I'd like to take this opportunity to extend a special thank you to everyone who generously donated to help provide dental care to hundreds of children in an orphanage near Lima, Peru.  

This vision of my daughter Bari Levine, a third year Temple dental student, grew from 6 of us in 2013 to 23 people this year.  In collaboration, Temple dental students, my husband Dr. Robert Levine (a Periodontist in Philadelphia), The KinderSmiles Foundation and I provided screening, education and dental treatment to the house parents and the children.  

Lastly, thanks to all of you who took the time to cast your vote for us during the recent "Best of Bucks" annual poll. We will keep you posted once we find out the results in September.

Thank you for your continued support!

While fireworks are legal in Pennsylvania, did you know that State law prohibits the use of consumer and display fireworks without a permit?  But legal doesn't necessarily mean safe - home-use fireworks can be dangerous.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 7,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for burns and other fireworks-related injuries in 2008, with children and young adults under 20 sustaining more than half of those injuries.

Because of the dangers, we recommend taking advantage of local professionally organized fireworks shows in your area instead (they're far more impressive anyway!). But if you still plan to light up the sky on your own, follow these tips from the CPSC and the National Council on Fireworks Safety.

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A bucket of water or hose. Water is important for cooling off spent sparklers, fully extinguishing fireworks, and in case of fire.
• A clear, flat area away from houses, spectators, leaves, and flammable materials.
• Closed-toed shoes.
• Safety glasses for the person igniting the fireworks.

• While many consider sparklers to be safe, it's important to remember that you are, in fact, playing with fire: Sparklers can burn at more than 1,000 degrees F, and caused an estimated 800 injuries in 2008.
• Don't allow children under the age of 12 to handle sparklers.
• Show older children how to hold sparklers at arm's length, and don't let them run with or wave the sparklers.
• Stand at least six feet away from another person while using sparklers.
• To hand a sparkler to another person, give him or her an unlit sparkler and then light it.
• Don't hold a child in your arms while holding a sparkler.
• Drop spent sparklers into a bucket of water. 

Other Fireworks Tips

• Always read and follow the directions.
• Never relight a failed firework - wait 20 minutes before placing it in a bucket of water.
• Onlookers must keep a safe distance from the person igniting the fireworks.
• Children should not play with or ignite fireworks. 

Source: Good Housekeeping

Does your child use a sippy cup? Those handy little gadgets, featuring a plastic cup with a tight lid and a spill-proof bill-shaped spout, have been around for over 50 years. They seem likely to be around for at least another 50, but there are 3 potential problems you need to be aware of if your child uses a sippy cup.

Problem #1: Is the sippy cup affecting your child's speech development?

Some speech pathologists believe that if the sippy cup is used too long, it may have a negative effect on a child's speech development. The problem is that use of the sippy cup does not contribute to the normal muscle development of a child's mouth. The child's mouth, when using a bottle or a sippy cup, engages in continual suckle-swallow activity. As a result, if a child uses a sippy cup for too long, they may lack the proper development to enunciate clearly as they learn to speak. In particular, the "th" and "st" sounds may have a tendency to be slurred.

Whatever the case, everyone seems to agree that your child is unlikely to suffer long-term damage. The condition, if it exists, is easily reversible. If your child appears to be having difficulty enunciating, and some of his speech sounds sound slurred, you might want to try weaning him to a regular cup.

Problem #2: Is your child's sippy cup promoting tooth decay?

Nearly one-third of toddlers with tooth decay used sippy cups.  Sucking on a sippy cup (or a bottle) that contains fruit juice, milk, or any product containing natural sugars, for long periods of time can leave sugars and acids on your child's teeth. This will ultimately erode the enamel on the teeth, and your child may be in for a lifetime of dental woes. Most dentists recommend that beverages such as milk, fruit juice (or soda, if drunk at all) be consumed during a limited time period. If your child still needs a sippy or a bottle for comfort, clear water makes a good beverage.

Problem #3: Is your child's sippy cup clean enough?

One of the big problems with sippy cups is that the parent cannot easily see (or smell!) what is in them. If your child squirrels her sippy cup away in her dollhouse for a couple of days, and then resumes drinking from it, there's no telling what may have grown inside it in the interim. Natural sugars such as those found in fruit juice or milk are a superb breeding ground for bacteria, in addition to whatever germs the cup picks up on its exterior.

The solution for this problem is parental diligence. Always know how many sippy cups your child has, and where they all are. Wash them frequently, and thoroughly. And, if you're traveling with your child, make sure you have a spare available. (For tips on how to clean sippy cups, click here.)

Should your child use a sippy cup? The choice is yours. The sippy cup can be a valuable addition to your child's life, both comforting and time-saving, but you need to be alert to any possible problems it could be causing.