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You found the perfect toothbrush! The bristles are soft, to avoid irritating your delicate gum tissue. The angle of the bristles is perfect for removing plaque. The handle is durable and comfortable when you spend at least two minutes brushing in the morning and two at night. Why, you love this toothbrush and you’ll never let it go… for the next three or four months.

The life of a toothbrush is naturally a short one. Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team recommend replacement every three to four months because the bristles become frayed and worn with daily use. They cannot clean as effectively when the bristles begin to break down, and, depending on your brushing style, may wear out even more rapidly. (Children will probably need to replace toothbrushes at least every three months.) But even in the short time you have your toothbrush, there are ways to keep it ready for healthy brushing.

• Don’t share. While sharing is normally a virtue, sharing toothbrushes can lead to an increased risk of infections, especially for those with compromised immune systems or existing infectious diseases. Similarly, keep different brushes separate when drying to avoid cross-contamination.
• Rinse thoroughly after brushing. Make sure to remove any toothpaste or debris left after you brush.
• Store the brush upright. Air-drying is the preferred way to dry your brush, as covering the brush or keeping it in a closed container can promote the growth of bacteria more easily.

There are several products on the market that promise to sanitize your brush. The verdict is still out on its success, but if you or someone in your home has a compromised immune system, call our Simsbury, CT office to see if it might be worth your while to check them out.

Even though your toothbrush won’t be with you long, make its stay as effective and hygienic as possible. And if you find a brush you love—stock up!

“Magic and wizardry! We just left this amazing office and I'm blown away. It was our son's second-ever dentist visit (the first at another location didn't go so great because he was scared and uncooperative, so they referred us here). Our visit with Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry simply could not have gone better. Susan made the pre-appointment process so easy and set the best tone with her greeting! Every single staffer went out of their way to welcome my little guy, give him an office tour, introduce him around, and make him feel special from the first minute. Then, the extraordinary Lilly came into the room and began to perform miracles. She has the most amazing kid patient skills I've ever seen, and my nervous little boy was instantly enchanted and captivated. She explained every piece of equipment, what they did, the sounds they would make, how it would feel. Incredibly, he didn't resist at all, cooperating the entire time. Dr. Azadpur arrived and was so gentle and encouraging. They all made this process look so easy - when we know it's incredibly challenging. Top notch! Thanks Lilly, Dr. Azadpur, Susan, Jill, Kelly, Pat, and Shari for this amazing experience - we look forward to many years of being clients!” -Dana

Thank you for this wonderful review and we want to thank all of our loyal patients for choosing us as their dentist!

It’s June! That means the start of summer and the best time to go out and enjoy the outdoors. I mean after all; June is Great Outdoors Month!

We all love to be outdoors, especially when the weather is perfect. Some of us like to garden while others like to take hikes up Heubelein Tower or on some of the many other trails around here. CT is part of the Rails to Trails system and there are so many amazing places to walk, hike, and enjoy nature. We have to be super careful though since Simsbury has the largest bear population in the state. Its nickname is SimsBEARy!

With the start of summer, everyone is gearing up for some fun in the sun! Jill will be sitting out by her pool in the evenings and on the weekends. Shari is headed to Maine for a long weekend with some friends, an annual trip she has been going on for almost 15 years! Annette will be spending some time visiting her family in Poland for a long-awaited family reunion.

We also love spending time by the water. CT's southern shore has some beautiful beaches. Niantic, Mystic, New London, just to name a few. Also, we are only about 2 hours away from Rhode Island, so Newport is a popular destination. Lots of folk’s vacation at the Cape too.

Don’t forget to schedule your appointment now that school is out! Our summer schedule is extremely full. Please try to keep your child's appointments. If you have to cancel for any reason, it may be September before we can fit them in, and school will have started by then.

We are so excited that we can perform frenectomies here in the office using our incredible Solea laser. It is truly life changing, especially for newborn babies who are having trouble nursing due to tongue and/or lip ties. Give us a call so we can arrange a consultation.

Also, congratulations to all the graduates! Whether it is from college, high school, or even preschool, we wish you all the best in whatever the next chapter brings.

School’s out for the summer, and it’s great to have the kids home. After all, they deserve a break after all their hard work. And you want to keep their vacation happy, relaxing, and fun—without letting them spend those summer months cooling off with sugary treats. What are some of your options for healthy hot weather snacks?

• Naturally Sweet Treats

Keep a supply of fresh fruit handy for summer snacking. Crispy fruits like apples and Bosc pears actually provide a little scrubbing action for the teeth with their vitamins, and softer fruits such as bananas, berries, and, of course, watermelon, provide natural sweetness along with vitamins and minerals. Yogurt has valuable calcium for strong teeth and the vitamin D our bodies need to use that calcium. Add some fresh fruit to Greek yogurt for added flavor and sweetness—and even more vitamins.

• Savory Snacks

Cheese is a calcium-rich snack, and crunchy carrots and celery help scrub teeth while providing vitamins and minerals. Do a little mixing and matching by adding some cream cheese to that celery for extra flavor. Serve up hummus and pita chips or cheese with whole grain crackers. They’re great nutritious alternatives to chips and dip.

• Blender Blast

Summer’s the perfect time to use your culinary creativity and expand your child’s palate with vitamin-rich smoothies. Toss your favorite fruits in the blender with a little juice, non-fat yogurt, milk, or honey, whirl away, and you have a delicious, healthy snack. You can add a few leafy greens for even more nutritional value. There are many easy recipes online for creating homemade smoothies that will please any picky palate.

• Freezer Favorites

Ice cream is a favorite summer treat, but it can also provide quite a sugar punch. There are many homemade frozen yogurt recipes available online which combine frozen fruit, yogurt, and honey for your own summer celebration, without adding large amounts of sugar. Or choose to stock your freezer shelves with low-sugar fruit pops, store bought or homemade.

• On Tap

A soda or a sports drink are often the go-to hydration choices in the summer. You might already be careful about handing these drinks out because they can have such a high sugar content. But they can also create a very acidic environment in the mouth, which is harmful to tooth enamel. Water is the safest, healthiest option for hydrating in hot weather, and can even provide some of the fluoride which helps keep enamel strong.

Whatever is on your child’s summer menu, keep up with all those great dental habits you’ve already established. A limited number of snacks—even healthy ones—is best, and be sure to brush after snacking, or rinse with water if brushing’s not an option. And don’t forget to maintain your child’s normal schedule of brushing and flossing, and regular visits with Dr. Maryam Azadpur at our Simsbury, CT office.

Have a great summer, and send your kids back to school rested, relaxed, and with a healthy, happy smile. Then take a moment, relax, and sip that smoothie—after all, you deserve a break after all your hard work!

Can you believe it’s already June? Today, Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry thought we’d let you know that June is National Smile Month, so it’s a good time to remind all our young patients to practice proper oral hygiene between their visits to our office!

Below are a few simple steps your child can take to improve his or her oral health so that your family can celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

• Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Floss every day to clean between the teeth
• Limit the intake of sugary foods and drinks
• Visit us every six months for regular checkups

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call, ask Dr. Maryam Azadpur or our team during your next visit, or ask us on Facebook!