Big Questions on Little Teeth?

Allow us to put you at ease with all the answers you need.

You and your child might have lots of questions about their hygiene habits, cavities, dental treatments, or how things work. Don’t be shy! The more you know, the more confidently you’ll make the right choices for your teeth. We love educating our patients on children’s dental services and will always take the time to ensure you understand our recommendations and your next steps.

Jump to our our common FAQ’s for Families

Put Your Family’s Health First

Put Your Family’s Health First

Calgary’s Top Rated Pediatric Dental Emergency Services

We put comfort and confidence at the center of every treatment plan

Calgary’s Top Rated Pediatric Dental Emergency Services

We put comfort and confidence at the centre of every treatment plan

You Can Count On Around-The-Clock Care

Accidents happen and sometimes require urgent care. We are here to help. However, if the office is closed (and If your child faces a dental emergency) , we refer them to our fantastic colleagues at Deer Valley Dental Care. Our after-hours line with their phone number is always available if your child’s health is at risk.

Below are tips on dealing with urgent dental situations. For quick thinking, you may want to display this list on your refrigerator, save it to your phone in an easy-to-find place, or store it near your emergency phone numbers for easy reference.

Bitten Lip or Tongue

If your child has a bitten lip or tongue severe enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress (a cold, wet towel or washcloth pressed firmly against the area). This will reduce or eliminate swelling. Contact us to help determine how serious the bite is.

Object Caught In Teeth

If your child has something caught between their teeth, use dental floss to remove it gently. Never use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to remove a stuck object. If you cannot remove the item with dental floss, contact us.

Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth

If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of a tooth, rinse their mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off. Then, contact us immediately.

Knocked-Out Tooth

If your child’s tooth has been knocked out, find the tooth and rinse it with water (no soap), taking care to only touch the tooth’s crown (the part you can see when it’s in place). Place the tooth in a clean container with milk. Contact us immediately and head to the hospital. If you act quickly, it’s possible to save the tooth.

Toothache

If your child complains of a toothache, rinse their mouth with warm water and inspect the teeth to ensure nothing is caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, as this can cause damage to the gums. Children’s pain relievers may be taken orally. It’s best to schedule an appointment immediately.

Broken Jaw

If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call our emergency number and head to the hospital immediately. In many cases, a broken jaw results from a blow to the head. Severe blows to the head can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

Loose Tooth

If your child has a very loose tooth, it should be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled.

How To Help Your Child Avoid a Dental Emergency

Child-proof your home to avoid falls.

Don’t let your child chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard foods.

Always ensure your child is properly secured in their car seat or wearing their seat belt in case of impact.

Have your child wear a mouthguard for any contact sports. Ask us about our custom-fit options!

Prevent toothaches with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to our office.

Thumb-Sucking | Somerset Dental on James

Thumb-Sucking 101: What Every Parent Should Know

75%-95% of infants suck their thumbs. Chances are there’s a thumb sucker (or a former thumb sucker) in your family. Is this cause for worry?

In most cases, the answer is no. However, it’s essential to pay attention to your child’s habits in case their behaviour has the potential to affect overall oral health.

  • Is the thumb-sucking passive? Is the thumb resting gently inside their mouth? This is acceptable and not likely to cause damage.

  • Is the thumb-sucking aggressive? Is there pressure being placed on their mouth and teeth? This may cause alignment issues down the road and impede proper mouth growth.

If you suspect your child’s thumb-sucking may affect their oral health, please contact us and schedule a visit. We can help you assess the situation.

How To Help Your Child Quit Thumb-Sucking

Always be supportive and positive. Instead of punishing your child for thumb sucking, give praise when they don’t do it or notice and stop.

Put a band-aid on your child’s thumb or a sock over the hand at night. Let your little one know that this is not a punishment but rather a way to help remember to avoid sucking.

Start a progress chart and let your child put a sticker up every day so that they don’t suck their thumb. If your child makes it through a week without sucking, they get to choose a prize. When the whole month is full, reward your child with something great (a toy, new video game, trip to their favourite restaurant, etc.); the habit should be over by then. Making your child an active participant in their treatment will increase the willingness to break the habit.

If you notice your child sucking when they are anxious, work on alleviating the anxiety rather than focusing on the thumb sucking.

Take note of the times your child tends to suck (long car rides, while watching movies) and create diversions during these occasions.

Explain clearly what might happen to the teeth if they keep thumb sucking.

Whatever your method, always remember that your child needs your support and understanding while breaking the habit of thumb sucking.

FAQs For Families

We generally recommend scheduling checkups every six months. Depending on your child’s oral health circumstances, we may recommend more frequent visits.

Although they don’t last as long as permanent teeth, your child’s first teeth play an essential role in his development. While they’re in place, these primary teeth help your little one speak, smile, and chew properly. They also hold space in the jaw for permanent teeth. If a child loses a tooth too early (due to damage or decay), nearby teeth may encroach on that space, which can result in crooked or misplaced permanent teeth. Also, your child’s general health is affected by the oral health of the teeth and gums.

Even before your baby’s first tooth appears, we recommend you clean his gums after feedings with a damp, soft washcloth. As soon as his first tooth appears, you can start using a toothbrush. Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head. You most likely can find a toothbrush designed for infants at your local drugstore.

Once your child has a few teeth, you can start using toothpaste on the brush. Use only a tiny amount for each cleaning, and be sure to choose toothpaste without fluoride for children under two. Too much fluoride can be dangerous for very young children. Always have your child rinse and spit out toothpaste after brushing to begin a lifelong habit he’ll need when he graduates to fluoride toothpaste. Children naturally want to swallow toothpaste after brushing, and swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can cause teeth to stain. You should brush your child’s teeth for them until they’re ready to take on that responsibility, which usually happens by age six or seven.

Certain types of bacteria live in our mouths. When these bacteria come into contact with sugary foods left behind on our teeth after eating, acids are produced. These acids attack the enamel on the exterior of the teeth, eventually eating through the enamel and creating holes in the teeth, which we call cavities.

Be sure that your child brushes his teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day. Flossing daily is also crucial because flossing can reach spots between the teeth that brushing can’t. Check with your pediatric dentist about a fluoride supplement which helps tooth enamel become harder and more resistant to decay. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, limit snacking, and maintain a healthy diet. And finally, make regular appointments so that we can check the health of your child’s teeth and provide professional cleanings.

Sealants cover the pits and fissures in teeth that are difficult to brush and therefore susceptible to decay. We recommend sealants as a safe, simple way to help your child avoid cavities, especially for molars, which are hardest to reach.

Even children’s sports involve contact, and we recommend mouthguards for children active in sports. If your little one plays baseball, soccer, or other sports, ask us about having a custom-fitted mouthguard made to protect his teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums.

Most children suck their thumbs or fingers as infants, and most grow out of it by the age of four without causing any permanent damage to their teeth. If your child continues sucking after permanent teeth erupt, or if he sucks aggressively, let us know, and we can check to see if any problems may arise from the habit.

Individualized X-rays are taken depending on spacing/crowding or specific concerns. Once the baby teeth in the back are touching one another, regular (at least yearly) X-rays are recommended. Permanent teeth start coming in around age six, and X-rays help us make sure your child’s teeth and jaw are healthy and properly aligned. If your child is at a high risk of dental problems, we may suggest having X-rays taken at an earlier age.

Terrific Smiles Start With Tender Care

Ease Your Children Into Life-Long Hygiene Habits

Terrific Smiles Start With Tender Care

Ease Your Children Into Life-Long Hygiene Habits

Book Your First Appointment

Book Your First Appointment