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Our team at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry knows that every parent loves to hear his or her child say, "no cavities!" when leaving our office. Let's talk about why primary (baby) teeth get cavities, what you can do to help prevent them, and what Dr. Maryam Azadpur can do if your child gets a cavity. It's a team effort!

Prevention is Key

A well-balanced diet high in protein, vitamins, and minerals (especially calcium and phosphorous) is an important part of cavity prevention. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) states that children should eat healthy snacks like cheese, vegetables, and yogurt, and drink milk. Limit hard candy and carbonated beverages, which have acid and can cause tooth decay. Also, do not put children to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice because sugary fluids pool around the teeth and gums, which promotes decay.

In addition to limiting sweets and scheduling regular visits at our Simsbury, CT office, make sure your child flosses once a day and brushes his or her teeth twice a day with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. A good rule of thumb is if children can tie their shoelace, then they should be able to brush their teeth without help. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the following basic brushing techniques:

• Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
• Move the brush back and forth gently in short strokes
• Brush the outer surfaces, inside surfaces and chewing surfaces of all teeth.
• To clean the inside surface of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.
• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh.

These tips will greatly increase cavity prevention; however, if your child gets a cavity, it will not heal on its own and must be fixed. Dr. Maryam Azadpur will remove the decayed part of the tooth and fill the hole where the decay was. You may wonder why it's important to fill baby teeth if they're going to fall out eventually. Baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth to grow in. If one is lost, teeth may shift and prevent a permanent tooth from growing in. In addition, a decayed tooth can become abscessed and cause pain. No fun!

Let’s work together to help your child develop good oral health habits that last a lifetime. Please contact our office if you have any questions about your child's diet or cavity prevention.

When you were a kid, your parents may have told you to drink milk to build strong bones and grow tall and strong. Now that you have children of your own, you may hear yourself parroting those instructions you received years ago. Getting enough dairy is essential for young children whose teeth are growing. A child who consumes the recommended daily serving of dairy will develop healthy, strong teeth for the rest of his or her life.

So, which foods are the best in terms of acquiring the right amount of calcium? Milk and other dairy products are excellent sources of calcium. Milk also contains vitamin D, phosphorus, magnesium, and proteins. Magnesium promotes calcium deposits in your enamel, while phosphorus forms a small but important barrier against acidic foods that cause cavities. Vitamin D and protein are used by a child’s body to build bone tissue and maintain dental health.

According to a recent study, the majority of Americans, including children, do not receive enough calcium. In fact, according to the Academy of General Dentistry, only one in five children meets even the minimum standards for calcium consumption. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that children under the age of eight should receive two and a half cups of dairy per day. Children older than eight need three full cups, the same as adult men and women. In addition to milk, eating yogurt is a great way your child can increase his or her dairy consumption. Drinking sugary beverages in place of milk causes cavities and tooth decay.

If your child does not get enough dairy consumption, they run the risk of improper tooth development and other dental health problems. Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry encourage you to monitor your child’s dairy consumption to ensure he or she grows healthy teeth to last a lifetime.

Questions? Give us a call at our Simsbury, CT office!

Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team hear this question a lot. While many people believe periodontal disease is an adult problem, studies have indicated that periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, as well as other serious infections such as gingivitis and periodontitis, are prevalent among kids and adolescents. First, let’s identify the differences between gingivitis, periodontitis, and periodontal disease.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a type of periodontal disease in which only your child’s gums are affected. Characterized by swollen and red gums that bleed easily, gingivitis causes an inflammation of the gums, and is the first stage and mildest form of periodontal disease. The good news is that gingivitis is often reversible. Treatment for gingivitis includes having your child come in for a professional teeth cleaning. It also includes daily brushing, which will help eliminate plaque from the surfaces of your child’s teeth. Your child should also get in the habit of flossing daily to remove plaque and food particles wedged in the crevices between his or her teeth.

Periodontitis

If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease that can not only damage your child’s gum tissue, but also destroy the underlying bone which supports the teeth. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed. In some cases, the bacteria from the ensuing infection may also be distributed to other areas of the body via the bloodstream.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums, periodontal ligament, and bone that surround and support your child’s teeth. Periodontal disease causes gums to become red, swollen, and tender, and can even cause the gums to recede (pull away) from the teeth. If left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss.

Having persistent at-home oral care regimen is a critical step in your child’s fight against periodontal disease. But sometimes brushing and flossing are simply not enough. Having your child’s teeth cleaned twice a year, or as recommended, is crucial.

Early diagnosis of gingivitis, periodontitis, and periodontal disease can give you and your child peace of mind. If you are concerned your child is suffering from gum disease, we recommend that you give us a call at our Simsbury, CT office. We look forward to working with you and giving your child a smile to last a lifetime!

Happy October from Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry. In the office, we are still under safety precautions for COVID-19 so we don’t have anything on display that could potentially be a source of exposure but Jill decorated a terrific pumpkin that is on display at a fellow doctor’s office as part of a contest they are running! Check out Dr. Zaidi’s Facebook page and vote for our pumpkin. Outside of the office, we are so excited to get into the spirit of the season! There are so many festivities and traditions we look forward to this time of year. A few of our favorites are pumpkin and apple picking, planting mums, attending neighborhood parties, going to craft fairs, decorating with purple, green, and orange lights, and nibbling at the candy meant for the trick or treaters.

Since Halloween night will look a little different this year, the team will celebrate the night doing other cozy activities. Some of us will have a movie marathon with some beloved Halloween themed movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, and The Witches. Others will sit by a warm fire, maybe make a nice stew, and eat the Halloween candy we bought anyway!

In other office news, we recently welcomed Kelly to our office. You will find her at the front desk, checking out patients, and handing out prizes to our patients. Make sure to say hello to Kelly! Susan and Shari celebrated their first year at the office. Lilly, our dental assistant had a birthday this month, Happy Birthday Lilly!

Please note, all of our forms can now be found online over on our website. To get set up, click "Patient Login" to create your user name and password in order to access your account. We also just launched an interactive live chat feature on our website and Google page. It's a great way to get quick answers to common questions. If your question can't be answered there, we will definitely reach out personally.

We want to thank all of our families for adjusting to our new routines in the office. The office couldn’t run smoothly without your cooperation. Be on the lookout for a great video that goes over all of our new policies and procedures. We also created an oral hygiene video suitable for 3-5-year olds that we will use in place of in-person visits to area preschools and daycares.

It’s promo time! We recently kicked off of our 4th quarter referral/reviews promo. We are giving away not one, but TWO Nintendo Switch consoles this time. Write a review and get 1 entry, and referrals get you 2 entries. The drawing will be held on January 4, 2021. Good luck!

We wish you all a happy and safe October! Hope to see you in our office again soon.