Kool Smiles
What should I do in a dental emergency?
If it is during business hours:
- Call and come into the office. For emergencies, no appointment is needed; however please call in advance, if possible, so the office will expect your visit.
If it is after business hours:
- If you are a Kool Smiles patient, please call your office and you will be directed to the doctor on call.
For immediate attention, or if you are not a Kool Smiles patient
- Call 911 for immediate assistance
- Go to the nearest hospital emergency room
When should tooth brushing and flossing begin?
Parents should begin brushing their baby's teeth as soon as the first tooth appears in the mouth. It is also a good idea to use a clean finger or a damp cloth to wipe the gums even before the teeth erupt. When brushing your child's teeth, use a soft-bristled brush with a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste. A child should begin flossing when two teeth erupt next to each other, to prevent cavities from forming in-between. Flossing is especially important for the molars, because they are generally closer to each other than the front teeth are.
How often should I replace a toothbrush?
Dentists and hygienists recommend that you replace your child's toothbrush approximately every three to four months, or when the bristles appear worn. A worn toothbrush may not clean your child's teeth effectively and could harm the gums.
What should I do for a toothache?
To help relieve your child's toothache, thoroughly clean the area around the sore tooth. Then rinse the child's mouth vigorously with warm salt water, or use dental floss to dislodge trapped food or debris. Apply a cold compress to reduce any swelling. See your child's dentist as soon possible.
When should my child visit the dentist for the first time?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children begin check-ups at their first birthday, or when their first tooth erupts. This will help you to establish a preventive care routine that will create a smile for a lifetime.
What should I do for a cut or bite inside the cheek?
If your child cuts or bites their cheek, tongue, or lips, apply ice to the bruised area immediately. Apply firm but gentle pressure with a clean cloth or a piece of gauze. If the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or cannot be controlled by simple pressure, you may need to consult an emergency room physician.
What should I do for a broken tooth?
A broken tooth requires immediate dental attention. Rinse away any dirt from the injured area. Locate and save any tooth fragments and seek emergency dental care as soon as possible.
If your child knocks out a permanent tooth, immediately try to find the tooth. Rinse the tooth in cold water but be careful not to touch the root. Try to re-insert the tooth into the socket, and hold it in place by having your child bite down on a clean piece of gauze or cloth. If the tooth cannot be re-inserted, take it to the dentist in a cup of cold water or milk. Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth, so be sure to see your dentist within 30 minutes.
One of the biggest concerns about injury to the baby teeth is the possibility that they will be pushed into the gum and cause damage to developing permanent teeth. If you suspect that this type of injury has occurred, please bring your child for dental X-rays as soon as possible.
What should I do if my child bleeds after losing a baby tooth?
If your child bleeds after losing a baby tooth, fold and pack a clean piece of gauze over the bleeding area. Have the child bite on the gauze with pressure for 15 minutes. If bleeding persists, consult a dentist.
What should I know about bottles, pacifiers, and thumb sucking?
To promote optimal oral health, parents are encouraged to wean infants from a bottle, pacifier, thumb, and nursing when the first baby molars start to erupt. For most infants, that's at approximately 14 to 18 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that weaning a child at about this age is an effective way to prevent many forms of decay in the baby teeth.
What should I know about baby teeth?
Even before you can see them, baby teeth (also known as primary teeth) are developing under your infant's gums. Though they eventually fall out, taking care of your child's baby teeth is important because they reserve space in the jaw for permanent teeth.
Watch how early dental care will help to create a healthy smile for a lifetime. Visit Kool Smiles at age one, or when your child's first tooth comes in. Watch the video »
Patterns of primary or baby tooth eruption vary from child to child. However, there are usually eight front teeth present by the first year; by three years of age, all 20 primary teeth are usually present. There are many differences between primary and permanent teeth. Primary teeth are smaller, whiter, and have a more rounded profile than permanent teeth. Primary molars have more cusps (rounded points) than premolars and sometimes resemble tiny flower buds! Permanent molars eventually erupt behind the primary molars and are substantially larger than any of the other teeth.
A baby tooth usually stays in until a permanent tooth underneath pushes it out and takes its place. Children usually lose their primary teeth between the ages of 6 and 12. Usually, the lower front teeth are lost first, followed by the upper front teeth. Eventually, all 20 primary teeth will be lost.
Unfortunately, some children lose their baby teeth too soon. A tooth might be knocked out accidentally or removed because of dental disease. When a tooth is lost too early, your dentist may recommend a space maintainer to prevent future space loss and dental problems. Space maintainers preserve the room created by a lost tooth. They are small and unobtrusive, and most children easily adjust to them after the first few days. It's more affordable and easier on your child to keep teeth in their normal positions with a space maintainer than to move them back in place later with orthodontic treatment.
Make sure you take care of your child's primary teeth; he or she will have them for nearly 12 years.
What if my child has a visible cavity?
It is never a good idea to ignore tooth decay—even in primary (baby) teeth. Primary teeth serve many functions, and most children have their primary teeth for nearly 12 years. Untreated decay will spread into the other teeth and greatly impair your child's ability to eat and speak properly.
The outer layer of enamel on primary teeth is much thinner than it is on permanent teeth. Once the second layer of the tooth, known as dentin, is exposed, it is much easier for decay to spread to other primary teeth.
It is important to take good care of primary teeth, because they maintain the proper spacing for your child's permanent teeth. To save a primary tooth with extreme tooth decay, your dentist might suggest a baby root canal (also called a pulpotomy) as an alternative to extraction. Baby root canals are much easier and quicker than root canals performed on permanent teeth.
How can I maintain proper oral hygiene for myself and my child?
Following a program of good oral care can greatly contribute to a person's overall nutrition and general well-being. People with healthy teeth are able to chew more easily, digest food better, and enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods. By practicing daily oral hygiene at home, eating nutritious meals, and making regular dental visits, you will help make sure your mouth stays healthy. A bright, healthy smile will make you and your child look and feel better.
Routine cleanings every six months and proper brushing and flossing every day are the smart and simple ways to enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles. Start your child now on a lifetime of good dental habits.