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Millions of people, around Creve Coeur, MO and beyond, wear green on St. Patrick’s Day so they can show their spirit for the holiday and avoid getting pinched. While it may be easy for you to throw on a green shirt, sport a St. Patrick’s Day button, or wear a pair of emerald-hued shoes, if you’re an avid St. Patty’s Day enthusiast you may want to try something different this year. Dr. Varble thought of a few ideas that will help you take your holiday spirit to the next level:

Visit Chicago’s Green River

If you happen to be near the Windy City during St. Patrick’s Day or you’re thinking of planning a trip, don’t miss out on going downtown to watch the large-scale celebration that kicks off when the city dyes the river bright green. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago has been celebrating the holiday with this tradition for more than 50 years, with tens of thousands of people gathering annually to witness the mysterious dying process and the stunning result.

Don Green Face Paint

Just like an avid sports fan on game day, you can use green face paints to showcase your enthusiasm for this holiday. Avoid breakouts or allergic reactions by only using paints that are specifically meant to be applied to the skin. A little bit of face paint can cover a large area, so feel free to get creative and decorate the whole family on St. Patrick’s Day.

Eat Green All Day

Not a fan of green eggs and ham? With the increasing popularity of green smoothies, there’s no better time to get in on this health craze. To create a green smoothie without the aid of food coloring, you can simply blend a generous amount of a leafy green vegetable, such as spinach or kale, with the ingredients that you would typically use to make a smoothie, like fruit, ice, milk, or juice. Keep the trend going throughout the day by using those same vegetables to create a green soup, egg salad, or a batch of bright green pastries. As an added bonus, you’ll get a healthy dose of vitamins without changing the taste of most of these foods.

If your old holiday routine has gotten stale, leave your green T-shirt in the drawer and try one or all of these tips. Don’t be surprised if you have so much fun that you decide to start a new, annual St. Patrick’s Day tradition! Have a happy St. Paddy’s day from SmileKidz!

Healthy eating, combined with regular physical activity, plays a vital role in your child’s health and well-being. Dairy foods are naturally nutritious, packed with ten essential nutrients that help your child feel good for life. But did you know that dairy is also great for your child’s dental health? Our team at SmileKidz will tell you that, in addition to providing large amounts of much-needed calcium, dairy products also help fight cavities! Dairy products have a specific role to play in dental health as they contain a unique combination of special anti-decay nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and the protein, casein. Cheese is especially useful, as eating a small piece of cheese after consuming sugary foods or drinks can help protect teeth and reduce the risk of tooth decay.

If you’d like to know more about the importance of dairy products in your child’s diet, or about any aspect of your child’s dental health, feel free to ask Dr. Varble, Dr. Applebaum, Dr. Dill and Dr. Wong at your next appointment!

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. Please check back often for updates on fun and exciting events happening at our office, important and interesting information about us, the dental industry, and the latest news about our practice.

Why do we even have to use X-rays?

X-rays allow dentists to see what is going on both inside the teeth and behind the gums, helping us to assess potential problem areas. It enables us to see cavities and potential tooth decay before it becomes a bigger problem, and it also gives us a sneak peek into how their teeth are developing beneath the gum line.

Then how do you know it is safe?

There have always been conflicting reports of the overall safety of “radiographic exams,” as the debate over what determines a “safe” level of radiation continues on. While it is true that exposure to radiation can be harmful, the type of exposure your child will receive from a dental x-ray is extremely minimal.

Many advancements in technology have increased the safety of X-rays, such as the implementation of high speed film, which further minimizes the amount of radiation used in the exam.

The level of radiation used in your child’s X-ray is very low, and modern equipment is built to focus just on the particular areas of the mouth being inspected; effectively removing the risk of unnecessary exposure.

We also take more traditional safety measures, such as the use of lead vests or aprons to cover your child’s body while the X-ray is being taken.

Additionally, there are many laws and regulations each practice must adhere to and are routinely inspected on to ensure the X-ray equipment is up to code. That, together with all of the procedures previously mentioned, are how we can ensure your child’s health and safety during an examination.

Have questions? Don’t hesitate to give us a call!

As we’ve previously mentioned, our dentists performed two additional years of schooling to focus on the dental health and overall well being of adolescents. We are happy to answer any and all questions you might have!