Flossing with Dr. Kelly Hilgers!

We hope you and your child are not a part of the 51 percent of Americans who don’t floss every day. And we definitely hope you're not part of the 10 percent who never floss at all. Dr. Kelly Hilgers and our staff at Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry will always tell you that proper flossing is just as important for your dental health as brushing regularly. Flossing, you see, cleans food and plaque that build up between teeth and below the gumline, key areas that brushing simply cannot reach.

Flossing 3-to-5 minutes each day is recommended, but even 60 seconds of flossing has a great benefit over not flossing at all. Also, make sure to always brush your teeth after you floss, and to rinse with water or mouthwash. When you begin flossing you may experience gum pain or bleeding, but with daily flossing and brushing this should stop within a week or so.

Lastly, has it been at least six months since your child's last checkup With Dr. Kelly or Dr. Greg? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to schedule an appointment by calling (623) 536–0079! Summer makes for a great time to visit a dentist!

We hope you're enjoying your summer! Be sure to post your summer photos on our Facebook wall!

10 summer traveling tips, from Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry

Hey, parents! Are you busy planning that perfect family vacation for the whole family this summer? Here at Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry, we know that summer is the season when many families choose to hit the open road—or catch a flight—to make those memories together. That’s why we want to share this helpful video - courtesy of Channel 6 News in Philadelphia - about tips you can use when traveling with kids this summer.

Here are some more tips, courtesy of Cassandra James from Associated Content:

1. Make sure your kids are busy if you're going on a long car ride.

2. Don't ignore your kids during the trip - play guessing games, car number plate games, memory games, etc.

3. Choose the shortest way there

4. If you're flying, avoid layovers (long layovers can bore a child)

5. Don't forget to stop (take a break from driving every 2-3 hours)

6. Pre-board planes - give yourself and your kids a few extra minutes to get settled in

7. If possible, travel at night for your sanity's sake :)

8. Try to stop off at fun and interesting places.

9. Get to know your kids - start a conversation, ask about their friends, etc.

10. Make sure your kids are wearing comfortable clothes during your trip.

We encourage you to read the rest of Cassandra's article! Happy and safe travels!

Star Spangled Fourth photos now on Facebook!

At Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry, we do everything we can to make your child’s experience fun and fearless. We also love to have fun, and on the Fourth of July, we gathered our staff and wonderful patients at Goodyear Ballpark for "Star Spangled Fourth," which we sponsored along with our pals Hilgers Orthodontics.

This afternoon, we uploaded a ton of photos from our event on our Facebook page, and would love for you to take a look! Have an amazing weekend!

Save face this summer, from Dr. Kelly Hilgers

With the heat wave sweeping through the majority of the U.S. last two weeks, Dr. Kelly Hilgers and staff want you to think more and more about sun safety when you’re out and about. There are many ways kids can protect themselves. Parents Magazine has kindly provided five tips to help you get started with sun protection:

1. Limit outdoor playtime between 10a.m. and 4p.m.

2. Apply sunscreen properly. (Choose a sunscreen with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15 or higher. Apply to nose, ears, hands, feet, shoulders and behind the neck; lips can also burn, so apply a lip balm with SPF protection.

3. Wearing protective clothing. This includes a hat with a brim, sunglasses and a large umbrella.

4. Watch your medications. Some medications increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun, so make sure to ask your doctor whether your child may be at risk.

5. Set a good example. If your child sees you following sun-safety rules, he or she will follow suit.

Drs. Kelly and Greg encourage you to always have a bottle of water handy when heading out! We hope you're all having a fantastic summer so far!

Movie Night with Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry on July 16!

Dr. Kelly Hilgers and staff look forward to seeing everyone next Friday, July 16th at 8 p.m. for "Movie Night at the Ballpark" We will be showing Planet 51, a G-rated movie.

Here's a synopsis: When Chuck the astronaut (Dwayne Johnson) lands on a distant planet filled with little green people, he is surprised to discover that we are not alone in the galaxy. But he gets the shock of his life when the residents of Planet 51 mistakenly believe that his presence is the start of an alien invasion of the human kind! Luckily, Lem (Justin Long) quickly realizes that Chuck is friendly and makes it his personal mission to help him return safely to his ship.

There will be free parking and admission, and gates at Goodyear Ballpark will open at 7 p.m.Concessions available for purchase, however no lawn chairs are permitted. We encourage you to bring pillows and blankets for lawn seating.

Questions? Just give us a call at (623) 536–0079!

Join Dr. Kelly Hilgers and team for Star Spangled Fourth at Goodyear Ballpark!

We invite you to join Team Hilgers on Sunday, July 4th from 6-10 at Goodyear Ballpark for Star Spangled 4th, which we are sponsoring along with Hilgers Orthodontics!

Here are the scheduled events for Sunday night:

6 pm: Inflatables and water activities open
7 pm: Flyover, live music from Groove Merchants
8 pm: Village Inn pie eating contest
9 pm: Fireworks display
9:30: pm Live music from Groove Merchants

Admission and parking are free and concession stands will be available. Also, stop by our booth to pick up our famous sticky hands and beads! We will also be wearing our patriotic Team Hilgers T-shirts!

See you there!

Ask Dr. Kelly: Why are regular checkups so important?

No matter what your age, visiting Goodyear dentist Dr. Kelly Hilgers on a regular basis will help keep your teeth and gums healthy, and your smile bright!

The American Dental Association recommends that both children and adults visit the dentist every six months for regular checkups and routine teeth cleanings. And we would love to see you here every six months to make sure that your smile is staying healthy!

Our staff at Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry completely understand that you have a busy schedule, so while we like to make sure your appointments are informative, we also like to make sure they don't stop you from doing the things you love! When preparing to visit Drs. Hilgers or Mathieu, please know that your appointment can last anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes.

When it's time for your next dental appointment, please call us at (623) 536–0079, and our friendly office staff will be ready to help you schedule an appointment.