February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! This month-long national health observance brings together thousands of dedicated dental professionals, healthcare providers, and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, teachers and of course, parents.

Tooth decay (cavities) is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood in the United States. Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning.

• About 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
• 1 of 7 (13%) adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
• The percentage of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years with untreated tooth decay is twice as high for those from low-income families (25%) compared with children from higher-income households (11%).

The good news is that tooth decay is preventable. Starting your child off with good dental care and developing good habits at a young age along with regular dental visits will help children to have lifelong healthy teeth and gums. Follow these tips:

Don’t wait to visit the dentist.

Most kids (and adults) need a dental checkup and cleaning every six months, and they should start early: The AAPD, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Dental Association (ADA) all recommend taking your child to the dentist by his first birthday.

Avoid sharing spoons.

Even before teeth emerge, cavity-causing bacteria called Streptococcus mutans can colonize the furrows of a baby’s tongue—and saliva-sharing behaviors, like cleaning a pacifier with your mouth or using the same utensils, can spread the bacteria from your mouth to your child’s.

Use the right toothpaste.

There’s no need to buy non-fluoridated “training toothpaste” for your little one: ADA guidelines now recommend that parents use fluoride toothpaste as soon as a baby gets his first tooth. Fluoride toothpaste can help remineralize areas of teeth that have been made weaker and susceptible to decay by bacterial acids.

Give plaque the brush-off.

Once your child gets his first tooth, brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice daily for 2 minutes or as needed, with the goal of removing plaque (a sticky film containing millions of bacteria) from each tooth.

Snack smart.

Bacteria feed on sugar and produce acid waste, which erodes the tooth to create a cavity—so one of the best ways to keep your child’s teeth healthy is to limit his intake of sugary foods and drinks.

Nominations are officially open for Moms Rock 2017 presented by:

Monogram Maternity at St. Vincent’s Health System and Royal Cup Coffee and Tea.

Do you know a mom who manages to make “mommy” look like a verb?  We’re not looking for the “perfect” moms, we’re looking for the ones who love their families and make mommying fun.  We want the women who manage to keep their life balanced, all while putting their kiddos first.  Face it, the moms who rock are everywhere… they’re at the grocery store in sweats, they’re at work in a business suit, they are donating their time to local charities, driving carpool and rockin’ the PTA with baked goods, they’re all around you!

We want you to nominate your friends or loved ones who are a “Birmingham Mom who ROCKS!”  5 finalists will be chosen by panel for the chance to win some fabulous prizes including a trip to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, some fancy shades from Schaeffer Eye Center and other great swag!

This will be an exciting and fun night out with live music by Justin Gannon, food, prizes, swag bags, and of course some Rockin’ cocktails! It’s sure to be a great night of fun for you and your Mommy Friends! Make plans to join us that night and find out who will be Birmingham’s Most Rockin’ Mom.

Thursday, March 9th
Cantina PepperPlace
6:00pm – 9:00pm
RSVP HERE

Use the form below to nominate and tell us about your Rockin’ Mom! We will accept nominations until February 22nd. 5 finalists will be chosen from the nominees and the winner will be selected via reader voting.  A grand prize will be awarded to the winning Mommy at the event on March 9th.

*Nominees from last years event are eligible for nomination again this year, the winner from last year’s event is not. Nominees must be able to attend the event on the 9th in order to be considered as a finalist.

A portion of this years proceeds will benefit Girls Rock Birmingham

Thank You to this year’s Sponsors!

Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States? Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease. It is the number one killer of women. In 2010, heart disease costed the United States spend $444 billion dollars. This includes healthcare services and medications.

That is a LOT of people effected by heart disease. The good news it, most of the time heart disease can be prevented by simple choices you make on a daily basis. Here are some ways that you can keep your heart healthy- and check up on it occasionally to end a problem before it starts. Sharing this information with your friends, neighbors and children is very important- because it could save someone’s life.

• Eating Well
  • When you are out grocery shopping, look for the American Heart Association’s logo on products to make sure you are purchasing heart health foods.
  • Cut back on processed foods and limit sodium intake. It is good to aim for less than 1500mg of cholesterol a day.
  • Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
• Get Moving
  • Unfortunately, most Americans are overweight.
  • Exercise sends oxygen to your brain and improves your memory.
  • A good goal is 150 minutes of exercise per week of moderate exercise and 75 minutes of strenuous exercise.
• Stop Smoking
  • Each cigarette you smoke reduces your life by 11 minutes
  • Smoker’s risk of heart attack or disease is twice as high as a non-smoker.
• Schedule Check-ups
  • At your check-up, your blood pressure should be below 120/80 mmHg
  • Cholesterol readings are as follows:
    • less than 160 mg/dL is low risk
    • less than 130 mg/dL is intermediate risk
    • less than 100 mg/dL is high risk
    • less than 70 mg/dL is very high risk
• Maintain a healthy weight
  • Women should aim for a waist circumference of 35 inches or less
  • Men should aim for a waist circumference of 40 inches of less

There are also several community events that celebrate American Heart Month, and focus on teaching people how we can life healthier lives without heart disease. One of these events is the Birmingham Heart Ball at the Barber Motorsports Museum. The Heart Ball is an elegant celebration of life, with proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association.The evening celebrates: the work,  mission,  donors,  volunteers, and most importantly the lives saved and improved because of The American Heart Association’s effort..  The Heart Ball promises to be an engaging evening of fun and passion bringing community and philanthropic leaders together.  Last year, funds raised at Heart Ball events nationwide allowed us to fund over $123 million of research and programs across the country and in your community. Please visit here for more details.

Another event that is a little more family friendly is the Birmingham Heart Walk, which will be on June 24, 2017. The Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s premiere event that brings communities together to raise funds and celebrate progress in the fight against this country’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers, heart diseases and stroke.

This inspirational day is filled with energy, excitement and hope! Designed to promote physical activity and heart-healthy living, the Heart Walk creates an environment that’s fun and rewarding for the entire family. This year, more than one million walkers will participate in nearly 350 events. Your participation will help us raise even more in our fight to save lives. Walk with friends, family, coworkers and other members of the community you meet along the way. The walk starts Uptown at the BJCC. Click for more details!

*  Tips were pulled from https://www.multicare.org/

Home = Relaxation. Moms all know its true- when you get home you are in a judgement free zone. You don’t have to constantly be watching your kids to tell them to stop this or do that because there is no mean little old lady staring you down from across the aisle of Target. At home you can relax and ease off your kids and (believe it or not) let them be kids!! Its really important that you let your kids have time to play without constantly being corrected or telling them no. BUT there will also be a time when you aren’t with you kids and you need them to know how they should behave. Here are some quick and easy manners to start working on with your kids so that next time you are at Target your daughter doesn’t ask the woman in front of you in the checkout line why she has two chins. Yeah. That happened.

For ages 3-5 years:

• Say please when you are asking for something
• Say thank you when you get it
• Ask before you touch
• Use a napkin and try not to make a big mess at mealtimes
• Close your mouth when you chew
• Be polite on the phone
• Clear your plate and take it to the sink
• Hold the door for others
• Introduce yourself

For ages 6-8 years:

• Don’t use foul language
• Show respect for others
• Return things you borrow
• Write thank you notes
• Be polite when someone is serving you
• Don’t interrupt
• Ask to be excused from meals
• Shake hands when you meet someone
• Hug and kiss a grandparent or other close relative

For ages 12+ years:

• Stand when an elder enters the room
• When you have a guest over, ask to take their coat or if they would like a drink
• Put away phones at mealtimes and other times when the family is together
• Offer your seat to an elderly or handicapped person
• Don’t expect others to clean up after you especially when you are away from home
• Consider your phone’s audio level in public places (don’t disturb others)

You are probably thinking all of these are easier said than done. And you’re right. Its dang hard to get our little hoodlums to think about the needs of people they know, much less strangers. But you have to start somewhere. One day you will see your 12 year old son give his seat on a bench to an old lady, and your heart will burst. But until then, keep teaching him and reminding him. Fake it til you make it!

About Brittany:

Brittany was born and raised in Alabama. She is a Wife and Mama of two sweet babies- her son John is two years old and her daughter Annie is ten months old. She is pursuing her degree in Home and Family Studies with an emphasis on Child Development from BYU. She is looking forward to writing for Birmingham Mommy in preparation for graduation in the Fall of 2016.