Parks and Preserves to Visit with Kids on Long Island

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

There are so many beautiful parks and preserves to visit across Long Island.  On hot summer days, they give families a chance to stay outdoors and even cool off.  Here are a few of the most popular places to enjoy spending time outdoors on Long Island this summer.

National Parks on Long Island:

Fire Island National Seashore
The Fire Island National Seashore is rich in history, and offers a ton of amenities for adults and kids alike.  It is New York's only federally protected park.  It offers historic sites, such as the Fire Island Lighthouse and William Floyd Estate.  Kids can also enjoy spending time on the beach or camping.

Sunken Meadow State Park
Sunken Meadow offers one of the best views of the Long Island Sound.  With three miles of beach, fishing, a creek, and a picnic area, it is a great place to spend time with the whole family.  They also have a trail that is great for hiking, ball fields and informal open lawn areas.  Since the sound is generally calm, it is also great for windsurfing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and canoeing.

Avalon Park & Preserve
Avalon park is designed to re-create the natural environment.  It creates the look that the indigenous people who settled in New York State would have seen.  

Muttontown Preserve
The Muttontown Preserve is filled with fields, woodlands, ponds and the estate grounds.  

Friends of the Sands Point Preserve
This famous preserve is surrounded by acres of woods, grounds and shoreline.  It has been featured in several films!  They offer several family programs, including family yoga and day camps.

If you plan on spending a lot time outdoors on a hot day like today, make sure that you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water!  Not only is water good for your body on hot days, it's good for your teeth too!

If you have any questions about your child's oral health, give us a call!  Call 516-222-5100 to schedule your appointment at our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to schedule your appointment at our Glen Cove office.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Tooth-Friendly Summer Reading List

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Are your kids participating in a summer reading program?  Here are a few tooth-friendly reads that will help them learn more about how to care for their smiles over the summer!

Tooth-Friendly Summer Reading:

Ready, Set Brush by Sesame Street
This pop-up book shows just how easy it is to care for your oral health.  Elmo, Zoe, and their friends from Sesame Street illustrate all the steps involved in brushing your teeth.

Have You Ever Seen a Moose Brushing His Teeth? by Jamie McClaine
A moose sets off on an adventure to take care of his teeth.  This humorous book addresses nature and encourages good hygiene practices!

At the Dentist by Mari Schuh
This easy-to-read book illustrates all the steps involved in your child's first dental visit.  It also gives tips on how to make healthy choices and how each food group is important for health.

I Know Why I Brush My Teeth by Kate Rowan
With help from his Mom, Sam entertains and explains why brushing teeth is so important!

Check out this article for more tooth-friendly summer reading ideas!

If you have any questions about your child's oral health, give us a call!  Call 516-222-5100 to schedule your appointment at our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to schedule your appointment at our Glen Cove office.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Why Do Kids Need Dental Sealants?

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Does your kid have a sweet tooth?  We know that eating healthy all the time can be tough.  That's why as kids are learning to eat the right foods and develop good brushing and flossing habits, it's important to protect their teeth with dental sealants.

What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings that are painted onto the chewing surfaces of a child's teeth (usually the molars).  The sealant bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, protecting the enamel.  

How do they protect teeth?
Dental sealants, combined with daily brushing and flossing, bi-annual dental visits, and fluoride treatments will keep your kids teeth bright and beautiful for many years to come.  By filling the deep grooves in your child's molars, sealants protect the surface of the teeth.  Since molars are difficult to reach, they help protect the enamel while kids learn good brushing and flossing skills.  They also work by creating a barrier between the tooth enamel and the chewing surface.  This means that if your kid has a sweet tooth, it is less likely that they will get a cavity.

If you have any questions about the benefits of dental sealants, contact one of our offices.   We are happy to answer any questions you have about your child's oral health.

Call 516-222-5100 to schedule your appointment at our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to schedule your appointment at our Glen Cove office.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Tooth-Friendly Snacks to Pack for Your Next Beach Day

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

It can be hard to stay healthy on-the-go.  Fortunately, there are plenty of tooth-friendly, healthy snacks that you can take with you to the beach this summer!  These ideas will help you get inspired while you pack your beach cooler.

Tooth-Friendly Beach Snacks:

• Apples & Peanut Butter - Apples are a great snack for your teeth.  Not only are they healthy (and filling), but apples also act as a natural brush, keeping your teeth clean while you eat.
• Celery & Dip - Celery is another snack that is easy to pack, eat, and acts as a natural toothbrush!  Choose a healthy dip that is low in sugar and fat for a snack that is great for the beach!
• Fresh Fruit - Fruit is a healthy and refreshing snack to have at the beach.  Strawberries, grapes, watermelon and bananas are all easy to eat on-the-go!

For more healthy beach snacks to pack on your next trip to the shore, check out this article from Seventeen magazine.

Call 516-222-5100 to schedule your appointment at our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to schedule your appointment at our Glen Cove office.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Weekend Events on Long Island to Keep Your Kids Busy

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Looking for some fun activities to fill up your weekend?  There are so many ways to keep kids entertained during the summer months.  Here are a few of the many kid-friendly weekend events being held on Long Island.

Weekend Events on Long Island:

Live Performance of Peter Pan
View a live performance of Peter Pan this Saturday in Garden City!  The performance will be held at the Long Island Children's museum.

Movies on the Beach - The Lego Movie
Watch this nighttime showing of the Lego movie for free this Saturday!  The movie will be shown in Long Beach.

Family Festival
There will be a family festival with vendors, food, games, rides and moor at St. Rose of Lima this weekend!  The event will be held all weekend long in Massapequa.

Check out this article for more information on the weekend events being held across Long Island this weekend.

Call 516-222-5100 to schedule your appointment at our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to schedule your appointment at our Glen Cove office.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Dental Fluoride FAQ

Fluoride treatments are an important way to prevent dental cavities in kids' teeth.  Many parents have questions about what fluoride treatments are and why they are an important part of your child's dental care.  We want to clear up any confusion with these fluoride FAQs!

Fluoride FAQs:

What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that helps reduce tooth decay.  There are several studies that show that people who add fluoride to their dental care have two-thirds fewer cavities.

How Does Fluoride Work?
Fluoride works to prevent cavities by helping harden the enamel on baby and adult teeth before and after they emerge.  Fluoride helps prevent cavities and can even repair teeth in the very early stages of oral health disease.

How is Fluoride Applied?
Fluoride can come in the form of a solution, gel, foam or varnish.  It is typically placed in a tray that is held in your child's mouth for a few minutes.

Why Can't You Eat or Drink After Treatment?
You shouldn't rinse, eat or drink for at least thirty minutes after a fluoride treatment.  You want to give your teeth enough time to absorb the fluoride.

Still have questions about why fluoride is an important part of your child's routine dental care?  Visit the American Dental Association website or give our office a call!  We are happy to answer any questions you have about how to best care for tiny teeth.

Call 516-222-5100 to schedule your appointment at our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to schedule your appointment at our Glen Cove office.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Weekend Events for Kids on Long Island

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 with your kids this weekend?  Check out these local events for kids on Long Island!

Weekend Events:

Big Apple Circus
Where:  Tilles Center, 720 Northern Blvd, Greenvale, NY
When: Repeating every day through July 12th

The circus is coming to Long Island!  Visit the Tilles Center for jugglers, clowns, animals, aerialists, acrobats, and more!

Cinderella Kids 
Where: CM Performing Arts Center, 931 Montauk Highway, Oakdale, NY
When: Saturday, July 27th
Visit the theatre for a live performance of Cinderella!

Shark Family Night
Where:  Sag Harbor Whaling Museum, 200 Main Street, Sag Harbor, NY
When:  Saturday, July 11th at 6PM
End shark week off on the right note with shark fun and a pirate themed BBQ at the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum.

Check out this article from Mommy Poppins for more local events for kids on Long Island!

Call 516-222-5100 to schedule your appointment at our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to schedule your appointment at our Glen Cove office.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Healthy 4th of July Party Snacks

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

4th of July weekend is here!  Ready to celebrate with delicious BBQ foods and fireworks tomorrow night?  Here are a few snack ideas to help make your 4th of July party healthy for kids and their teeth!

Healthy 4th of July Party Snacks:

• Turkey Burger Sliders - BBQ foods are perfect for any 4th of July party.  Sliders are a quick and easy meal that is kid-sized!  Add cheese to your turkey burger to give your teeth some calcium!
• Watermelon & Feta Flag - Make a patriotic flag out of watermelon, feta and blueberries!  Line up the watermelon and feta into red and white stripes and have a bowl of blueberries in the corner for the stars.  You can also replace the watermelon with strawberries or another red, healthy fruit.  Check out the recipe here.
• Red, White & Blueberry Yogurt Pops - For a healthy twist on a cool dessert, make popsicles from vanilla flavored Greek yogurt!  Add blueberries and raspberries for a fruity snack.  The complete recipe can be found here.

Check out this article for more great 4th of July party recipes!

Call 516-222-5100 to schedule your appointment at our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to schedule your appointment at our Glen Cove office.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!