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We know how frustrating it can be to discover your child has one or more cavities when you come to visit Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry. There are several ways to prevent baby teeth from forming cavities due to decay. Not to worry: If your child does develop a cavity on a baby tooth, Dr. Maryam Azadpur can help take care of the problem.

Let’s look at how cavities on your little one’s teeth can be prevented from developing in the first place. Most often, children suffer decay from eating sugary foods. You may think, “My child doesn’t eat lots of candy!” In truth, fruits and juices have plenty of natural sugars that can break down teeth if they aren’t brushed thoroughly.

A well-balanced diet that includes calcium and phosphorous is necessary to keep your child’s oral health in a good state. If your son or daughter drinks juice, avoid giving it before bedtime and dilute the juice with water. Good options for snacks include vegetables, low-sugar yogurt or dairy products, and plenty of milk for healthy teeth.

Another excellent preventive strategy consists of scheduling regular appointments with Dr. Maryam Azadpur for your child. Between your youngster’s annual cleanings, make sure he or she brushes and flosses every day. It’s worthwhile for your little one to brush thoroughly for at least two minutes to remove any decay or plaque that has accumulated in the mouth, especially before bedtime.

Brushing Techniques

• Move the brush both back and forth, and in circular gentle strokes.
• Brush the outer surfaces, inside surfaces, and chewing surfaces of all teeth.
• Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
• Brush the tongue to remove excess bacteria and keep breath fresh.

It’s not always possible to prevent cavities from appearing in your son or daughter’s mouth. If your child does develop a cavity, our staff will notify you during the regular scheduled cleaning.

The cavity will need to be eliminated, even when it appears on a baby tooth. Our staff will remove the decayed part of the tooth and fill in the hole so your child doesn’t have to experience any pain.

You may wonder why a baby tooth has to be fixed if it is eventually going to fall out. Baby teeth hold spaces where your child’s permanent teeth have to grow in. If the former aren’t taken care of, multiple teeth may shift and the permanent ones won’t be able to grow in properly.

If you still have questions or concerns about your child’s baby teeth, or notice signs of a cavity, please don’t hesitate to contact our Simsbury, CT office and schedule an appointment. Remember, preventive steps can be taken to avoid bothersome cavities from forming in your child’s mouth.

Dental sealants are an excellent way to protect children’s teeth from tooth decay by coating them with a thin plastic material. Their teeth look and feel like normal, but they are protected from plaque build-up and decay early on. Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our staff recommend sealants as a preventive measure for children before any decay appears on their teeth.

Who should get dental sealants?

Dental sealants are intended for young children as soon as their first teeth come in. Decay is most common in the molars, so taking your child to Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry for sealants right when you see the molars grow in gives your child the best chance to fight tooth decay.

A child’s first set of permanent molars grow in between ages five and seven, while the second permanent molars come in between 11 and 14 years of age. Some teens and adults who don’t have tooth decay may get sealants as well, but it is less common.

How long do dental sealants last?

Once the sealant has been placed on the teeth, it lasts up to ten years. Expect to have Dr. Maryam Azadpur check the sealant at every visit to our Simsbury, CT office, which should be twice a year. We will look at the sealant and determine if it needs to be replaced.

What is the process of getting sealants?

Applying sealants is a simple, pain-free procedure that is done quickly at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry. There is absolutely no effect on the tooth structure from sealants.

For starters, the teeth are cleaned carefully, then dried with an absorbent material. A mild acid solution is applied to them to roughen them slightly. This is done so the sealant can bond properly to the teeth. Then the teeth are rinsed and dried, and the sealant material is painted on and dried with a special light.

Molars are susceptible to decay early on, which is why sealants are an important treatment to get for your children’s first set of teeth.

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time of year. At our office, we celebrate Thanksgiving in our own ways. Some of us will be traveling to visit families, while others will be hosting at home. And a couple of us simply like to spend the day at home with just the immediate family. What about you? Does your office celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you have exciting plans?

One of Shari's favorite Thanksgiving memories happened the first time she hosted the holiday after getting married many years ago. She was standing in the kitchen with her parents, and they were admiring the pumpkin pie she had made for the very first time. As they stood around the table, the kitchen light fixture suddenly fell off the ceiling but amazingly landed directly on the pie, which kept it from shattering! It definitely made for a great story.

Speaking of food, one of the best ways we have found to prepare the turkey is to pierce a lemon and an orange and place it into the cavity of the turkey. Also, put fresh rosemary under the skin. This gives it such a wonderful flavor. The secret, however, to an amazing turkey, is to talk to it while it cooks! Positive affirmations, compliments, whatever it takes. It never fails! Try it out this Thanksgiving and let us know what you think!

With all these tasty meals and treats, it's important to keep dental health in mind during the holidays. Keep sweets to a minimum and remember to brush after meals. Drink lots of water to help wash away food particles and make sure you floss each day.

This year we are also focusing on being grateful. Expressing gratitude throughout the year is incredibly important. It helps us to remember how lucky we are and to retrain our brains so that we might have a growth mindset rather than a fixed one. Forward thinking helps us to grow and appreciate all we have. At our office, we show gratitude by calling our family and friends who live in other places and letting them know how much they are loved and appreciated. We also run a food drive throughout the fall in order to give back to our community and help support those less fortunate than we are.

One of the ways our team has been able to give back to our community was when Dr. Azadpur and Lilly recently travelled to Texas for additional training on our Solea Laser. They are such experts with this incredible tool! Also, Dr. Azadpur participated in CT Mission of Mercy, a nonprofit organization that provides free dental care to underserved populations in CT. She spent the day providing her excellent skills to people who would otherwise not receive such high-quality dental care. What a way to give back to the community!

During this time, our fabulous team is taking time to evaluate for airway and breathing issues. We can refer your child to an ENT for further evaluation if needed. We also are on the lookout for lip and tongue ties. Dr. Azadpur and her assistant Lilly have performed many frenectomies on patients as young as 3 days! What a game changer!

We hope you have a happy and healthy holiday season!

Did you know your toothbrush could be covered with almost ten million germs? We know … it’s gross! That’s why you should know how to store your toothbrush properly, and when it’s time to replace it.

If you need to brush up on your toothbrush care knowledge, we’ve got you covered so brushing will always leave you feeling squeaky clean.

Keeping a Clean Toothbrush

Your mouth is home to hundreds of types of microorganisms, so it’s normal for some of them to hang onto your toothbrush after you’ve used it. Rinsing your brush thoroughly with water after each use can get rid of leftover toothpaste and food particles that cling to the bristles. Some dentists suggest soaking your toothbrush in mouthwash every now and then can help reduce the amount of bacteria further.

Store your toothbrush in a cool, open environment away from the toilet or trash bin to avoid airborne germs. Closed containers should be avoided because they provide a warm, wet habitat that bacteria love to grow in.

If you have multiple people sharing one sink, an upright holder with different sections will keep everyone’s brushes separated and avoid cross contamination. In addition, we would hope this is a no-brainer, but please don’t share toothbrushes!

Microwaves and dishwashers are not suitable tools for cleaning a toothbrush, because brushes aren’t built to last through this kind of treatment. If you want a really clean toothbrush, your best option is simply to buy a new one.

Replacing Your Toothbrush

The American Dental Association recommends you replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner depending on individual circumstances. Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team agree. If you have braces, tend to brush too strongly, or the bristles become frayed, it’s time for a new brush.

Children will also need replacement brushes more frequently than adults. If you or your child has been sick, you should replace the toothbrush immediately to avoid re-exposing yourself to illness.

Worn-out brushes are not only unsanitary, they don’t do a good job cleaning teeth. Bristles that are worn out and dull won’t scrape away plaque and bacteria as well as a fresh toothbrush can.

Though the idea of ten million germs can be worrisome, if you take a few small precautions, you may ensure your toothbrush stays in good shape. And the cleaner the toothbrush, the cleaner the smile!