Get Kids Excited About Healthy Teeth In The New Year!

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Lose weight and get fit top the chart of New Year's Resolutions each year, and they seldom ever get achieved.  This year, why not make your resolution to help encourage and motivate your child to keep their teeth healthy?  Here are some tips to keep them going all year long!

Make brushing fun.  Play a song, around 2 minutes in length, while they brush their teeth.  This will ensure they get a thorough brushing and have fun at the same time.  Another fun brushing tip is to let them choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste.  This gives them a sense of independence.  

Buy a flavored floss.  Dental floss can be purchased in berry blast, winter mint, and even cupcake flavors.  If your little one is still a bit too young to floss properly, try floss picks that are especially made for kids, and of course, be present to help them in the process.

Find a pediatric dentist.  Pediatric dentists are specially certified to interact and cater to the needs of your child.  The offices are designed to be appealing to children which helps eliminate the fear of the dentist.  

Good oral health leads to better general health and a greater quality of life for your child, making this a resolution you'll be sure to keep! 

Schedule an appointment with Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City and Glen Cove today! For more information, visit us at, www.pdofgc.com.

When Should You Start Child Dental Care for your Children?

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

A child's teeth begin to form before they are even born, making it essential to begin dental care prior to their first tooth even appearing.  A great was to remove harmful bacteria from their gums is to run a damp washcloth over the area daily.  Once the teeth start to come through you can begin to brush them using a wet toothbrush with a dab of toothpaste.  This routine should be done every day until the child is able to brush on his or her own.  

Bad feeding habits can also cause child tooth decay.  Having a child fall asleep with a bottle can damage their teeth and lead to a condition referred to as "Bottle Mouth".  Sugars from the liquid sit on the child's teeth for hours, thus eating away at the enamel.  Keep an eye out for pitted or discolored front teeth as signs of Bottle Mouth.  

Finally, it is essential to visit a pediatric dentist to help prevent potential problems before they occur. Here at Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City, we are trained to handle a vast range of issues pertaining to child oral health. Contact us to schedule an appointment or to learn more about your child's options.  

For more information on child dental care, click here.

Urgent Dental Care FAQ Answered

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Is your child in need of urgent dental care? This is where your pediatric dentist comes in! Please keep our emergency number convenient and available at all times just in case emergency arises.

Here are a few FAQ’s answered about emergency dental situations. If you have any additional questions you need answered, please contact us at any time.

What should I do if my child’s baby tooth is knocked out?

Contact your dentist office as soon as possible.

What should I do if my child’s permanent tooth is knocked out?

Find the tooth and rinse it gently in cool water. (Do not scrub it or clean it with soap – use just water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or wash cloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk, saliva, or water. Get to the pediatric dental office immediately. (Call the emergency number if it’s after hours.) The faster you act the better chance you have of saving the tooth.

What if a tooth is chipped or fractured?

Contact your pediatric dentist immediately. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it with you to the dentist.

What about a severe blow to the head or jaw fracture?

Go immediately to the emergency room of your local hospital. A blow to the head can be life threatening.

What if my child has a toothache?

Call your pediatric dentist and visit the office promptly. To comfort your child, rinse the mouth with water. Apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. Do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area.

Can dental injuries be prevented?

Absolutely! First, reduce oral injury in sports by wearing mouth guards. Second, always use a car seat for young children. Require seat belts for everyone else in the car. Third, child-proof your home to prevent falls, electrical injuries, and choking on small objects. Fourth, protect your child from unnecessary toothaches with regular dental visits and preventative care. 

Have You Schedule Your Child a Back to School Checkup at Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City? Call us Today!

 Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City

585 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530

516-222-5100

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Hey parents, it’s almost that time again! You know, back to school. You will soon be stuffing lunch boxes, checking homework and running from soccer practice to dance lessons. Before your children head back for a brand new school year, it’s important to make sure they’re up to date on all checkups and appointments.

We encourage you to schedule an appointment for your child with us here at Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City. If you haven’t been to our office, don’t worry! We welcome new patients and look forward to meeting you.

If you’re a new patient, CLICK HERE to check out the new patient section of our website.

To schedule your appointment, please call us at 516-222-5100 or stop in at our Garden City location at any time. Our office is conveniently located at 585 Stewart Avenue in Garden City. 

Are Your Children Eating Right?

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City

585 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530

516-222-5100

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

In order to have healthy white teeth, you need to brush and floss. However, eating right is an important key to maintaining a white smile. Dentist and spokesman for the American Dental Association, Matthew Messina, tells ABC News what foods, in moderation, are healthy for your teeth:

Citrus fruit: High acidic levels may cause the enamel of your teeth to erode when not properly taking care of them. ABC says a 2008 study shows lemon and grapefruit juice are the most acidic and will cause the most damage to teeth. Messina says orange juice is the best citric fruit for teeth especially when it comes with vitamin D and calcium to help keep teeth strong.

Candy: Chewy candies stick to teeth, which block the enamel and eventually form cavities. Sour candies are sugary, acidic and chewy. This is especially bad for your teeth. Hard candies saturate your mouth for a while this then lets bacteria formulate for acid.

Drinks: Soda and sports drinks are of course sugary, but what is surprising is the amount of citric and phosphoric acid in soda erodes enamel. Messina advises to drink soda with a meal so the food can help neutralize acid. Wine is definitely likely to stain your teeth, especially red. Red and white wines both contribute acid erosive to teeth. Coffee and black tea stain teeth, but even herbal, white and green tea erodes enamel.

Now Messina gives advice on what food and drinks help to strengthen teeth:

Sugarless gum: Gum causes the accumulation of saliva, which washes away acid in the mouth. Gum also provides calcium and phosphate to help build bone.

Water: Water acts as saliva by washing away any unnecessary acid.

Dairy: Dairy of course emits calcium to strengthen enamel. Cheeses contain a protein, which is known as casein. Casein plays the same role as calcium.  

High-fiber food: These foods cause a lot of chewing. The chewing generates saliva and the chewed food helps to scrub an acid or bacteria off your teeth.

For further information on Messina’s healthy eating for oral health, please CLICK HERE

Make sure your child’s teeth are healthy by providing the right food and drinks, as well as regularly taking your child for teeth cleanings. Schedule an appointment with Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City today and visit our website at http://pediatricdentistryofgardencity.com/

Schedule Your Child's Back to School Checkup at Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City Today!

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City

585 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530

516-222-5100

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Before your children head back to school, be sure to schedule a checkup at Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City for them!  Send your child back to school with a great big confident smile!  

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City helps kids practice healthy dental habits and we’re here to send you children back to school healthy and happy.

Proper oral care is needed for a lifetime of smiles! Dr. Stacey Reynolds and the staff at Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City want to give your child a brighter smile.

For more information, please visit us on the web or on Facebook. To schedule your appointment, call us at 516-222-5100.

Father's Day Weekend Events on Long Island!

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City

585 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530

516-222-5100

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Do you have Father’s Day weekend plans? If not, we've got a couple of ideas (courtesy of www.Newsday.com) that will be sure to satisfy Dad on his special day!

Be sure to let us know which events you’re attending on our Facebook page!

Event: Choose your Own Adventure

Location: Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury

Date/Time: Saturday, 6/15 10-5

Event: Family Bingo Night

Location: County Fair Entertainment Park, Medford

Date/Time: Saturday, 6/15 6-9 pm

Event: Strawberry Festival

Location: Mattituck Lions Club, Mattituck

Date/Time: Saturday, 5/16 11-11

Event: Father’s Day in Flight

Location: Maritime Explorium, Port Jefferson

Date/Time: Saturday, 6/15 and Sunday, 6/16, 1-5

Have You Downloaded the Toothbrush Timer App?

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City

585 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530

516-222-5100

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

If you have trouble getting your little ones to brush for the proper amount of time, we've got a solution for you!

The "Toothbrush Timer" app is the perfect solution to get your children to brush for the adequate amount of time each and everyday. No more guessing or hoping they've brushed for long enough, using the time will ensure they're brushing properly all the time.

Download "Toothbrush Timer" today from the app store and begin utilizing this great app on your iPhone or iPad!

Let us know what you think of the app on our Facebook page.