Cool off with this great summer treat!

Summer is here! Kids and adults alike will now be spending more time outside being active and enjoying the hotter temperatures. What’s better on a hot summer day than a delicious treat that will cool you down after doing something active in the summer sun? Luckily, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have just the thing, Watermelon Sorbet! You can find the complete recipe below:

Watermelon Sorbet

Ingredients

• ¾ cup water
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 2 to 3 cups watermelon, diced, no seeds or rind

Directions

In a small saucepan, heat the water, sugar, and lime juice on medium high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Chill this “syrup” at least 20 minutes. In the meantime, place the watermelon chunks in a food processor or blender and liquefy them. Add the chilled syrup to the watermelon puree and blend. Freeze sorbet in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions. Serve immediately.

Happy Summer!

-Grin Pediatric Dentistry

Your baby's teeth and gums need special care

One question our staff at Grin Pediatric Dentistry hear all the time is, “When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?"

You should begin regular cleanings even before your baby has teeth. After each breast feeding – or bottle-feeding – use a clean, damp washcloth to gently rub your baby’s gum tissue. You can wrap the material around one finger to make it easier to remove any food bits from your baby’s mouth.

When your baby’s first tooth comes in, switch to a baby toothbrush. Look for special baby toothbrushes in your drugstore – they have just a few bristles and are very soft. There are even brushes shaped like finger puppets that fit over the tip of your pointer finger! All you need at this point is water – no toothpaste yet.

After a few more teeth appear, you can start using toothpaste, but you only need a tiny bit, and make sure it doesn’t contain fluoride for the first three years. From the beginning, have your little one practice spitting the toothpaste out after brushing. That way, he or she will already have the good habit of spitting when you switch to fluoride toothpaste, which should never be swallowed.

If you have any questions about caring for your baby’s teeth, please contact Grin Pediatric Dentistry.

A few pool safety tips, from Grin

Summer is here, and with summer comes lots of swimming! Our team at Grin found some helpful pool safety tips that we’d like to share with you, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Pediatricians.

* Install a fence at least four-feet high around all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through.

* Make sure pool gates open out from the pool, and self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach.

* Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.

* Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd's hook - a long pole with a hook on the end - and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool. Choose a shepherd's hook and other rescue equipment made of fiberglass or other materials that do not conduct electricity.

* Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as "floaties." They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security.

* Children may not be developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday. Swim programs for children under 4 should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning.

* Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm's length, providing "touch supervision."

Have more questions about your children and their safety this summer? Give us a call!

Why do you choose Grin Pediatric Dentistry?

Grin Pediatric Dentistry, serving Plano and surrounding areas, strives to provide exceptional treatment in an informative and friendly environment. Have you had a great experience at our office?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. Feel free to leave any questions or comments on our Facebook page.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Check out this Independence Day treat that the kids will love!

Looking for a fun treat that will impress the kids this 4th of July? Here’s a fun and simple recipe that our team at Grin found that’s sure to WOW the kids.

You will need:
• Red and/or blue fruit flavored beverage (Powerade, Gatorade, Kool-Aid…)

• Seltzer (flavored or plain) or clear soda

• Ice cube trays

Directions:
Fill the ice cube trays with the red and blue beverages and let them freeze solid. After they are frozen, place three or four cubes into a glass and fill the glass with seltzer or clear soda. As the ice melts, colored bubbles will appear in the drink.
Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

-The team at Grin