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Earth Day began in 1970 as an event to raise awareness of our environment. What began as a single day in April is now recognized around the world to bring attention and education to global environmental issues. Conserving our natural resources, reducing water and air pollution, and developing green technologies are all ways in which we can improve the environment around us.

Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse

One of the easiest ways to participate in Earth Day is by simply reducing the amount of refuse that ends up in landfills. Many communities have recycling programs for paper, plastic, and metal refuse. By keeping recyclable items out of landfills, we reduce the need for new disposal space and the amount of energy needed for burning refuse. Recycling products also helps conserve the resources that are used in making new products.

You can save money by reducing your consumption of many everyday products. Single disposable water bottles can be recycled but they are costly. By using filtered faucet water, you can conserve your financial resources. Disposable paper towels can also be wasteful. Consider reusable cleaning rags for the majority of your chores.

Reusing items saves both the environment and your finances. A large number of products can be re-purposed to create a new item. Old furniture can be remade into a new piece. Old clothing can be used for craft items. If you are not able to find ways to reuse your old items, donate them to a charity. Remember to continue your positive environmental steps on a daily basis.

Other things you can do to improve the environment

Everyone, young or old, can find ways to participate in improving the environment. Some ideas include:

• Planting trees
• Picking up litter
• Reducing energy consumption
• Walking, bicycling, or carpooling to work or school
• Disposing of hazardous waste properly
• Using rain barrels to conserve water for plants

Earth Day is designed to appreciate and celebrate the health of the earth. Keeping the earth healthy is important, but keeping your mouth healthy is important, too. Healthy teeth and gums contribute to your overall health and well-being, so remember to call our team at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry to schedule an appointment. Have a happy and healthy Earth Day, from Dr. Maryam Azadpur!

Many of our young patients experience anxiety during dental appointments. Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team want to help your child overcome any fear he or she may feel when coming in for regular visits.

If you know your child suffers from anxiety during dental checkups, nitrous oxide sedation, popularly known as “laughing gas,” may be helpful. Nitrous oxide can be used during many types of dental procedures.

It has a sweet odor and taste, and gets mixed with oxygen when supplied through a mask. The effects typically kick in within a few minutes and leave your child feeling calm and relaxed.

Nitrous is helpful because your child will stay conscious and able to move and answer questions the doctor may ask. The drug is also convenient because the effects go away within a few minutes after the mask is removed.

Nitrous oxide is not dangerous when it’s combined with oxygen. It is non-addictive and non-allergenic. When used properly, nitrous oxide reduces anxiety, while allowing continued communication between the patient and dentist during a procedure. It can also help alleviate pain or discomfort during exams.

You should know that nitrous oxide may cause nausea in up to ten percent of patients. This drug is not recommended for people who suffer from certain medical conditions. We recommend discussing this method with Dr. Maryam Azadpur if your child's dental anxiety begins to interfere with his or her appointments.

We want all our patients to feel comfortable during their care. Talk with Dr. Maryam Azadpur at your child's next appointment to find out if nitrous oxide is an option. If you have questions regarding nitrous oxide, call our Simsbury, CT location and we’ll be happy to answer them.

April brings a few exciting celebrations to our office! We will be celebrating Alison and Kay this week for Hygienist Appreciation Week. Additionally, we will be celebrating Pat, Jill, Kelly, Susan, & Shari for Administrative Professionals Day on April 27th. All these people are vital parts of our practice, and we can't say enough good things about them.

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Since most of our patients are under the age of 18, oral cancer does not come up often. Schedule regular visits with Dr. Azadpur and we will monitor your child's oral health at each visit. However, some of the symptoms you should be checking for are a lip or mouth sore that doesn’t heal, a white or reddish patch on the inside of your mouth, loose teeth, a growth or lump inside your mouth, mouth pain, ear pain, and difficult/painful swallowing.

We suggest that you continuously pay attention to anything in your child's mouth that does not look right or does not heal in a timely manner. Give us a call if you are concerned and be prepared to take a picture of the affected area for Dr. Azadpur to see.

This month we are introducing a new service. We are so excited to introduce our newest technology: dental laser!! This amazing device will eliminate drills, needles, and numbness and will help us to provide gentle and virtually pain-free treatments. Healing time will be much faster too, and your child will be able to resume their activities directly following their treatment!

As a quick refresher, we are still requiring masks and temperature checks in the office and your appointments need to be confirmed ahead of time. Good news! We have unlocked the door to the reception area and no longer ask that you call when you arrive.

If you are looking to schedule an appointment, the best way to do so is by calling the office or sending an appointment request via our website and someone will call you back as soon as possible. We are booking out about 3 months, although last minute openings do occur so you may get lucky!

We are so happy to see signs of spring everywhere! Warmer weather, flowers beginning to peek up from the ground, and garden centers stocking up on inventory. The long winter is finally over!

It's a moment many of our patients have experienced. One second you're chewing on a piece of gum, then suddenly you forget to keep chewing and swallow the entire rubbery gob whole! It's at this point you remember your mother warning you as a child that if you swallow gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your belly for seven years. Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter your stomach and move through your digestive system just like any other piece of food. So, if you ever accidentally swallow a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

That being said, it's important to know that gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not exactly harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are an avid gum-chewer, we encourage you to chew sugarless gum, especially if you are wearing braces, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but has fewer cavity-causing ingredients. In fact, many brands contain an additive called xylitol, a natural sweetener known to fight cavity-causing bacteria. Xylitol is also known to increase salivary flow as it rinses away plaque and acid.

The fact is, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long-term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

If you have any questions about chewing gum, please contact our office. Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing!