Yes. Often people will opt to pull a babies tooth rather than try and save it, because “it is only a baby tooth and will come out eventually anyway.” Baby teeth serve important purposes such as helping the child to speak clearly and to chew naturally. Baby teeth also act to guide permanent teeth into the correct position and permit normal development of the jaw, bones and muscles.

Sucking is a natural reflex and infants and young children may use thumbs, fingers, pacifiers and other objects on which to suck. Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of the permanent teeth can cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and tooth alignment. How intensely a child sucks on fingers or thumbs will determine whether or not dental problems may result. Children should stop thumb sucking by the time their permanent front teeth are ready to erupt. Pacifiers are no substitute for thumb sucking. They can affect the teeth essentially the same way as sucking fingers and thumbs.

Yes, but without toothpaste. You can use a small toothbrush with soft bristles at bedtime to remove plaque and bacteria. Instead of using toothpaste, just use a small amount of water. There are several soft bristled toothbrushes on the market that are designed specifically for infants.

At age two or three, a child should be ready to use toothpaste with fluoride. It is very important that only a small amount of toothpaste is used, such as the amount of a pea. The child should also be watched while brushing to be sure they spit out the excess toothpaste instead of swallowing it.

Children should visit a dentist when their first tooth comes in or no later than their first birthday.
Both baby and permanent teeth have fairly well-defined times of eruption.

Kids will fear the Dentist unless it is an informative and interactive experience. At Smiles, we aim to explain every step with the child. There will be no surprises and your kid should feel positive about their teeth. Avoid using words like drill, pull and needle as these are guaranteed to frighten!

Most children should see their dentist for a regular cleaning and check up every six months. Your dentist will determine if there are any special circumstances that might require more frequent visits.

By the age of 5 or 6, children should be able to brush their own teeth supervised, until about age 9. Proper brushing removes plaque from the inner, outer and chewing surfaces of the teeth. When teaching children to brush, place the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle, start along gum line with a soft bristle toothbrush in a gentle circular motion. Brush the outer surface of each tooth, upper and lower. Repeat the same method on the inside surfaces and chewing surfaces of all the teeth. Finish by brushing the tongue to help freshen breath and remove bacteria.

Good oral hygiene removes bacteria and the leftover food particles that combine to create cavities. For infants, use a wet gauze or clean washcloth to wipe the plaque from teeth and gums.
Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water as this could cause "baby bottle tooth decay". This form of decay is caused by frequent long exposure of an infants teeth to liquids that contain sugar. Among these liquids are milk (including breast milk), formula, fruit juice and other sweetened drinks.

A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) of the permanent back teeth (premolars and molars), where four out of five cavities in children are found. This sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth.

Clean the area of the infected tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge impacted food or debris. If the pain still persists, contact your Smiles dentist. Do not place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth. If the face is swollen apply cold compresses and contact your dentist immediately.

First thing is to find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root portion. You may rinse the tooth but DO NOT clean or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, and the child is old enough try to reinsert it in the socket. Have the patient hold it in place by biting down upon some gauze. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing the patient's saliva or milk. The patient must see a dentist immediately! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.