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Aimee is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and mommy to 3 boys. She is the owner of Oceans Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry with her husband and practices in Westfield, New Jersey. Listen to our first episode with Aimee: Teething, Pacifiers, & Early Oral Health Habits with Pediatric Dentist Dr. Aimee Leibowitz

Helpful Notes from this Episode:

• How many times should a toddler brush their teeth a day? Twice is ideal, however if were being more real mama realistic it might be once — but make sure you make that ONE time NIGHTTIME bc after a full day of eating breakfast lunch dinner snacks etc you def don’t want them going to bed with dirty teeth, saliva isn’t slowing as much when we sleep, and that food/plaque will just sit overnight on the enamel causing decay. Morning brush would be great but I know in my house mornings are a hot mess most of the time so something as simple as putting the age appropriate amount of toothpaste on the brush and giving it to your kiddo and letting them do their thing is A-OK and way better than skipping it all together
• Toothpaste with fluoride or without fluoride? The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends an age appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth erupts. It's been proven with extremely good high quality studies that fluoride prevents cavities. If you are looking for a fluoride alternative brands like Risewell or Boka are HYDROXYAPETITE toothpastes that act in a similar and more natural way to fluoride to strengthen teeth. 
• What kinds of foods support teeth health? Low carb foods i.e. your crunchy leafy veggies, cheese, nuts, meats, water, now let's be real mama realistic again for hot sec - is this a typical diet for most toddlers — no however encouraging them and exposing them to these foods from the get go will help establish healthy habits, rather than the chicken finger and mac cheese diet. Other great choices fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, popcorn. For sweets: dark chocolate and ice cream are a way better option than fruit snacks, candy or cookies.
• What is the least worst Halloween candy? Chocolates are a keep as they wash away off our teeth faster, gummies and sours etc. are a trash as they stick and cling to the teeth long after you’ve finished eating them.
• How do we talk to our toddlers about candy? I love to use the term “sugar bugs” to talk about cavities. For Halloween: I tell parents let your kids go crazy that night, eat what they want and after that GET RID OF IT. FREQUENCY is way worse than QUANTITY. Meaning if you having pieces of candy every single day over months its more like to cause cavities than if you had a whole lot all at once right on Halloween. 

Connect with Aimee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oceanswestfield/ 

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