon and chocolate!  Choose their favorite flavor!
• Flavored Floss - Flossing is an important part of your oral hygiene routine.  Pick a flavor your child loves to help get them excited about flossing.
• Fun Toothbrush - There are many different character and animal shaped toothbrushes and toothbrush holders.  There are princesses, race cars and superhero-shaped handles!  Electric toothbrushes can light up and play songs too!
• Sports Mouthguard - A mouthguard can help kids who love contact sports like football, socker, basketball, and baseball protect their teeth.  There are plenty of fun color and design options available!

Read this article for more tips on how to celebrate a tooth-friendly holiday season.  

Remember to contact our office with any questions you have about your child's oral health during the holidays. 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!

Teething Tips for Parents and Babies

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Baby teeth start to appear when kids are about six months old.  As teeth begin to erupt, babies can be sleepless and irritable.  Here are a few ways to offer chilly relief to babies while they teethe.

Teething Tips:

• Washcloths - A cold, wet washcloth can help ease the pain.  As an added benefit, the washcloths help clean their teeth as they grow in!
• Frozen Fruit - Frozen fruit pieces in a mesh feeder can help with chewing.  Just make sure that you clean their teeth and gums after.  Fruit can be high in sugar and damaging to tiny teeth.
• Frozen Bagels - Similar to frozen fruit, frozen bagels can help ease pain.  Don't forget to brush after.  Even though bagels aren't sweet, the carbohydrates and sugars are still bad for growing teeth.

For more teething tips, check out this article from What To Expect.  You can also contact our office with any questions you have about your child's oral health while they are teething.  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!

Why is Thumbsucking Bad for Kids?

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Thumbsucking is a natural habit for children.  At a young age, it can help them relax and fall asleep.  
However, it's important that kids break the thumbsucking habit when their permanent teeth begin to emerge between the ages of two and four years old.  Thumbsucking can alter tooth alignment and cause changes to the roof of the mouth.  Here are a few tips to help your child break the habit.

Thumbsucking Tips:

• Support Them - Let your child know you are happy when they aren't sucking their thumb.  Supporting them will help them break the habit.
• Find the Cause - Many children suck their thumbs when they feel insecure or in need of comfort.  Focusing on correcting the anxiety can help them.
• Practice Self-Awareness - Sometimes, kids don't realize when they are sucking their thumbs.  Ask them if they know why they're sucking their thumb.  If they say no, find another way to soothe them.
• Limit Thumbsucking - Try to ween them off thumbsucking by limiting the time that they suck their thumb tot he bedroom or house.  Avoid thumbsucking in public to get them used to the idea of breaking the habit.

Read this article from webmd or this article from the American Dental Association (ADA) for more information on thumbsucking and tips on how to help your child break the habit.

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!

How to Snack Healthy This Holiday Season

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Image Source

Holiday parties and sugary treats can make it hard to stay healthy this time of year.  Here are a few tooth-friendly snack ideas to get you and your family through the holiday season!

Healthy Holiday Snacks:

• Fresh Fruits & Veggies - These make a great snack for the holiday season.  Pick fruits and vegetables that are in season like cranberries and spinach!  They're low in sugar and good for you.
• Nuts - Assorted nuts are full of healthy fats, proteins, and fibers.  
• Smoothies - Can't get enough healthy smoothies?  Try a festive blend with apples, bananas, and cinnamon!
• Whole Grains - Whole-grain muffins and breads are healthier than snacking on cakes and cookies.  Whole grains keep you full longer, too, so kids are less likely to snack throughout the day.

Read this article for more tooth-friendly snack tips for the holidays.  You can even check out a healthier, low-sugar chocolate chip cookie recipe below!

Image Source: Wikipedia Commons

Low-Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup of flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1/4 cup milk

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.  Combine dry ingredients, including chocolate chips.  Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.  Form dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet about an inch apart.  Bake for six to seven minutes or until slightly browned.  Let cool and enjoy!

Remember to contact our office with any questions you have about your child's oral health this holiday season. 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!