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Baby teeth are very important to your child’s present and future dental health, so we want to help you keep your child free from cavities and gum disease even before those permanent teeth erupt. That’s why we recommend professional cleanings at our Simsbury, CT office—to keep plaque and tartar from damaging little teeth and gums.

But a dental cleaning might be a bit stressful for young children, especially when they’re not used to the steps, the sounds, and the sensations of the cleaning process.

So, just as we strive to make every examination and visit a positive experience for your child, we do our best to make their cleanings a happy, stress-free time. How do we do this? With your help!

• Preparation

A happy experience begins even before your child arrives in the office. If you are relaxed and positive before an appointment, you’ll help your child feel relaxed and positive, too.

Explaining what goes on during a cleaning even before your visit will help your child feel more comfortable when unfamiliar tools like dental mirrors, scalers, and polishing brushes are used. You can talk about your own experience, read a book together, watch a video, or find online resources to help your child understand what will happen during your visit, and why cleanings are so important for happy, healthy teeth.

Sometimes children benefit from a form of mild, conscious sedation (such as nitrous oxide) when they have special health needs or dental anxiety. If you feel this is an option we should discuss, please talk to us in advance and we’ll answer any of your questions.

• Pre-Cleaning Examination

After being made welcome in the office and settled comfortably in the dental chair, we’ll examine your child’s teeth and gums for any signs of plaque and tartar.  A small, handled mirror is used to check out hard-to-see places behind the teeth and in the back of the mouth. Gum health is also important, and your child’s gums will be examined for any signs of gingivitis, or mild gum disease.

Plaque and tartar cause cavities and gum disease, even for young children. Finding any trouble spots will let us know where to concentrate on cleaning, and where you can help your child to brush more effectively.

• Removing Plaque and Tartar

No matter how well a child (or an adult!) brushes and flosses, plaque can build up in some hard-to-reach spots, especially between the teeth and along the gumline. And if plaque isn’t removed within a few days, it starts hardening into tartar—and tartar can’t be brushed away.

That’s why removing tartar is a job for a dental professional. Using a special tool called a scaler, we gently scrape built-up plaque and tartar off tooth enamel (especially where it tends to accumulate behind and between teeth) and near the gumline. Sometimes an ultrasonic scaler can be used to dislodge tartar with sound waves.

Scalers can make a scraping noise and cause some pressure, and ultrasonic scalers use a stream of water as they clean. We’re happy to explain, in an age-appropriate way, why tools make these noises and how they work to clean little teeth.

• Polishing & Flossing

After the plaque and tartar are removed, your child’s teeth will be polished with a power brush and a special gritty toothpaste. This is usually a bit noisy as well. A careful flossing and a final rinse will wash away any leftover particles or paste.

Once the teeth are cleaned, you may choose to have a fluoride treatment or a dental sealant applied to your child’s teeth.

• After a Cleaning

Your praise and encouragement are always welcome! Giving children praise for helping keep those little teeth clean, shiny, and healthy makes them partners in the process.

How do we clean your child’s teeth? Gently. Thoroughly. Expertly. We want to make sure each cleaning is just one of the many positive dental experiences your child will have in our office. Help us make your child’s cleaning appointment stress-free with positive preparation and reinforcement, and together we’ll start your child on the path to a lifetime of shining smiles and proactive dental care!

“Dr. Azadpur and everyone working at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry that I have met, have been kind, knowledgeable, compassionate, as well as highly competent.

The truth is, as a parent, it's me who has a MAJOR phobia about the dentist, and as a mom, taking my kids to the dentist on top of my own visits to my dentist can seem like torture. But Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry has always been a calm vibe for me (AND OF COURSE FOR MY CHILDREN). Thank you, Dr. Azadpur and everyone at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry.” – Patient's Parent

Spring is here, and everyone at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry couldn't be more excited! Warmer weather, buds popping up on the trees, and flowers peeking out of the ground are some of our favorite things about spring. Time to put away the winter gear and dust off the lawn mower! Open up the windows and bring on the fresh air.

Spring cleaning is a tradition many of us undertake with varying degrees of enthusiasm, but have you considered a spring clean for your oral health? Keep drinking lots of water and limit sugary treats and beverages. Brush at least twice a day and floss once a day. Be sure to keep all appointments since delaying treatment can lead to conditions getting worse! It is tempting to cancel an appointment when the weather is so nice, but our spring and summer calendars are filling up fast and it may be a while before we can get your child in for a rescheduled appointment.

And for those who are also looking to tackle some at home cleaning, try tackling projects in 15-to-20-minute chunks and before long, the house will be fresh and clean.

While we're on the topic of health, let's not forget the importance of nourishing our bodies with the right foods. With the arrival of the new season comes tons of fresh fruits and vegetables that are not only delicious but also pack a punch of vitamins and nutrients essential for growth and development. They also help keep those face and jaw muscles strong, which is vital to healthy development. And for those looking for springtime adventures and getting their bodies moving, our area has tons of beautiful trails, state parks, and the breathtaking view from the ridgeline at Heublein Tower – perfect for enjoying the longer days and warmer weather.

Our team is also gearing up for some exciting trips and celebrations. From Shari's anticipated trip to the Galapagos Islands to Jill's family adventure to Disney, it's clear that spring fever has hit us all. And let's not forget to show our appreciation for our dedicated staff during Dental Hygienist Appreciation Week and Admin Professionals Day – they're the heartbeat of our practice. Thank you, Cindy, Annette, Courtney, Pat, Jill, Susan, Kelly, and Shari!

In closing, please make every effort to keep appointments. Our schedule is very full and if you cancel, it may be a few months before we can get your child back in. We do maintain an ASAP list and do our best to accommodate patient schedules as much as possible. Also, please let us know prior to an appointment if your dental insurance has changed. We have around 40 or more patients every day and are not able to call insurance companies on your behalf. It is your responsibility to know your coverage and if it has changed or lapsed, payment in full may be required at the time of the appointment. We reserve the right to charge a fee for last-minute cancellations or missed appointments. Our commitment to your family's dental health is unwavering, and we look forward to supporting you through this season!

Many parents are unaware that children can also suffer from symptoms of halitosis, better known as chronic bad breath. This common oral problem affects a majority of the population, including both adults and children. During treatment for this condition, it’s worthwhile to focus on the cause of the problem. Take a look at the most common reasons why your child might develop bad breath.

Having constant bad breath can be embarrassing and troublesome. Most often, boys and girls develop halitosis as a side effect of some sort of upper respiratory infection. It may be a common cold, allergies, or flu symptoms.

When the nasal passages are blocked, it’s more likely that your child will breathe through the mouth. Mouth breathing may also occur if your youngster is put on medication that decreases saliva flow. Mouth breathing can make bad breath much worse if there isn’t enough saliva to cleanse the area.

Another cause of halitosis in children can be tonsillitis. When your child’s airway is constricted, he or she is more likely to mouth-breath. When the tissues in your mouth dry out, bacteria will grow and increase in potency. If you notice symptoms of tonsillitis in your child such as a fever, swollen throat, trouble swallowing, chills, or congestion, get your little one to treatment right away.

Halitosis in children is can also be caused by an infection of the mouth. If your child’s teeth or gums are infected, odor will developed if untreated. Infection can occur due to inadequate brushing and flossing, which can lead to gum disease or cavities. If cavities are left untreated, they can develop a strong, noticeable odor. If you think your child has an infection or cavity, contact Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry and schedule an appointment.

Other causes of halitosis may be certain pungent foods your child eats, or bacteria built up on the tongue. Make sure your son or daughter brushes and flosses thoroughly every day. Some mouthwashes may be beneficial for your child to alleviate bad breath caused by leftover bacteria in the mouth. Other ways of treating of halitosis can vary, based on the cause of the problem.

If you’re unsure about why your child has halitosis, contact Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry and we can help you figure out where the issue originated. Remember, masking symptoms of bad breath with gum or mints will be only a temporary fix. Your child’s bad breath problems can be helped with a little investigation from Dr. Maryam Azadpur. Always feel free to call our Simsbury, CT office if you are concerned about your child’s oral health.

As more people turn to bottled water and away from the tap, they may be missing out on one important ingredient that most brands of bottled water fail to include: fluoride! Because fluoride helps strengthen teeth, it is an important component of maintaining good oral health. Our friends at the American Dental Association have endorsed both community water fluoridation and the use of fluoride-containing products as a safe means of preventing tooth decay.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also warned that “bottled water may not have a sufficient amount of fluoride, which is important for preventing tooth decay and promoting oral health.” If you are avoiding fluoridated tap water in favor of ever-more-popular bottled water, you could be missing out on the levels of fluoride necessary to make a difference in your oral health. One 2012 study in the Journal of Pediatric Dentistry found that more than 65 percent of parents using bottled water did not know what levels of fluoride it contained.

If bottled water happens to be your or your children’s beverage of choice, check the label to make sure your brand contains fluoride. Of course, simply drinking fluoridated water is not a magic ticket to perfect teeth. To keep your pearly whites in tip-top shape, it’s important to brush and floss daily and avoid sugary sweets, in addition to maintaining your fluoride intake.

Questions about fluoride? Give us a call at our convenient Simsbury, CT office! We look forward to hearing from you!