Back to School Lunch Ideas!

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We know that school has just started and that means early mornings, getting all the kids out of the house with clothes and shoes one, teeth brushed, homework packed, and on time before the bell rings! We also know that dinner time can be crazy trying to come up with healthy foods for our kids somehow squeezed in-between tutors, music lessons, homework time, and sports. And when our precious babies are finally in bed, parents still have laundry, dishes, other chores and those LUNCHES to pack! Oh how easy it is to reach for prepackaged foods full of sugar and completely lacking in nutrition! Marketing companies make it so easy to pick those up from eye level grocery store shelves… So here we, your Smiles For Kids team, are ready to equip you with some tips on making lunch packing easier for everyone! Start with a lunch box that has compartments! This helps pack the right amount and a variety.

Lunch needs to be healthy, easy to make, and nutritious. Here are our suggestions:

  1. The biggest compartment needs to be filled with the main meal. Sandwich with peanut butter, ham and cheese, or anything else your kids love is a good choice. Try to pick non-white bread to make it a bit more healthy. You can also pack a salad, pasta, meatballs, chicken, etc into that larger compartment. Simple wraps made with tortillas are also great ideas kids love. You can make enough pasta to last the whole week. You can make few sandwiches at a time and store in your fridge. The main meal should be an easy pick and pack on daily basis instead of making something new every day.

  2. One of the smaller compartments can fit fruit and/or veggies. For fruit we suggest anything that can easily be sliced at the beginning of the week or fits into the box without cutting up. Apples, oranges, berries, grapes, or kiwis are all great and can be cut up on Sunday night and distributed daily. Best veggies are the ones that your kids will eat. We find that kids like carrots, celery, broccoli, peas in a pod, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. Have them all ready for easy “throw in” at the beginning of the week.

  3. Another small compartment can be used for a healthy carb such as pretzels, healthier version of chips or crackers. Kids like crunchy snacks in addition to their main meal and fruit and veggies. Granola or nut mixes are also great to fill in this spot. If you choose to pack granola bars, read labels as they are often filled with empty calories and sugar. However, there are many great alternatives on the market now, so do your research before and buy in bulk.

  4. Last but not least…. a TREAT! The smallest compartment should be the one filled with a treat. Try to stay away from anything that is sticky, gooey or filled with chemicals. But a piece of chocolate, small cookie, chocolate or yogurt dipped pretzels, never hurt anyone and your kids will look forward to those little treats!

  5. SNACKS - these might not fit in a lunch box, but your kids will appreciate something to snack on throughout the day. There are plenty of healthy and non-sugar filled yogurts, apple sauces, puddings, fresh fruit such as apples and bananas, and other packaged foods that can make your kids happy!

  6. DRINKS - we have only one word… WATER. A carton of milk at lunch time is perfectly healthy, but otherwise they need nothing but water to drink throughout the day. And lots of it! Encourage them to stay hydrated. Flavored waters without sugar or sodium can be a once a day treat as well. Stay away from soda, energy drinks and sports drinks as those are loaded with unnecessary soda!

We sure do hope that this helps guide your on your daily lunch box quest! Remember, the less cutting, slicing, and spreading you can do daily, the less you will despise lunch making hour! And if we have to summarize it in one sentence here it is:

STAY AWAY FROM LIQUID SUGARS, GOOEY, CHEWY, STICKY SNACKS,

AND MAKE YOUR KIDS’ LUNCH BOXES AS COLORFUL AS YOU CAN!

The Itero Scanner!

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I don’t think anybody really likes those ooey-gooey, messy molds dentists take of your teeth for crowns, appliances, retainers, mouth guards, Invisalign, etc. Great news is we don’t have to use those anymore! We use a digital scanner called an iTero Intraoral Scanner that takes thousands of photos of your teeth (6,000 per second to be exact) and turns it into a 3D digital model! We can scan the entire mouth with our “magic wand” in just a few short minutes. That’s fast! The scanner takes only photos so no radiation is involved in the process and the scan is completely painless and atraumatic. After the scan is completed, we virtually send it to our dental lab with just the click of a button.

The intraoral scanner is a game changer for fearful children or those with strong gag reflexes. You can take breaks any time during the scan and then pick up where you left of without having to start all over again. Children get excited to see their own teeth on the screen and watch them “magically” appear in live action!

As with the other tools and technology in our office, the intraoral scanner helps to make your appointments as easy and convenient as possible!

HURRICANE BERYL - OFFICE CLOSURE

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ATTENTION ALL SMILES FOR KIDS FAMILIES:

Our office will be closed Monday, July 8th. Our team will be staying home and safe with their families during storm Beryl so we will not be returning calls or emails during this time. We encourage you to please stay home and be safe as well. We will reopen on Tuesday if conditions allow. If there are any changes for Tuesday, we will contact our patients. Please stay tuned to our social media pages, website and your email for further communications from our office.

If you have a true dental emergency, call 713-461-1509 and you will be directed to Dr. Theriot on call.

Sincerely, Dr. Lindhorst, Dr. Theriot and the entire SFK team!

Why Choose a Pediatric Dentist For Your Child?

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Opting for a pediatric dentist over a general dentist is no different from choosing a pediatrician over a family doctor for your kids. A general dentist is great for adults, but having specialized in a children’s growth and development, baby teeth formation and treatment, as well as behavior management makes pediatric dentists a better choice when it comes to your child’s oral care.

Extra training and education:

Many children are not cooperative during early teeth check-ups and cleanings. In this aspect, a pediatric dentist’s additional 2-3 years of hands-on training and education in child psychology and development is definitely an advantage. They are specially trained to make your tots feel safe during treatments and explain oral care and procedures in a manner understandable by kids. We also have highly trained staff that understands that approaching children is a delicate matter and can make little ones’ visits exciting and fun.

Latest technology to work quick and efficiently:

Aside from this, pediatric dentists use equipment that is specifically designed for children. Parents can expect the latest technology in ensuring gentle yet effective procedures. After all, kids are known for being impatient so pediatric dentists need to be fast and accurate and must use tools that can complement such a pace.

An office environment catered to children:

A pediatric dentist’s office is also something to look forward to as it is often decorated with children in mind. Having a child-friendly office makes children comfortable and cooperative. Children can play or read books while waiting for their appointment. In our office we offer toys for kids of all ages from toddler towers and picture books to video games and movies for our older patients.

Sedation options to relieve fear and anxiety:

For very young children or those who are extremely fidgety, sedation may be administered by a pediatric dentist if treatment of cavities is needed. Options depend on the child’s needs and range from giving oral medications to applying topical anesthetics, using nitrous oxide or going through general anesthesia. The first three techniques leave patients conscious but relaxed or numbed while the last technique renders the patient completely asleep to accomplish treatment.

Ability to help children with special health care needs:

Treatment of children with mental or physical disabilities is also part of pediatric dental training. In fact, even adults with disabilities and special conditions can benefit from the expertise of pediatric dentists. Examples are those with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and seizure disorders. A good pediatric dentist will be happy to accommodate all questions from both parents and children and discuss the advantages, as well as risks, of various procedures.

Anticipatory guidance for parents of babies, toddlers, adolescents and teens:

Pediatric dentists welcome patients from infancy to adolescence. Babies as young as twelve months should be brought to the dentist for tooth decay prevention. These appointments educate and guide parents to keep their children’s baby teeth healthy. Toddlers are counseled about pacifier or thumb sucking habits. As for teenagers, pediatric dentists understand their need to keep a pleasing appearance. They guide their older patients to the right treatments in correcting teeth, veneers, teeth bleaching and orthodontia.

This specialized approach to kids of all ages is what makes pediatric dentists the superior choice for children’s dental needs. Pediatric dentists will then pass on a well behaved, excited about oral health and hygiene and well educated patient to their general dental colleagues.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

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April 25th was Administrative Professionals Day and we had so much fun celebrating!

Whether you email, call or walk in the door of our office, you will be welcomed warmly by Anitra, Sara, Suanly and Stefanie. Anitra is our scheduling and financial coordinator as well as our office manager. She is an expert in answering insurance-related questions and helping you with financial aspects of your child's dental care. All of these ladies will help you fill out forms and set up your appointments. They are also able to address any of your overall questions. They truly make our office run smoothly.

We love our admin team! Give us a call at 713-461-1509 to schedule your next appointment!

Is my baby teething? What should I do?

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Did you know that when your baby is born, they already have 20 teeth, you just can’t see them yet?! YES! They are developing and hiding under the gums until they’re ready to start coming in around 6-12mos of age. All 20 baby teeth should be in place by about 3 years old. And then your little one can expect to start getting their second set of teeth at about 6 years old.

NORMAL symptoms of teething: fussiness, trouble sleeping, irritability, loss of appetite, drooling more than usual

NOT NORMAL symptoms of teething: fever, diarrhea, rash

*If your baby has any of these symptoms, then you should contact their pediatrician for another possible illness or cause.

How can you soothe your teething baby?

Massage the gums with a clean finger, provide your baby a clean teether toy to chew on, and you can also try letting them chew on something cool like a chilled rubber spoon or chilled moist clean rag. These can help provide comfort to sore or tender gums.

What should you avoid?

*Avoid objects that are hard or can break when chewed on. It’s important to make sure these teething toys are also free of hazardous materials like metal or lead. The CDC recommends avoiding homeopathic magnetic hematite “healing” bracelets or amber necklaces because 1) they can contain metal or lead which can harm your baby, 2) puts your baby at risk for strangulation or choking.

*Avoid teething gels and tablets. The FDA recommends against using numbing agents like benzocaine (i.e. Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel and Orabase) for children younger than 2 because it can pose serious sometimes fatal risks, and has little to no benefits for treating oral pain. “Benzocaine can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia, a disorder in which the amount of oxygen carried through the blood stream is greatly reduced”. The FDA found in homeopathic teething tables “inconsistent amounts of belladonna, a toxic substance… sometimes far exceeding the amount claimed on the label. Consumers should seek medical care immediately if their child experiences seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, excessive sleepiness, muscle weakness, skin flushing, constipation, difficulty urinating, or agitation after using homeopathic teething tablets or gels," the FDA states.

If you have any questions about how to relieve your child’s teething symptoms, call us at 713-461-1509!

Happy Dental Hygienists Week!

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We love our dental hygienists, Jamie and Stefanie! They do an amazing job taking care of all of our patients. This week we are celebrating them for keeping our mouths happy and healthy!

Make sure to schedule your next dental appointment and come visit us soon. It is recommended to see your dentist and dental hygienist every 6 months for a professional dental cleaning. We can provide tips on how to improve your oral hygiene routine at home, areas to focus on, tools to take home such as flossers that work around braces or new soft-bristled toothbrushes appropriate for your age and mouth size, etc.

Give us a call at 713-461-1509 to schedule your next appointment!