How better to spend the fall months than inside by the fireplace with a warm cup of cider and a book in hand? Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry encourage you to warm up your mind this fall season with a few great books. Sure it may be easy to put off reading when balancing a hectic schedule, but reading is vital to brain development. Besides, reading is always a blast!
This week, we thought we’d ask what you or your child are reading this fall. Do you have any suggestions for must-read books this year? Out of ideas for great fall reads? Ask us for suggestions, and we would be happy to provide a few. You may also ask a local librarian here in Simsbury, CT for some ideas.
Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your fall picks or your all-time favorites below or on our Facebook page!
“Did you know that you need to take a probiotic when taking antibiotics to protect your gut microbiome? I didn’t learn that from TikTok, or even from my children’s pediatrician.
Dr. Azadpur taught me that. She and Dr. Marvasti-Sitterly also taught me that I can strengthen my son’s jaw muscles by having him eat crunchier foods, as well as with a simple toy available on Amazon.
Simsbury Pediatric Dentistry is not close to where I live, by any means, but well worth the drive for quality dental care. Highly recommend.”
- One of our patients
Sweets are hard to resist, especially at this time of year. We think that it’s okay to indulge in a couple treats here and there, but there should be a limit to the number of sweet treats your child eats. Stay far away from sticky candies that get caught on and in-between teeth and be sure to step up their brushing and flossing game!
Eating extra sweets can lead to cavities. Kids don't always brush after every meal or snack, so the extra sugar will attract those nasty "sugar bugs" that may cause cavities to form. If your child doesn’t have the ability to brush after snacking on sugar, drinking water can help wash away some of it.
If your child has never had a cavity, there are some signs you can look out for. These signs include tooth pain and sensitivity to hot or cold, which can occur even before anything is visible. That is why it is so important to schedule your child's dental checkups twice a year and get x-rays taken once a year. We’ll be able to catch any cavity formation earlier.
If your child is experiencing pain or sensitivity at home, please give us a call. While this isn’t considered an emergency, potential cavities should be treated sooner rather than later. Delaying treatment can lead to the problem worsening, which may lead to more extensive and expensive work. Give us a call as soon as your child complains of pain. We may ask you to send us a picture of the affected area so it may be a good idea to take that picture prior to calling, especially if they are headed off to school for the day and you were planning on calling while they were gone.
Dr. Marvasti-Sitterly, our new doctor who joined our team in August, is available alongside Dr. Azadpur, to help address any of your concerns. Dr. Marvasti-Sitterly has been a huge hit here in the office with the kids and their parents. She came to us from general dentistry but completed the extra couple years of pediatric dental training and residency and was handpicked by Dr. Azadpur to join our team. It feels like she has always been a part of our team. Be sure to say hello when you come in!
And check out our winner of our 3rd Quarter giveaway. This happy guy won $500 to Great Wolf Lodge! Keep those reviews and referrals coming and you might win our next big prize: a Nintendo Switch 2!
We hope you have a wonderful Halloween season and hope to see you soon.
One of the best ways to take care of your teeth is to brush them twice each day for two minutes each time. And brushing works even better when you take care of your toothbrush! Let’s look at some easy toothbrush rules to keep yourself, your teeth, and your brush healthy.
Don’t Share
You can share toys, or share games, or share stories—but don’t share your toothbrush! Germs can hide on your brush. If you have a cold, you don’t want to give it to others. And if your family member or friend has a cold, you don’t want to catch it! This also means that toothbrushes shouldn’t touch each other while they’re drying. Separate brushes are healthy brushes.
Keep Your Brush Clean
After you finished brushing your teeth, you might notice some toothpaste suds sticking to your brush—or even bits of the food you’ve just brushed off your teeth. Keep your brush clean by rinsing off all the toothpaste and food crumbs before you put it away. And it’s always a good idea to wash your hands before you brush to get rid of any germs which you don’t want to share with your brush—or your mouth.
Stand (It) Up Straight
Let your toothbrush dry standing up, with the bristle end on top. That way your brush can air-dry quickly. Germs like to grow in dark, damp spaces, so don’t put your toothbrush in a case while it’s wet. If you take your brush to school or on a trip, make sure your brush is dry before you pack it away.
Don’t Keep Your Brush Too Long
After about three months, no matter how well you take care of your toothbrush, you’ll be needing a replacement. Bristles get worn out after weeks and weeks of brushing twice a day, and just can’t clean as well as they did when they were new.
Don’t Forget Regular Checkups
Regular cleanings at our Simsbury, CT pediatric dental office and exams with Dr. Maryam Azadpur will remove any plaque you missed and keep your smile clean and bright.
Keep your toothbrush to yourself, keep it clean, keep it dry, and don’t keep it too long—and you’ll help keep yourself, your teeth and your toothbrush in good health!
Is your child nervous about visiting Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry? Today, we put together some tips to help ensure your little one relaxes before his or her next dental checkup!
Start early. The earlier your child visits our Simsbury, CT office, the better. This will provide your child with a familiarity and ensure that he or she is comfortable with our team, office, and surroundings, whether it’s for a preventive visit or an emergency. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child first visit the dentist at age one or when the first tooth is visible.
Choose your words wisely. When preparing for a visit, go easy on the details. Over-explaining and adding more information about treatment such as a filling will lead to more questions as well as add unnecessary alarm. Remember to keep a positive attitude!
Bring a distraction to your child’s appointment. Bringing along music is a great idea. Just plug in those earphones, have your child close his or her eyes, and get lost in the tunes. Listening to music can also be a pain killer.
Consider a “pretend visit.” Before your child’s appointment, try role playing with him or her—you be the doctor and your child is the patient. All you'll need is a toothbrush. The key is getting your child familiar with the routine so that he or she is more relaxed once it’s time for the real visit with Dr. Maryam Azadpur.
Stress the importance of good oral health. Instill in your child that visiting the dentist is a necessity, not a choice, and that visiting the dentist will lead to a lifetime of smiles.
We hope this helps! For more on dental anxieties, ask us during your next visit to Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry! Or, ask us on Facebook!
