*MEET THE DENTIST!* DR. HAMAN-SMITH!

 Dr. Haman-Smith and her husband with their precious girls, Evelyn Martine and Maddie Rae. 

MEET DR. HAMAN-SMITH FROM OUR NEW ALBANY OFFICE! 

Doctor’s Full Name:   
Dr. Danielle M. Haman-Smith    

Hometown:
Bowling Green, KY

Undergraduate College:  
University of Louisville

Dental School: 
University of Louisville Dental School

Dental Specialties: 
1 year fellowship with Underwood and Lee (special needs adults) and 2 year residency at Riley Hospital for Children (pediatric dentistry certificate and masters degree)

Family:
Husband Dr. James Smith, 3 ½ yr old Evelyn Martine and 15 mo old Madelyn Rae (Maddie)

Pets: 
Mia (King Charles Cavalier Spaniel) she is an absolute love bug and is great with the girls.

Favorite Toothpaste:
Colgate Total

Manual or Power Brush?
MANUAL- soft bristle every morning
POWER- Sonicare nightly
Glide floss

Favorite Food:
Sushi and anything chocolate

Favorite Vacation Spot:
Hilton Head Island, it is a great family oriented vacation spot without the commercialism, and we also love going to Barren River Lake during the summer weekends. We are all water lovers.

Favorite Hobbies:
Swimming in the summer, playing and learning with my girls, running and working out, reading books, U of L Cardinal games, hanging out with my team outside of work and of course last but definitely not least date nights with my hubby.

Funniest/Most Memorable and/or Most Interesting Moment Experienced in Dentistry: 
We have a wonderful lovable special needs patient that we see and he is always bringing us beautiful drawings and now that it is Christmas time he calls 20 min before his appt to remind us to turn on Christmas music.  While he is in the office he sings to us and makes everyone smile. He is quite a character and we just love him.

Fun Christmas Craft Ideas!

With the kids out of school for Christmas Break, we know that sends some parents into a scramble to find things to keep their children occupied and busy throughout the holidays. We have gathered some fun craft ideas from various sources that will help to entertain your children this week -- and add some more decorations to your home, too!

Ice Cream Cones Turned Christmas Trees!

This is a very fun and inexpensive activity that is a change-up from the usual gingerbread house. 

Snowman Cookies!

Sugar cookies, decorated with icing and a jumbo marshmallow for the Snowman's head.

Pom Pom Ornaments!

Elmer's glue, pom poms, cardboard from a cereal box!

Reindeer Cookies!

Cookie of your choice, pretzels for the antlers and M&Ms for the eyes and nose! 

Felt Finger Puppets!

All you need is felt, scissors and glue!

Cup Cozies!

You only need felt, scissors and glue for this one, too! 

Bottle Cap Magnets!

Magnets are inexpensive at any craft store or Wal*Mart. Simple glue them to the back of bottle caps, decorate the inside, and there you have festive magnets for your fridge! 

Photo credits: http://blog.amyatlas.com/2010/12/christmas-guest-dessert-feature-2/, http://www.tipjunkie.com/activities-for-kids-christmas/, http://urbancomfort.typepad.com/urban_nest/every-days-a-holiday/page/2/

Stocking Stuffer Ideas!

It would never hurt to add a new toothbrush, some kid-friendly flossers or toothpaste to your kids' stockings this year! We've picked out some fun dental goodies you might be interested in!

1. Tooth Tunes
• www.hasbrotoyshop.com
• Each brush plays two-minute sound bytes of kids' favorite songs, like Wake Up by Hilary Duff orWe're All in This Together from High School Musical -- the music even gets louder as your kid brushes harder. 
• $9.99
2. Plip Clips
• http://www.sillydillytotspot.com/sl-bho102.html 
•  Kids will love feeding their brushes back into the mouths of these animal-shaped Plip Clips. The heads suction onto bathroom mirrors and grip toothbrushes until kids are ready for them.
• $5.50 for set of 5
3.  Dentek Glow in the Dark Fun Flossers
• http://www.walmart.com/ip/Dentek-Fun-Wild-Fruit-Flossers-48-ct/10312780 
• Teaching your child to floss may be tricky, but these easy-to-grip handles (designed for little hands) may help your child get the hang of it. Best of all, the fluoride-coated floss has a yummy fruity flavor and the handles glow in the dark.
• $1.98 for 48 flossers.
4.  Dr. Fresh Firefly MouthSwoosh, Anti-Cavity Fluoride Rinse, Blazin' Bubble Gum
• www.drugstore.com   
• This pink, bubblegum-flavored fluoride rinse has a special cap that blinks for 30 seconds -- the recommended time for effective swishing.
• $4.49
5. Sonicare Kids
• Specifically designed to help kids build healthy brushing habits for life. With its kid-friendly features and clinically proven results, Sonicare For Kids helps parents teach their children to brush—supporting the transition from brushing together to independent brushing.
• Amazon.com $49.99 
6. Colgate Junior Toothpaste
• Your kids will love the sparkly surprise in this minty star-studded toothpaste, formulated with Colgate's cavity protection formula and fluoride.
• $2.99 at drugstores nationwide
7. Crest Kids Spin Brush
• Crest's colorful SpinBrushes come in a variety of characters and shapes -- from Spider-Man and Holly Hobbie to ice cream cones and fire trucks -- and according to a company-conducted survey, kids brushed 38 percent longer with Crest SpinBrushes than with manual toothbrushes.
• $4.99 at drugstores nationwide 
8. Crest Kids Sesame Street Toothbrush
• Its soft bristles are designed to gently clean small teeth and fight plaque and cavities, and the handle provides easy maneuverability for little hands, so your child will learn to love to brush.
9. Colgate Kids Strawberry Flavor Fluoride Toothpaste
• $3.32 at Wal*Mart 
10. Fisher Price Sing With Me Step Stool
• http://www.target.com/p/Fisher-Price-Sing-with-Me-Step-Stool/-/A-13269833 
• $19.49 

Post Credits: http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/health/teething/7-cool-dental-tools

*MEET THE DENTIST!* DR. UNDERWOOD - Middletown

Meet Dr. Kelly! Pictured above with her husband Jason, one of her Springer Spaniels and a friend! 

Doctor's Full Name: 
Kelly Wittig Underwood

Hometown:
Louisville, KY

Undergraduate College: 
University of Louisville

Dental School:
University of Louisville School of Dentistry

Dental Specialties:
AEGD completed at University Hospital in Cincinnati, OH

Family:
Husband Jason and baby girl due in May '12!

Pets:
2 Springer Spaniels Chuck & Tanner

Favorite Toothpaste:
Crest

Manual or Power Brush?
Manual - Crest Extra Soft -- Power- Sonicare -- and, Love Glide deep clean floss!

Favorite Food:
Sushi

Favorite Vacation Spot:
Charleston, SC - beach and a fun city!

Favorite Hobbies:
Playing tennis, going to movies with friends, shopping for the new baby

Funniest/Most Memorable and/or Most Interesting Moment Experienced in Dentistry:
My most memorable moment was when a child wrote a story about his great visit at our office complete with illustrations and a marshmallow he thought looked like a tooth!

*MEET THE DENTIST!* DR. HANSFORD

Dr. Kim with her husband John and 5 year old son Beckett. 

MEET DR. KIM FROM OUR MIDDLETOWN OFFICE!

Doctor’s Full Name: 

Kimberly Sue Hansford, D.M.D.

Hometown:

Somerset, KY

Undergraduate College: 

University of Kentucky

Dental School: 

University of Louisville then Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center for post graduate residency

Dental Specialties:  

Pediatric Dentistry

Family: 

John W. Kim, MD a pediatrician at Louisville Pediatric Specialists

Beckett our 5 year old son

Pets:  

Just Fish – named Mommy, Daddy, Beckett, Brown Bear and Maxine

Favorite Toothpaste:

Crest Whitening 3D ...always been a Colgate girl but am moving into Crest Territory these days.

Arm & Hammer Whitening is the best! Love Natural Dentist Kid's Toothpaste

Manual or Power Brush?

1)    MANUAL: Colgate 360

2)    POWER: Sonicaire and Sonicaire Kids for my little guy

Favorite Food:

I love pizza but my son is allergic to cheese so I have to get it on the sly.  However I make a mean vegan pizza now.  I love my veggies!

Favorite Vacation Spot:

Paris of course!  My husband and I have traveled all over the world from Ecuador to Australia but have slowed down since our son was born.  He is a natural little traveler too though and has seen a good bit of the US from Maine to California.  

Favorite Hobbies:

I love spending time with my family, reading, cooking Korean food, hiking in the great outdoors and I’m kind of a farm geek although I do not have one.

Funniest/Most Memorable and/or Most Interesting Moment Experienced in Dentistry:

I taught at the University of Louisvlle School of Dentistry for 7 years.  I loved the relationships I built there and enjoyed sharing those things that I am passionate about including special needs patients with handicaps.  One of my former students came to me recently and shared that he and his wife (also my student) have a 2 year old little boy with Down Syndrome.  He said he and his wife shared remembering my lecture on Down Syndrome in dental school and how I told them they were my favorite patients and how happy and joyful and pure spirited they are.  He said that he and his wife appreciated me planting that thought in their mind all those years ago because having their son with special needs has been the most joyous blessing of their lives.  Wow!  Touched me to the core. 

'Tis the Season of...the cold & flu!

As the season changes from Fall to Winter, the prevalence of the common cold, strep throat and the flu seems to increase dramatically, and especially for our little ones. 

We hate seeing such a sad face! Read these tips below & keep those little faces smiling!

TIPS TO AVOID GETTING SICK THIS SEASON

• Stop the Nail Biting & Keep Hands Out of Mouths
• Have a nail biter? Nail biting in one word is: unsanitary. Your fingers are pretty much involved in almost everything you do. Even with frequent hand-washing, your fingers are still dirty. Your fingernails are almost twice as dirty as your fingers. Since fingernails are not the easiest places in the world to clean, there's all manner of germs and bacteria underneath there-- germs you really don't want in your mouth. And when you bite your nails, you are inviting these germs into your mouth. Plus, bitten nails can be jagged, and may cut the gums, allowing these undesirable germs to easily access your bloodstream.The two "germiest" places on your body are generally your hands/fingernails and your mouth. So it's pretty easy to see why putting these two together in the form of nail biting is not desirable.
• Enforce Hand Washing!
• Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses, from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as meningitis, bronchiolitis, influenza, hepatitis A, and most types of infectious diarrhea.
• Establish Hand Washing Rules
• Before and after eating 
• After using the bathroom
• After touching pets and animals 
• Before and after visiting or taking care of any sick friends or relatives
• After blowing one's nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After being outside (playing, gardening, walking the dog, etc.)
• Eat Lots of Fruits and Veggies and Good Fats
• Eating well keeps your body in balance and increases your immune functions helping you fight the sicknesses before they effect you!

• Stay Active
• Staying active helps circulate the blood, pumping germ-fighting cells through the body and washing away toxins. 
• Get Good Sleep
• To remain healthy, you must be getting enough sleep. Plain & simple. Shoot for 8 hours a night - but children tend to need 10+ hours per night!
• Get a New Toothbrush! 
• If you or your children do come down with the common cold, strep throat, or the flu, be sure to throw away all toothbrushes in the house and get new fresh ones! Brushes should be changed at the onset of an illness and again after recovery.

Post Credits: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-p-connelly-dds/mouth-health-the-dish-on_b_574866.html - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/hand_washing.html - http://www.dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/ddhright.aspx?id=6494

Musical Instruments and Germs

Woodwind and brass players beware—the same horn that creates melodic tones might also be harboring a darker note—bacteria and fungi that risk a musician’s health.

In a recent study, researchers worked with a small-town high school band to examine the microbial flora in woodwind and brass instruments and their potential to transmit diseases.

They cultured 13 previously played instruments, including two clarinets, two oboes, two saxophones, two mellophones, two trombones, two trumpets and one cornet. Six instruments had been played within a week of testing and the other seven had not been played for more than one month.

Scientists looked for germs in a total of 117 distinct testing sites, including mouthpieces and reeds, internal chambers and cases of the instruments and found more than 400 bacteria, 19 yeasts and 58 molds that could risk a musician’s health.

“Parents may not realize that the mold in their child’s instrument could contribute to the development of asthma,” said Dr. R. Thomas Glass, lead author of the study in the March/April issue of General Dentistry. He recommends musicians use cleaning cloths and solutions made for musical instruments and not to share their instruments with others.

Researchers said harmful contaminants were found in instruments whether they were played recently or not. Though the reeds or mouthpieces were consistently more contaminated, the midpoints and bells had enough microorganisms to expose the musicians to toxins and produce disease. Even instrument cases were contaminated.

Researchers say the results indicate that woodwind instruments were more heavily contaminated than brass instruments; reeds were significantly more contaminated that mouthpieces and clarinets were more contaminated than any other instruments.

Post Credit: ©2010 American Dental Association. All rights reserved.

*Meet the Dentist!* - Dr. Lipoff

Dr. Jay with his mom and on the mound playing for the
Federal League Baseball - Sun Devils in Miami, FL.

Meet Dr. Lipoff from our Jeffersonville office!

Doctor's Full Name: 

Jason Adam Lipoff

Hometown: 

Northbrook, Illinois

Undergraduate College: 

Univeristy of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Dental School: 

Nova Southeastern University

Dental Specialties: 

Pediatric Dentistry

Family:

Sister - Michelle, 41 yrs old, HS History Teacher, Married, two kids (Josh 4, Becca 7)

Dad - Dennis, 69 yrs old, Psychologist

Mom - Doris, 68 yrs old, Retired Spanish and French Teacher (And, Dr. Lipoff forgot to mention that he speaks Spanish, too!) 

Pets:

Dog, Brussels Griffon named Abigail, 4 yrs old, love of my life. 

Favorite Toothpaste:

Colgate

Manual or Power Brush?

Power

Favorite Food:

Breakfast!!

Favorite Vacation Spot:

Miami, of course!! My other home!

Favorite Hobbies:

Baseball, Running, Teach Group Fitness (Boot Camp, Spinning) 

Funnest/Most Memorable and/or Most Interesting Moment Experienced in Dentistry:

After completing an exam on my new 4 yr old patient named Chloe, she looks up at me and says, "You're a good looking doctor!" A 4 yr old made me blush. Too cute. 

Anything else you think would be fun for our patients and fans to know about you:

1. Have been playing baseball since the age of 5 and still play competitively in Miami.
2. Doesn't like to be called doctor because that sounds too adult; I'm a kid at heart.
3. Afraid of cowboys.
4. A real life giraffe has been on my birthday list since I've been 5 years old. I might just have to move to Africa to make that dream come true.  

*Meet the Dentist!* Dr. Abrams

Meet Dr. Melanie Abrams! 

Doctor's Name: 

Melanie Renee Abrams

Hometown:

Louisville, KY

Undergraduate College: 

Georgetown College and Bellarmine University

Dental School: 

University of Louisville

Dental Specialties:

GPR

Family: 

Husband, Greg; 4 year old daughter, Alyssa; 1 year old son, Derek. 

Pets: 

A bulldog named Lola.

Favorite Toothpaste: 

Crest & Colgate! And, I love ACT fluoride rinse! 

Favorite Food: 

Hot fudge cake!

Favorite Vacation Spot: 

Any place warm!

Favorite Hobbies: 

Family time, reading, volleyball

Funniest/Most Memorable and/or Most Interesting Moment Experienced in Dentistry:

I love when my patients (kids) bring me a picture they have drawn or a letter. Those are treasures to me and make my job so rewarding and fun! 

*Meet the Dentist!* - Dr. Lubbe

Meet Dr. Lubbe at Kid's Dentistree Outer Loop!

Full Name: David P. Lubbe, D.M.D.

Hometown :  Madison, Indiana

Undergraduate College : Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH

Dental School: University of Kentucky School of Dentistry

Dental Specialties : Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children -  Philadelphia, PA

Family : Wife, Karen; Daughters, Kassie and Elizabeth; Sons, Tim, Doug, Steve, Andrew; Stepson, John Nicholas Griffith. 

Pets: Dog, an Airdale named Slugger.

Manual or Power Brush: Power

Favorite Food: Graeter's Ice Cream - Rasberry chocolate chip

Favorite Vacation Spot:  I love the mountains of Western United States.

Favorite Hobbies :  Motorcycling, snow and water skiing, racket ball, shooting.

Funniest/Most Memorable and/or Most Interesting Moment Experienced in Dentistry: 
When I received a free case of denture chewing gum and a fellow dentist and I had a contest to see who could get the most gum in their mouth

Anything else you'd like for your patients to know about you!
I love all my patients and staff at Kids Dentistry.  I also enjoy playing practical jokes on Dr. Mel.  

Sugars and Starches and Your Child's Teeth

A diet high in certain kinds of carbohydrates, such as sugar and starches, may place your child at extra risk for tooth decay.

Q: How do I make my children’s diet safe for their teeth?
A: First, be sure they have a balanced diet. Then, check how frequently they eat foods with sugar or starch in them. Foods with starch include breads, crackers, pasta and snacks, such as pretzels and potato chips. When checking for sugar, look beyond the sugar bowl and candy dish. A variety of foods contain one or more types of sugar, and all types of sugars can promote dental decay. Fruits, a few vegetables, and most milk products have at least one type of sugar.
 
Sugar can be found in many processed foods, even some that do not taste sweet. For example, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich not only has sugar in the jelly, but may have sugar added to the peanut butter. Sugar is also added to such condiments as ketchup and salad dressings.

Q: Should my child give up all foods with sugar or starch? 
A: Certainly not! Many provide nutrients your child needs. You simply need to select and serve them wisely.

• A food with sugar or starch is safer for teeth if it is eaten with a meal, not as a snack.
• Sticky foods, such as dried fruit or toffee, are not easily washed away from the teeth by saliva, water or milk. Therefore, they have more cavity-causing potential than foods more rapidly cleared from the teeth.

Post credits: http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/snacking.asp

Halloween Trail Mix

2 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup coconut

1 cup whole almonds

1/4 cup flax seeds

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup canola or olive oil

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup cheerios

1 2/3 cup dried apricots, chopped

2/3 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine the oats, coconut, honey, oil, sugar, and salt. Stir until well coated. Add the flax and sunflower seeds. Mix well. Spread mixture out on a large baking sheet. Bake for 35 minutes, stirring every 5-10 minutes.

Remove the oat mixture from the oven and allow to completely cool. In a large bowl, stir in cheerios, apricots, and chocolate chips. Store in an airtight container.

ENJOY! 

Post Credits: http://www.goodlifeeats.com/2009/09/homemade-trail-mix.html

Fun Halloween Treats For Kids That Substitute Candy!

Halloween doesn't have to be all about candy! Here are some fun non-candy treat ideas that kids can have fun with! If you have any other fun ideas, please share with us and comment on our post!

Play-Doh - Mini Glow In The Dark Rubber Duckies - Halloween Pencil Top Erasers - Glow Stick - Bracelets - Halloween Balloons - Spooky Silly Bands - Vampire Fangs

Share your non-candy treat ideas with us!

YES! It exists!

If you're looking for a substitute for your kids for the regular sugar-loaded candy bar, look no further! SUGAR-FREE CHOCOLATE does exist! Your body and teeth will thank you! 

There are other sugar-free candies, too, that are not chocolate (i.e. Jolly Ranchers). Most candy aisles have their sugar-free candy selection in one spot, and they are usually in smaller, hanging bags. 

Check out the candy aisle during your next trip to the grocery and try some of the sugar-free kind! We think it does a near perfect job satisfying that sweet tooth! ;) 

Also, at our offices we have a Halloween Candy Count contest going on. If your little one can guess the number of sugar-free candy pieces in the jar, they'll win the jar & a Free Open Play pass to Kazoing! 

Take Part in our first *Sweet Swap!*

TV Junk Food Ads Make Kids Crave Sweet Treats!

There has been considerable debate over whether exposure to food advertising affects incidence rates of childhood obesity. While the positive correlation between the hours of television viewed, body mass index, and obesity incidence has been documented, the exact mechanisms through which this occurs are still being investigated. Recently, there has been an increase in calls to ban junk food advertisements aimed at children as these ads have been found (findings published in Pediatrics) to increase children's appetites for sweet and high-fat foods. While these types of foods are not only unhealthy for our children's growing bodies, they are unhealthy for their growing teeth! 

• It has been estimated that the average child currently views more than 40,000 commercials on television each year
• More than 50 percent of television advertisements directed at children promote foods and beverages such as candy, convenience foods, snack foods, sugar sweetened beverages and sweetened breakfast cereals that are high in calories, fat, and sugar and low in fiber and nutrient density. (http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/child_obesity/)

Below is part of the Article "Television ads for junk food really do make children hungry for those treats, especially if they watch a lot of television, according to a study"  from  Reuters.com 

Reporting by Amy Norton at Reuters Health; editing by Elaine Lies

In tests with 6- to 13-year olds, researchers led by Emma Boyland of the University of Liverpool in the UK found that a DVD featuring commercials for fast food and junk food seemed to [enhance] children's appetites for sweet and high-fat [food.]

The children involved in the research reported a greater desire for sweet and fatty foods after viewing the junk-food ads compared to days when they watched commercials for toys.

This was especially true for children who usually watched a lot of TV in their everyday lives, with "a lot" defined by the researchers as over 21 hours a week. But researchers said the effects of the food ads were modest, making only a small difference in the average number of food items the children said they wanted "right now."

On average, kids wanted more high-carb, high-fat foods after watching food commercials. In real life, as well, a lot of other factors would be at work, including parents' willingness to buy those foods, which makes it impossible to fully and experimentally study the effect of ads and childhood obesity.

"This study confirms the cumulative, sustained effect of food marketing on TV: the more children watch TV, the more susceptible they are to advertising," said Lori Dorfman, who directs the Berkeley Media Studies Group in California and has studied food marketing to children.

"This might not be so bad if food marketers put their best foods forward, but they don't," Dorfman, who did not take part in the study, told Reuters Health by email.

Dorfman noted that children now watch TV on their computers and mobile gadgets as well as at home on TV, which can add up to a lot of hours. Dorfman said that parents should limit TV time, but added that they need help. "It's simply not fair to expect parents alone to counter the $2 billion food companies spend each year targeting their kids with fun, irresistible ads for sugary, high-fat, salty foods," she added.

What Other Countries are Doing to Regulate "Junk Food" Advertising Towards Children

• United Kingdom: Children's Food Bill 
• In November 2006, the Office of Communication announced that it would ban television advertisements for junk food before, during and after television programming aimed at ages 16 and under in the United Kingdom.
• Sweden: All advertisements aimed at children 12 and under is banned, including fast food ads.
• Malaysia: Fast food advertising during children's television was banned in 2007 

Do you think the U.S. should take stronger initiatives to regulate "junk food" ads targeted at children? 

Post credits: 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/28/us-junkfood-tv-idUSTRE75R04H20110628 

http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/child_obesity/

McDonald's Adds Apple Slices in Every Happy Meal

What is McDonalds doing to help our little ones and you become healthier? 

 By the beginning of 2012, McDonald's will be adding apples to all its Happy Meals and they have launched a nutrition-focused mobile phone app as part of a broader health push.  Hooray! McDonald's is introducing these healthy innovations as a reaction to consumers' and regulators' continual blame for health issues regarding childhood obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.

McDonald's new program:

• McDonald's pledged to reduce sugars (happier teeth!), saturated fats and calories through "varied portion sizes, reformulations and innovations" by 2020. By 2015, it will reduce sodium by 15 percent.

• In July, McDonald's introduced a  new mobile app where you can "build your meal" & see all individual nutrition facts and totals for your desired meal. Among the nutritional info the new app provides, you can also find the McDonald's closest to you and see career opportunities.
• McDonald's USA president Jan Fields and other executives went on a "listening tour" in August to hear suggestions from parents and nutrition experts. The chain will also launch a new online forum for parents.

McDonald's has been working on it's healthy reputation and hip perception by offering free wi-fi access and adding smoothies and oatmeal to their menus. However, a small McDonald's strawberry banana smoothie still has 44g of sugar! Yikes. 

For Happy Meals, U.S. customers can already choose between apples or fries. But only about 11 percent of customers were ordering apples, the restaurant said. So by the beginning of next year, McDonald's will instead include a half-order of apples and a half-order of fries. Customers can get all fries or all apples if they ask. 

Why Kid's Dentistree Loves Apples!

• The mildly acidic nature and astringent quality of apples, combined with their rough, fiber-rich flesh, makes them the ideal food for cleansing and brightening teeth!
• Crunchy foods, including apples, celery and carrots (not potato chips!), act like little toothbrushes when you chew them! 

 Post Credits: Associate Press 2011 http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC251/24479/8895/1406985.html?d=dmtICNNews 
Prevention.com