A fun Halloween recipe for kids, from Grin Pediatric Dentistry

In celebration of October's sweet and spooky holiday, Halloween, Dr. Keel and Dr. Ryan would like to share a Halloween recipe with all of our patients, courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontics. We hope that you and your family enjoy this Spooktacular Pumpkin Cake. Happy Halloween!

Spooktacular Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients:

1 pkg. yellow or white cake mix
½ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
¼ cup water (add 2 tbl. of water if eggs are small)

Directions:

Put cake mix in a large bowl. Make an indentation in the center and pour in the oil and one egg. Mix using mixer, then add the rest of the eggs one at a time, beating after each one.

Add pumpkin, sugar, spices, and then water.

Bake in greased and floured tube pan in 350 degree oven for 60-70 minutes (depending on oven calibration). Cool before removing from pan.

More happy patients at Grin Pediatric Dentistry!

Drs. Ryan and Keel and team love getting patient reviews. And lately, Grin Pediatric Dentistry, serving Plano, TX and surrounding communities, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share some with you today! Have a great weekend!

"Dr. Ryan is AWESOME! The office staff is FANTASTIC! The office facilities are the GREATEST! It does not get any better than this! My kids (age 7 & 5) love Dr. Ryan, and are always eager to get to their appt. and never want to leave once they arrive. The office runs on-time and you're in & out quick. It is quite apparent that Dr. Ryan cares about kids and enjoys his work. In the 3+ years we've been patients, I have yet to encounter a staff member who wasn't warm, friendly & patient with the kids."

"We have been patients here for a couple of years now and cannot recommend them more highly. Dr. Ryan is a wonderful dentist. His credentials are fantastic."

"This is by far the best dental operation in town. The doctors and staff are top notch and careful with the kids. They make it fun to go to the dentist. And, they communicate great by keeping on top."

Grin Pediatric Dentistry, protecting your child from cavities this Halloween

Now that Halloween is only two weeks away, Dr. Ryan and Dr. Keel know that there will soon be many tricks and treats! While this festive holiday is full of costumes and fun activities, it can also be a harmful time for the teeth of our Plano, TX young trick-or-treaters.

We would like to encourage all of our patients to be a part of our 4th Annual Candy Buy-Back Program by bringing candy into our office this Nov. 1 through Nov. 5. For every pound of candy that you bring, we will donate $1 to you and $1 to your school!



Even if you are only sampling a few pieces of sugary, sticky, and chewy candies when trick-or-treating this Halloween, it is important to follow these simple tips to prevent cavities:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily
• Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (when choosing a toothbrush it is recommended to use soft bristles)
• Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food that may be caught between the teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach
• Limit the amount of soda and sugary treats you eat/drink
• Be sure to visit your dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning and check-up

For more information on cavities and your oral health, don’t hesitate to ask our doctors and staff at Grin Pediatric Dentistry during your next appointment.

Staying connected with Grin Pediatric Dentistry

At Grin Pediatric Dentistry, we embrace technology, whether it’s through the innovative treatments we offer, our high-tech web site or our Facebook fan page. As you can probably tell, we love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or posting fun pictures and communicating event announcements on our fan page. For social media to work, we understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks are hugely popular these days, we know they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While Dr. Keel and Dr. Ryan and our staff take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Please post your thoughts or give us a call at 972-608-4746!

October is National Dental Hygiene Month

Dr. Ryan and Dr. Keel and our team know that with all of the excitement of fall and Halloween, it is often easy to forget about maintaining good oral hygiene. Did you know that October is National Dental Hygiene Month?

For many folks, Halloween can be a time to spoil your sweet tooth with all of those sweet, sour and sticky candies. The bad news is that these treats can actually cause damage to your teeth! Did you know that sour candies can be acidic to your teeth, and can actually wear down the enamel that protects them? This can cause tooth decay and cavities! After eating candy, it is best to wash your mouth out with water, drink milk or eat a few slices of cheese. These will help neutralize the acid in your mouth (wait at least one hour before brushing your teeth with toothpaste, as this can actually increase the effects of acid on your teeth)

Besides cavities and tooth decay, many people do not realize that good oral health and hygiene are important to your overall health too! Research is discovering a correlation between periodontal disease and other major health concerns, such as heart disease! Therefore, it is important to maintain a good oral hygiene routine: see Grin Pediatric Dentistry every six months, brush and floss daily and use an antibacterial mouthwash.

We encourage you to make a commitment to improve your oral health for October, the National Dental Hygiene Month!