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Internet Safety 101
Technology surrounds us now more than ever. There are always new apps in the app store, new games, and countless social media posts. Today, we also see children spending more time on the internet. But using these platforms comes with risks and responsibility — is your child ready to navigate them? Talk to your child about online dangers. Before giving your child permission to use the internet or buying them a smartphone, they must understand the different types of online dangers. There are many harmful things on the internet your children do not need to see. Talk to them about phishing, piracy, obscenity, online predators, cyberbullying, revealing personal information, and how people may not be who they say they are. Set standards and boundaries for internet/phone use. What sites are they allowed to get on? Which social media programs are they allowed to visit? Is there any information you would want them to keep private? How long or often can they be on the internet? Don’t wait until something terrible happens to begin implementing online safety rules. Make guidelines proactively for your children to follow so they know what is expected of them. Encourage your children to talk to you. Unfortunately, around 60% of kids claim they hardly talk to their parents about what they’re experiencing online. Therefore, your children must know
they can come to you instead of hiding their concerns. Remember that your child may fear you’ll be angry with them if something questionable happens, so keep an open mind and understand your child’s situation. This will encourage them to come to you more often if a problem occurs. By implementing an open line of communication, informing them about the dangers of the internet, and setting boundaries, your child will have all the tools they need to safely use the internet and social media. Be aware of what they are doing and check their phones periodically. However, if you would like more resources on how to teach your child about internet safety, you can find tons of information online!
With Eco-Friendly Dental Products Eco-friendly products are biodegradable. Typical dental products are made with polyethylene and nylon, which aren’t biodegradable. Because of this, they can take many years to decompose. Luckily, eco-friendly dental products exist, like biodegradable, compostable, and plastic-free toothbrushes made of bamboo. You’ll experience a more natural clean. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study has shown how the plastics in non-eco-friendly dental products can negatively impact the reproductive system of lab animals they were applied to. Studies are still being conducted to see if those chemicals affect humans similarly. In the meantime, choosing environmentally friendly dental products made from mineral clay, sea salt, and plant extracts can help you avoid potentially harmful plastics found in many dental products. Furthermore, many types of mouthwash are made with fake dyes, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and other chemicals. Eco-friendly mouthwashes avoid synthetic chemicals and only contain all-natural and non-toxic ingredients. If you’re interested in purchasing eco-friendly dental products, you can find them at your local supermarket or buy them online. For more information about environmentally friendly brands and items, go online and search for “zero waste” dental products. GO GREEN!
When you go to the supermarket or drug store, you’ll come across many environmentally friendly products. But did you know you can use eco- friendly dental products? Not only are they good for oral health, but they’re also great for the environment! Here are three reasons to choose eco-friendly products for your oral health. You can reduce plastic waste. All the products you use for your oral health routine — toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss — come in plastic bottles and containers. Although it’s recyclable, the plastic in your dental products cannot be recycled — they are sent straight to a landfill or dumped in our waterways. So, look for brands advertising sustainability on the packaging.
2 • WWW.GREATSMILESNJ.COM
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