We all know that kids need to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. And the reason… We know it too well. Let’s just repeat it to make sure.
We start from the beginning as they bite into it. Yes! Good for your child’s teeth (we had to say it).
Most of the vitamins and minerals children need to develop, grow, think and fight disease are found in fruits and vegetables. The challenge is how to avoid all that nagging about healthy food and creating a negative experience at the dinner table.
Did you ever hear about picking your own fruits? It’s just an amazing fun activity for entire family. Not only you get to enjoy picking your own fruits right from the trees and bushes, you’ll teach your child that they don’t grow in supermarkets. One more fact that any adult will appreciate: “You’ll actually burn calories picking fruits!”.
There are many farms you can go to that are nearby. To find a farm near you visit the Pick Your Own website.
We particularly like to got to Monmouth County in New Jersey. It is very close by to our Dental Office in Staten Island. There is a farm we like called Battleview Orchards. This place is famous for their Apple Cider Donuts. If you like sweets… Oh My God!!! They are sweet!!!
Here are some tips:
Take the camera. You want some memory to go back to, especially if you climb that tree to reach for sun bathing peaches.
Arrive early. You’ll be surprised to find out that many fields are emptied by noon.
Make sure to apply sunscreen. Even walking between trees will not help you hide away from sun rays.
When you arrive at the farm, take some time at the beginning to explain to your kids on how to identify and pick ripe fruit. You’ll be surprised to find out that you may not know it all yourselves. Did you know that Peaches are best picked when the fruit separates easily from the twigs? You have to pick them when the ground color changes from green to yellow. The skin of yellow-fleshed varieties ripens to an orange tint, while the skin of white-fleshed varieties changes from greenish to yellow-white.
Don’t forget your wallet. You’ll have to pay for all the fruits you picked. Excluding what you ate while on the tree (Shh).
Your kids will love it, remember it and they’ll have the fruit of their efforts – literally – to take home as a reward.
Don’t stop there. Spend some extra time and make a jam out of your harvest with kids. That would be an experience of a life time.
First, an old good advise – “Don’t stress too much! Your baby feels your stress.”.
And not only your stress…. While pregnant, it’s important to take care of your health more than ever.
Taking care of your mouth while you are pregnant is important for you and your baby.
If you’re just planning to get pregnant, then you should see your dentist NOW and get teeth professionally cleaned, gum tissue carefully examined, and any oral health problems identified treated in advance of your pregnancy.
Untreated dental disease can lead to pain, infections and unnecessary exposure to medications, any of which could harm the developing fetus. Poor oral health also can affect the nutritional intake of expectant mothers, which is essential for fetal growth and survival.
If you’re pregnant:
Inform your dentist (doctor). It will greatly help to plan for your treatment and procedures.
It is always wise to notify your dentist of any medications you’re taking and their dosage, especially when you’re pregnant. Your dental treatment plan may be altered based on this information.
Avoid radiography exam (X-Ray) during pregnancy. However, if X-rays are essential, then your dentist will use extreme caution to protect you and your baby. While radiation from dental X-rays is extremely low, advances in dental technology have made them even safer. Digital X-Rays reduces exposure to radiation by almost 90%
Don’t skip your dental checkup appointment. Regular periodontal examinations are very important during pregnancy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy, put you at increased risk for periodontal disease and for tender gums that bleed easily – a condition called pregnancy gingivitis
What pregnant women should do to improve their oral health
Floss and brush your teeth regularly at least twice a day and don’t forget your tongue while you’re at it.
If you cannot brush your teeth because you feel sick, rinse your mouth with water or a mouth rinse that has fluoride.
If you vomit, rinse your mouth with water.
Limit foods containing sugar to mealtimes only.
Choose water or low-fat milk as a beverage. Avoid carbonated beverages during pregnancy.
Choose fruit rather than fruit juice to meet the recommended daily fruit intake for you and your child.
Obtain necessary dental treatment before delivery.
* American Dental Association recently published a study from research team, led by Dr. Bryan Michalowicz of the University of Minnesota that Pregnant women can safely undergo essential dental treatment and receive topical and local anesthetics at 13 to 21 weeks gestation, according to a studypublished in the June issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association. Researchers randomly assigned 823 pregnant women with periodontitis to receive scaling and root planing, either at 13 to 21 weeks’ gestation or up to three months after delivery. Throughout the trial, obstetric nurses reviewed medical records to monitor subjects for serious adverse events.
Let’s face it. Accidents do happen! The worst case scenario is your tooth gets knocked out. There is a chance and a pretty good chance to save that knocked-out tooth if you do the following:
Pick up the tooth with care and make sure NOT to touch tooth by its root. You may damage the sensitive root area and make it impossible to save it.
The tooth can be briefly rinsed with saline water or milk. DO NOT scrub or wipe the tooth.
The tooth should be inspected for fractures. If the tooth is not broken, try to reinsert the clean tooth into the socket. Keep the tooth in place by biting on gauze. If you can’t put the tooth back because of bleeding or swelling, transport the tooth in a cup containing enough milk to cover the tooth.
The amount of time elapsed since the accident is critical in the prognosis of the tooth so seek immediate dental care!
Important!
Baby teeth are NOT replaced in the socket as this can damage the development of permanent tooth underneath, however, seek prompt care by a pediatric dentist at www.SolaDentalKids.com or call 718-948-2072.
Children under the age of 2 should not be using fluoridated toothpaste. The reason is because children at this age are developing their swallowing reflex and will ingest too much fluoride from the toothpaste. This can lead to staining in the permanent dentition from too much fluoride (fluorosis). There are toothpastes without fluoride that are sold in pharmacies for children under the age of 2.
Once the child is 2 years of age then a pea size amount of fluoridated toothpaste can be used to brush the teeth to prevent too much toothpaste from being consumed.
Parents should assist their child in brushing up to the age of 8 due to their lack of manual dexterity in brushing their teeth thoroughly.
Many parents ask why does my child need a filling in a baby tooth if it is going to eventually fall out?
1. A cavity in a baby tooth can be sensitive or even painful when eating depending on the size of the cavity. Just like a car needs maintenance every so many miles, children’s teeth need to be examined and cleaned every 6 months.
2. Cavities large enough can cause an abscess in the tooth (infection seen as a swelling around or below the tooth) to form that can spread if not treated immediately.
3. Baby teeth hold the space for the corresponding adult tooth until it is ready to erupt. When taken out early then the opposing tooth can supra-erupt and adjacent teeth to shift into the vacant space.
4. A baby tooth infected and extracted earlier than the anticipated eruption time can lead to delayed eruption of the adult tooth.
5. Also, the extraction of a baby tooth early on due to large cavity will be one less tooth for the child to use when eating.
Children under the age of 2 should not be using fluoridated toothpaste. The reason is because children at this age are developing their swallowing reflex and will ingest too much fluoride from the toothpaste. This can lead to staining in the permanent dentition from too much fluoride (fluorosis). There are toothpastes without fluoride that are sold in pharmacies for children under the age of 2.