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Brush Up on Your Family’s Oral Health!
A good smile can brighten anyone’s day, which is why it’s important to make sure your children feel good about flashing their toothy grins. The American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors February as National Children’s Dental Health Month to help raise awareness about the importance of oral health, and here at AltaMed, we couldn’t agree more with their mission.
It’s key to help your child develop a positive attitude towards dental care so that they maintain good habits through adulthood. With this year’s theme of “Choose Tap Water for a Sparkling Smile,” the ADA is drawing attention to the fact that the water that comes out of your home’s faucet has fluoride that strengthens teeth and helps prevent cavities. Best of all, it’s free!
Beyond brushing with tap water, making sure you and your family drink plenty of water is also an important part of maintaining oral health. By avoiding sugary drinks like soda and sweetened juices, you can help prevent tooth decay, the most common chronic yet preventable disease in children.
Also follow the 2x2 plan, which means brushing twice a day, after breakfast and before bed, for at least two minutes using toothpaste with fluoride. And don’t forget to floss! Flossing removes food from between the teeth that toothbrushes just can’t reach.
To help celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month and encourage our young patients to take care of their choppers, on February 10 our dental locations will be giving away fun goodie bags with treats like toothpaste, toothbrushes, finger toothbrushes, dental floss, toothbrush covers, stickers and educational materials.
Throughout February you’ll also be able to find our Oral Health Unit at the following locations:
- February X: AltaMed General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
- February X: AltaMed Medical Group – Orange
- February X: AltaMed Medical and Dental Group – Santa Ana, Main
- February X: AltaMed Medical Group – Commerce
- February X: AltaMed Medical Group – Pico Rivera, Slauson
- February X: AltaMed Medical Group – Garden Grove
- February X: AltaMed Medical Group – Westlake
Call 877-462-2582 today to make an appointment for your child—oral health affects our overall health, so it’s never too early to get started on proper dental care!
A good smile can brighten anyone’s day, which is why it’s important to make sure your children feel good about flashing their toothy grins. The American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors February as National Children’s Dental Health Month to help raise awareness about the importance of oral health, and here at AltaMed, we couldn’t agree more with their mission.
It’s key to help your child develop a positive attitude towards dental care so that they maintain good habits through adulthood. With this year’s theme of “Choose Tap Water for a Sparkling Smile,” the ADA is drawing attention to the fact that the water that comes out of your home’s faucet has fluoride that strengthens teeth and helps prevent cavities. Best of all, it’s free!
Beyond brushing with tap water, making sure you and your family drink plenty of water is also an important part of maintaining oral health. By avoiding sugary drinks like soda and sweetened juices, you can help prevent tooth decay, the most common chronic yet preventable disease in children.
Also follow the 2x2 plan, which means brushing twice a day, after breakfast and before bed, for at least two minutes using toothpaste with fluoride. And don’t forget to floss! Flossing removes food from between the teeth that toothbrushes just can’t reach.
To help celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month and encourage our young patients to take care of their choppers, on February 10 our dental locations will be giving away fun goodie bags with treats like toothpaste, toothbrushes, finger toothbrushes, dental floss, toothbrush covers, stickers and educational materials.
Throughout February you’ll also be able to find our Oral Health Unit at the following locations:
- February X: AltaMed General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
- February X: AltaMed Medical Group – Orange
- February X: AltaMed Medical and Dental Group – Santa Ana, Main
- February X: AltaMed Medical Group – Commerce
- February X: AltaMed Medical Group – Pico Rivera, Slauson
- February X: AltaMed Medical Group – Garden Grove
- February X: AltaMed Medical Group – Westlake
Call 877-462-2582 today to make an appointment for your child—oral health affects our overall health, so it’s never too early to get started on proper dental care!
Get started with AltaMed
See how AltaMed Health Services can help your family grow healthy.
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Happy Holidays: Eat, Drink, and Stay Healthy
This is the great time of the year when friends and families get together to celebrate the holidays. The downside is that all these fun gatherings can turn into extra calories and less time to exercise – but that doesn’t mean skipping the festivities.
Here are some tips on how to enjoy the season without letting a good health suffer.
Going Easy On . . .
- Sugar: Apple cider and eggnog? These beverages often contain a ton of sugar –
especially when alcohol is added. It’s okay to enjoy these in moderation, making sure to have a glass of water in between every drink.
- Dairy: It’s not a party if there’s no dessert. But the key to maintaining healthy is keeping the servings small and not going back for seconds. Skipping the whipped cream or ice cream, which often accompany the slice of pie, also helps.
- Red Meat: Opting for lean cuts or skipping it entirely, and sticking with fish or skinless chicken, are great options. So is eating twice as many vegetables as meat. Also, baking, grilling, or steaming food are healthier options than frying.
- Saturated Fat: Moderation is key. A quick example – for any dish – is cutting down on the butter. In general, using olive oil instead of butter adds some healthy unsaturated fats to the food. For flavor, fresh herbs and spices are good alternatives. For baking, Greek yogurt, banana, or equal parts unsweetened applesauce can substitute butter.
Being realistic is also important. Here’s a morsel of advice to keep in mind:
- Trying to maintain the current weight is better than worrying about shedding a few pounds over the holidays.
- A full calendar shouldn’t get in the way of exercise. Walking for 10-15 minutes, twice a day, helps maintaining good health through the season.
- Arriving at a party too hungry is a bad idea. So when going to a celebration, it’s important to make healthier choices the rest of the day.
- The key is eating to get satisfied – not stuffed. After eating, and giving it some time to settle, going back for seconds is okay.
- Bringing an appetizer, a main dish, or dessert to the celebration can help keeping control of the situation. Healthier recipes for traditional favorites is just an Internet search away.
This is the great time of the year when friends and families get together to celebrate the holidays. The downside is that all these fun gatherings can turn into extra calories and less time to exercise – but that doesn’t mean skipping the festivities.
Here are some tips on how to enjoy the season without letting a good health suffer.
Going Easy On . . .
- Sugar: Apple cider and eggnog? These beverages often contain a ton of sugar –
especially when alcohol is added. It’s okay to enjoy these in moderation, making sure to have a glass of water in between every drink. - Dairy: It’s not a party if there’s no dessert. But the key to maintaining healthy is keeping the servings small and not going back for seconds. Skipping the whipped cream or ice cream, which often accompany the slice of pie, also helps.
- Red Meat: Opting for lean cuts or skipping it entirely, and sticking with fish or skinless chicken, are great options. So is eating twice as many vegetables as meat. Also, baking, grilling, or steaming food are healthier options than frying.
- Saturated Fat: Moderation is key. A quick example – for any dish – is cutting down on the butter. In general, using olive oil instead of butter adds some healthy unsaturated fats to the food. For flavor, fresh herbs and spices are good alternatives. For baking, Greek yogurt, banana, or equal parts unsweetened applesauce can substitute butter.
Being realistic is also important. Here’s a morsel of advice to keep in mind:
- Trying to maintain the current weight is better than worrying about shedding a few pounds over the holidays.
- A full calendar shouldn’t get in the way of exercise. Walking for 10-15 minutes, twice a day, helps maintaining good health through the season.
- Arriving at a party too hungry is a bad idea. So when going to a celebration, it’s important to make healthier choices the rest of the day.
- The key is eating to get satisfied – not stuffed. After eating, and giving it some time to settle, going back for seconds is okay.
- Bringing an appetizer, a main dish, or dessert to the celebration can help keeping control of the situation. Healthier recipes for traditional favorites is just an Internet search away.
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Let Us Be Your One Shot Stop
Imagine being able to tell your children they’ve got a superpower. It may not be as exciting as reading minds or flying, but if they get all their vaccinations according to schedule they’ll be immune to over 14 different diseases. Here at AltaMed we think that’s pretty heroic.
Vaccines are the most successful and practical way to prevent diseases like the measles and whooping cough, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, the United States currently has the safest and most effective vaccine supply in its history.
Getting your child vaccinated is important for their health and the health of your entire community in order to prevent possible outbreaks. Most vaccines need to be given before your child reaches 2 years of age, and your AltaMed provider is here to help you create an immunization plan. Children and adolescents also need vaccines between age 9 and 13. Your child’s wellness exams are a great time to check in and make sure you’re on track.
Did You Know Vaccines…
…can save your child’s life?
…are safe and effective?
…protect others from spreading harmful diseases?
…save time and money by preventing missed school/work and possible medical/hospital bills if your child gets sick?
…are typically covered by health insurance plans or are available at no cost to low-income families?
…protect future generations by hopefully one day eliminating these diseases from our world?
For more information or to schedule an appointment with your provider call (888) 499-9303.
Imagine being able to tell your children they’ve got a superpower. It may not be as exciting as reading minds or flying, but if they get all their vaccinations according to schedule they’ll be immune to over 14 different diseases. Here at AltaMed we think that’s pretty heroic.
Vaccines are the most successful and practical way to prevent diseases like the measles and whooping cough, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, the United States currently has the safest and most effective vaccine supply in its history.
Getting your child vaccinated is important for their health and the health of your entire community in order to prevent possible outbreaks. Most vaccines need to be given before your child reaches 2 years of age, and your AltaMed provider is here to help you create an immunization plan. Children and adolescents also need vaccines between age 9 and 13. Your child’s wellness exams are a great time to check in and make sure you’re on track.
Did You Know Vaccines…
…can save your child’s life?
…are safe and effective?
…protect others from spreading harmful diseases?
…save time and money by preventing missed school/work and possible medical/hospital bills if your child gets sick?
…are typically covered by health insurance plans or are available at no cost to low-income families?
…protect future generations by hopefully one day eliminating these diseases from our world?
For more information or to schedule an appointment with your provider call (888) 499-9303.