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

Feeling stuck indoors after last weekend's snow storm?  Here are a few weekend activities for you and your kids to enjoy -- spend some time exploring Long Island!

Weekend Events:

Seal Walk
Where: Montauk Point State Park
When: Saturday and Sunday
Cost: $4 per adult; $3 per child

Walk along the beach where up to four different species of seals can be observed on Long Island.  The walk is approximately three miles long and takes 2-3 hours to complete, so make sure you dress warmly!

Winter Watercolor Workshop
Where: The Center for Science Teaching & Learning
When: Saturday, January 30th
Cost: $14/Child

Bring your kids to The Center for Science Teaching & Learning in Rockville Centre for an afternoon of exploring watercolor.  They will use different materials to create fun art effects and use their own techniques to create their own personal winter wonderland.

Maple Sugaring: A Family Program
Where: Nissequogue River State Park
When: Sunday, January 31st
Cost: $4 per adult; $3 per child; children under 3 are FREE

Learn about the importance of maple trees on long island.  This hands-on program teaches kids how to identify and tap a maple tree.  Since this program is outdoors, it's important that parents remember to dress kids appropriately for the weather.

If you have any questions about your child's tooth health as we move from January into February, contact one of our offices. You can schedule an appointment by calling 516-222-5100 to reach our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to reach our Glen Cove office.  

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

Preparing for Your First Dental Visit

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Your child's first dental visit is a big milestone in their life!  What can parents expect?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents schedule their child's first dental visit by their first birthday.

What to Expect:

• Meeting Dr. Stacey & Dr. Cece - Your child's first meeting with Dr. Stacey or Dr. Cece is always calm and casual.  Many parents with small children find it helpful to mention, "Dr. Stacey is a very special doctor who helps children have healthy beautiful smiles!" Establishing this trust sets a positive tone for all future dental visits.
• Learning About Brushing - We can show your child how to brush their teeth.  If they've had their first tooth grow in, they'll need to start caring for it.  It's important to keep baby teeth healthy so that kids develop good habits at a young age (and they prevent cavities).
• Receiving Their First Cleaning - We will polish their teeth with a rotary toothbrush.  This will help keep their tiny teeth clean and polished.

Take a look at our YouTube video before to get to know a little bit more about our office and when you should bring your child to the dentist.

After your child's first visit, you'll want to make sure that you schedule bi-annual exams.  This will help ensure that their teeth are growing in correctly and that they are keeping their teeth nice and clean.

If you have any questions about how to care for tiny teeth this winter, give us a call!  You can schedule an appointment by calling 516-222-5100 to reach our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to reach our Glen Cove office.  

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

Cold & Flu Season Toothbrush Care

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Cold and flu season is tough.  Between the seasonal weather changes, allergies, and dry winter air, it can be hard to keep kids healthy.  However, one of the places many parents don't think to clean often is the toothbrush!

Although we don't give cleaning our toothbrushes much thought, microorganisms can cause infections if they enter your child's gum tissue.  These tips will help keep your toothbrush and your kids healthy.

Keep Your Toothbrush Clean:

Rinse It - Give your toothbrush a thorough rinse after you have brushed your teeth.

Store It - After you have used your toothbrush, store it in an upright position where it can dry out.  If you cover your toothbrush, or put it in a drawer, it can develop bacteria and even mold.  If you're going on a winter getaway, be sure to buy a proper travel case or a travel toothbrush that allows air to circulate around the bristles.  Don't store your brush in a plastic bag!

Replace It - You should replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or when it begins to show signs of wear.  Frayed bristles will not clean your teeth as effectively and it's a sign you're do for an upgrade.  Why not get a new toothbrush with your child's favorite character?  It's a great way to get them excited about brushing again!

If you have any questions about how to care for tiny teeth this winter, give us a call!  You can schedule an appointment by calling 516-222-5100 to reach our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to reach our Glen Cove office.  

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

Snow Day Activities for Kids

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

We hope that everyone is ready for this weekend's blizzard!  If your kids tend to get a little stir crazy on snow days, here are a few activities to help keep them busy through the winter storm.

Snow Day Activities:

• Build a Snow Man - What better way to enjoy a snow day than by building a snow man?  Assuming there is enough snow, try to build the biggest snow man you can!
• Make an Igloo - Another fun snow-time activity!  Just make sure that kids stay safe if they build an igloo with snow overhead.
• Make Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate - Hot chocolate is the perfect snowy day drink to warm up after a day of igloos and snowmen (and shoveling).  However, hot chocolate tends to be high in sugar!  Opt for a sugar free version or make your own healthier hot chocolate recipe.
• Make Snowflake Garlands - If your kids aren't ready to head outdoors, have them make their own snowflakes inside!  With paper and scissors, making snowflakes can be a fun snow day craft.

We hope that everyone stays safe and warm this weekend!  If your child runs into any dental emergencies during the blizzard, contact our office with any questions that you have.  You can also schedule an appointment by calling 516-222-5100 to reach our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to reach our Glen Cove office.  

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

Childhood Milestones: Losing Their First Tooth

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

A loose baby tooth is a big milestone for any kid!  Not only is it time for their first tooth fairy visit, but it's also time for their permanent teeth to start growing in.  Since every child is different, some kids are excited about their wiggling tooth, while other are nervous about what will happen when it falls out.  

You can assure them that it's normal!  Here are a few common questions we get that can help you determine what you can expect when your child loses their first tooth.

When will they lose their first tooth?
Most children lose their tooth around the age of 5-6.  However, it's possible for kids to reach 7 or 8 years old without losing any baby teeth!  While there is probably nothing wrong, we can make sure that their permanent teeth are growing in correctly with a few x-rays.

Which tooth will fall out first?
Teeth usually fall out in the order they first came in!

How do they care for their new teeth?
Now that your child's permanent teeth are growing in, brushing is more important than ever!  Make sure that your child gets into the habit of brushing their teeth for two minutes, two times a day.  This is a great habit that will help them keep their teeth healthy throughout their lives.

Take a look at this article for more information on what to expect, or of course you can always contact our office directly.  We can help you and your child better understand when they can expect to lose their first tooth and what to do afterwards.

Schedule an appointment by calling 516-222-5100 to reach our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to reach our Glen Cove office.  

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

Why Does My Tooth Hurt?

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Toothaches are no fun.  Whether your child has temperature sensitivity, pain when chewing or biting, or is sensitive to sweets, it's important to get to the root of the problem.  

While you should always give us a call if your child has any tooth related pains - here are a few of the most common reasons why they're suffering from a toothache.

Common Causes:

Cavities - Tooth decay is one of the main reasons why we experience tooth pain.  When plaque sticks to the tooth enamel, it feed on sugary drinks and foods, eating away at your teeth.  As the tooth decay spreads, kids can experience sensitivity to temperature and touch.

Inflammation - Inflammation can cause pressure to build on the inside of the tooth, as well as the surrounding gum.

Abscess - An abscess is caused by bacteria built up inside the pulp chamber.  When this becomes inflammed and infected, it can cause pain.

Chips and Cracks - Whether due to a sports related injury or the tooth was weakened over time, chips and cracks can cause pain when biting or chewing, as well as temperature sensitivity.

Impacted Tooth - This is common in older teens and young adults as their wisdom teeth grow in.  When the tooth grows in at an angle and there is no room in the jawbone to accommodate the tooth, the wisdom tooth becomes stuck under the gum.

If your child has any trouble with tooth aches, give our office a call.  We can examine the tooth and take an x-ray to get a better look at what's going on inside their mouth.  Schedule an appointment by calling 516-222-5100 to reach our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to reach 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

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 the family this weekend?  There are plenty of kid-friendly weekend events happening across Long Island!  Here are a few that you might want to check out.

Weekend Events on Long Island:


The Arcade Age

Where: The Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City
When:  Four Daily, 90 minute Sessions (11:30, 1:30, 3:30)

The Cradle of Aviation Museum has turned part of it's gallery into an arcade featuring favorite video games.  Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Space Invaders, Centipede, and Donkey Kong are among the arcade games available for play.  The exhibit will be available now through April 3rd.

Pirate Show with Captain Billy Bones
Where: Long Island Children's Museum, Garden City
When: Sunday, January 10th

Kids will enjoy this live show at the Long Island Children's Museum.  Learn more about the show and event here.

Build-a-Boat
Where: The Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, Cold Spring Harbor
When: Sunday, January 10th

Visit the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum where kids can be a shipbuilder!  Parents can drop their kids off any time between 1-4pm, where they will design their own vessel out of wood.

Interested in more weekend events?  Check out this article for a full list of all the fun things happening on Long Island.

Is it time for your child's bi-annual cleaning and exam?  Schedule an appointment this winter to help keep their teeth beautiful and healthy.  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!

How to Choose the Right Toothpaste for Your Kids

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Running low on toothpaste?  With all of the different brands, flavors and options available to you, it can be hard to decide on the best choice for your family.

Before you head to the store, here are a few tips to help you choose the right toothpaste to help keep your child's smile healthy and clean.

Choosing the Right Toothpaste:

• Choose Fluoride - Choose toothpaste that has fluoride in it.  This helps protect and strengthen developing teeth.
• Choose a Fun Flavor - We know that it's not always easy to get kids out of bed in the morning, let alone brush thoroughly.  Choosing a fun flavor that they enjoy will help give them a little extra incentive to brush their teeth on a busy day.
• Look for the ADA Seal - The American Dental Association tests toothpaste for safety, effectiveness, and FDA approved ingredients.  Choose from any product with the approval seal.

Of course, brushing isn't the only thing kids need to do to maintain good oral health care.  They should also be flossing regularly and have bi-annual dental cleanings and exams.  If your child is due for a visit, you can 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!