Local Dentist Visits Elementry School
Published on: March 10, 2009
TOMS RIVER - Because developing good dental habits when you are young will save you money and unnecessary trips to the dentist when you are older, Dr. Ron Rotem, a Toms River dentist, makes it a practice to visit elementary schools in February in recognition of National Children's Dental Health Month. "With the economy in the state it is right now, parents don't need the additional expense of visiting a dentist, especially when most dental problems can be avoided in the first place," says Dr. Rotem, the father of three elementary school children. Many of the children in the first grade class of Miss Elizabeth Wallace at the Ridgeway School, Manchester, are beginning to lose their baby teeth, so preventive care is especially important. In answer to why they should brush their teeth at least twice a day, the children answered: "So they don't get rotten; so your breath doesn't smell bad; so you don't have to go to the dentist; so you don't get cavities." "Cavities really come from germs," explained Dr. Rotem. "We get germs off our hands by washing them and we get germs out of our mouths by brushing our teeth. Germs that build up in our mouths are called plaque. When germs stay in our mouth, they mix with food, creating acid, which then makes holes in our teeth called cavities." Each child in the class had a chance to practice good bushing skills on a giant model of a mouth after Dr. Rotem demonstrated the proper brushing technique. "Use a soft toothbrush," Dr. Rotem told the children, "and brush inside and outside your teeth, including gums. Gums bleed when they are not healthy." Dr. Rotem says, "Parents should begin helping their children brush their teeth as early as possible. You don't have to do a great job; it's more important to brush twice daily. At some point, brushing will become a habit, one that will save children pain and emotional trauma from having teeth filled, and save parents money they didn't have to spend. Tooth decay does not heal itself." Eat a lot of good food, stay away from sticky candy, brush, rinse your mouth after eating, floss and visit a dentist at least twice a year; and you should maintain healthy teeth and gums your whole life. Although Dr. Ron Rotem's dental practice focuses on general and cosmetic dentistry for adults only, he takes the time during Children's Dental Health Month to educate children about good dental hygiene. Call Dr. Rotem's office at 732-341-8500 if your elementary school would like to schedule a classroom visit.
Halloween Candy Buy Back
Published on: March 09, 2009
4th Annual Halloween Candy Buy Back Contest Begins Will Benefit Children and Schools, and Treat Troops You can’t—or shouldn’t—let anyone eat it all. But you don’t want to throw it out. What are you going to do with all that Halloween candy your kids hauled home from trick-or-treating? They could earn some money for it and make someone else’s life sweeter by bringing their Halloween candy to the Toms River dental offices of Dr. Ron Rotem, who is sponsoring the 4th annual Halloween Candy Buy Back Contest. Dr. Rotem will give children $1.00 a pound up to 10 lbs. per family for Halloween candy they have collected. Contestants can bring their candy stashes to Dr. Rotem’s offices, 355 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, for three days only: Tuesday, November 4; Wednesday, November 5; and Thursday, November 6, between noon and 5:00 p.m. The child who brings in the most candy, by weight, will also win a $50.00 gift card. A teacher from either a public or private school who collects the most Halloween candy, by weight, and brings it to Dr. Rotem’s offices will win $400.00 to spend for his or her class. The contest will end at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 6. All the collected candy will be sent to the troops in the Mideast with the help of Patrick O’Keefe, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 400, 3301 Hwy 138 East, Wall Township; the Monmouth and Ocean County Central Labor Council; and the Monmouth and Ocean County Building Trades. O’Keefe, who served in Bahrain, says, “We send packages to the troops overseas all year. I know from first-hand experience how important it is to receive packages of food, games, and staples.” Dr. Rotem says, “Last year we collected almost a half ton of candy, which was sent to our troops through the efforts of IBEW. Of course, my objective is to get children to eat less candy. I am hoping that buying back Halloween candy will be an incentive for everyone to eat less candy, and make someone else’s life a little sweeter at the same time.” For further information, call Dr. Rotem’s office at 732-341-8500.