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With children undergoing developmental dental changes and engaging in rough-and-tumble activities, dental emergencies can sometimes arise. If your child knocks out a tooth or experiences any type of oral discomfort, call Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry right away so we can provide you with a quick assessment and pain-free treatment.

Before an emergency occurs, it’s a good idea to stay informed about the problems your child may encounter. Here are a few things you should keep in mind about teething pain, loose baby teeth, and other common dental issues.

Teething Pain

Typically occurring in babies that are between four months and two and a half years old, teething may cause excessive drooling, tender gums, and some irritability. Giving your baby a cold teething ring or gently rubbing her gums with wet gauze or your finger may also make her feel better.

Loose Baby Tooth

It is normal for a child’s first set of teeth to become loose and fall out. On the other hand, if your child’s baby tooth is knocked loose, schedule an appointment with our office so we can assess whether any damage has been done.

Issues with Permanent Teeth

Sometimes a child’s permanent teeth will grow in before the baby teeth have fallen out. Even if this condition isn’t causing any discomfort, you should schedule an appointment with our office so we can determine whether your child’s permanent teeth are growing in correctly.

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums can result from a number of factors, including periodontal disease, rough brushing, or an injury to the gum tissue. If your child’s gums are bleeding heavily, call our office right away so we can address the situation. If you have time before your appointment, wash your child’s mouth with salted water and gently put pressure on the affected area.

Regardless of the type of dental issue your child has, you can always consult Dr. Maryam Azadpur for further guidance. We make sure our emergency services are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, so you have ready access to convenient and professional dental care that will have your child feeling better in no time.

If you have been bringing your baby in for regular checkups since that first tooth arrived, you might expect that he or she is already familiar with Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our staff. Often, though, months pass between visits, which is a very long time for a child. How can you make your preschooler’s return visit a happy one? We have some suggestions!

Before Your Visit

• Prepare your child for her visit. Simple explanations are best for a young child. You might tell your daughter that a dentist is a doctor who helps keep her teeth strong and healthy. Let her know a bit about what will happen. Being told, “You will sit in a special chair,” or, “Can you open wide so we can count your teeth?” will give her some idea of what it’s like to visit our office.
• There are many entertaining books for young children about visiting the dentist. Reading some of these to her for a few days before the appointment will let her know what to expect.
• Use playtime to prepare. You might count your daughter’s teeth or let her “play dentist” and brush the teeth of her favorite doll or stuffed animal.

When You Arrive

• Your attitude can be contagious! If you treat a visit to the dentist like any other outing, chances are your child will too. Your calm presence is exactly what your child needs.
• You might want to come a bit early to let your son explore the office. Bring a favorite toy or book to keep him entertained if you need to. A favorite stuffed toy can be a comfort in an unfamiliar place.
• If you are with your child during his checkup, follow our lead. Don’t be concerned if your child seems uncooperative at first or even throws a tantrum—we are used to working with children, and have techniques to make his experience as relaxed and as positive as we possibly can.

We Are Here to Help

We are your partners in your child’s dental care. Call our Simsbury, CT office anytime for suggestions about making your child’s visit a comfortable, comforting experience. Our goal is to start your child confidently on the road to a lifetime of empowering dental visits and lasting dental health.

Today, Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry thought we would answer some of the most frequent questions about pediatric dentistry and oral health we hear from parents.

What constitutes a “healthy, balanced diet” for my child?

A healthy, balanced diet contains all the nutrients your child needs to grow, including one serving each of fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, and meat, fish and eggs per day. Make sure your child limits snacking in between meals and limits how frequently they consume food or beverages that contain sugar, which is known to cause tooth decay. Besides pastries, cookies, and candy, sugars are usually found in processed foods such as crackers, cereals, and soda, as well as in condiments like ketchup.

Should my kid give up all foods that contain sugar?

Absolutely not, we simply recommend choosing and serving sugars sparingly. A food with sugar is safer for teeth if it is eaten with a meal, not as a snack. When your child chews during his or her meal, the saliva produced helps neutralize the acids that are found in sugary and starchy foods. Foods that are not easily washed away from your child’s teeth by saliva, water, or milk have more cavity-causing potential.

What causes cavities?

Many types of bacteria live in our mouths—some good, some bad. When these bacteria come into contact with sugary foods left behind on your child’s teeth after eating, acids are produced. These acids then attack the enamel, and eventually eat through the enamel and create holes in the teeth, which Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team call cavities, or caries.

How can I help my child avoid cavities?

This is a great question that we hear a lot. Make sure that your child brushes his teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Flossing daily is also important, as flossing can reach spots between the teeth that brushing simply can’t. And finally, we encourage you to schedule regular appointments with Dr. Maryam Azadpur at our Simsbury, CT office so that we can check the state of your child’s teeth and gums, as well as provide a professional cleaning to protect him or her from cavities and gum disease.

What is the best way to clean my baby’s teeth?

We recommend you clean your baby’s gums after feedings with a damp, soft washcloth. This is even before your baby’s first tooth appears. As soon as his or her first tooth does appear, you may begin using a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head. You can most likely find a toothbrush designed for infants at your local drugstore or ask us for one during your next visit.

What should I do if my child has a toothache?

First, we recommend rinsing the irritated area with warm salt water and placing a cold compress on his or her face if it is swollen. If you have any at home, give your child acetaminophen for any pain, rather than placing aspirin on the affected teeth or gums. Finally, give us a call as soon as possible to schedule an appointment with Dr. Maryam Azadpur.

We hope that helps! Please give us a call if you have any questions or ask us next time you visit our office for your child’s appointment with Dr. Maryam Azadpur! If you have any other questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, we would love to hear from you.

Happy September! This month we would like to highlight our 20th-year celebration here in the Farmington Valley. This past weekend, we participated in Septemberfest, run by the Simsbury Performing Arts Council. It was a huge hit and a lot of fun. Thank you for all that stopped by and participated in our awesome giveaways.

We are excited to celebrate National Coffee Day this month, on September 29th. In the office we like to enjoy a few drinks, Jill goes for a Butter Pecan flavor, Pat reaches for the old-school hot coffee, cream, and sugar, and Kelly likes hers with almond milk and hazelnut swirl. When you really need an afternoon boost you can rely on caffeine. Fun fact, caffeine can help with the occasional migraine and headaches. 

Now that school is back in session, we do have a few office-related updates. Our early morning and late afternoon appointments fill up fast! We can't accommodate everyone's requests for those time slots, so we ask for your understanding! We try to reserve the late-day slots for our teens and tweens who find it harder to miss school. Dental appointments are considered excused absences and we will be happy to provide a school note. Please be mindful of your child's school schedule when booking, especially if you come in March and then need to book that 6 months return visit in September. 

We know that with flu season just right around the corner, and with the continuation of COVID-19, some of our patients may be nervous to schedule an in-person visit. Here at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry, your child can expect a warm and friendly welcome every time they come in. Our COVID-19 protocols are posted on our website and we have created a short video under "Office Tour" where you and your child can see exactly what to expect when you are here. We ask that only 1 parent accompany their child and no extra siblings unless they also have an appointment at that time. We continue to employ strict cleaning and sanitation protocols. We clean our check-in tablets after every single use and provide hand sanitizer at the door for everyone entering. Flu shots are available at local pharmacies too. 

Now for the fun part! We have a few employees we want to shout out this month. Kelly and Susan have been rocking the front desk! They make a fabulous team, supporting each other and looking out for the clinical staff. They handle rescheduling requests, New Patient calls, and keep our schedule full! Shari, our Marketing Director is celebrating her 2nd anniversary this month. She not only handles all the marketing for the office but also provides support for the front desk each day. Melissa, one of our dental assistants, is celebrating her birthday in September. 

We really appreciate how committed our patients and families are in responding to the ever-changing COVID-19 situation. We feel fortunate to live in an area with people who take this situation very seriously and work hard to keep the numbers in our state low. We hope to see you soon and thank you for being the best part of Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry.