The Tooth Fairy:
Baby teeth hold the space for the future. So keep them clean and healthy, brush and floss. Eat healthy meals and nutritional snacks. Visit your Pediatric Dentist for regular check -ups, cleaning and fluoride treatment. Look forward to several visits from The Tooth Fairy.

Freddie Frog:
Wow, Lions have such big beautiful teeth. Your teeth are very important to you. You need your teeth to chew your food and they help you speak properly too. What would happen if you were playing and knocked out one of your teeth by accident?

Lizzie Lion:
My Dentist could help put my tooth back in my gums. I need to put my tooth back in it's place and go see my dentist immediately.

Freddie Frog:
What if you couldn't hold the tooth in place or couldn't get to a Dentist right away?

Lizzie Lion:
Then I can put my tooth in a glass of cold whole milk until I get to the Dentist. I try to be very careful of my teeth, but if something like that happens, my Dentist can help put my tooth right back where it belongs.

Freddie Frog:
Wow, Dentists sure are great friends to have. How do you take care of all those teeth?

Lizzie Lion:
I brush my teeth after every meal and before I go to sleep. At night, before bed I floss very carefully. Good lions need good teeth. Also, I see my Dentist for regular checkups and special cleanings. You must remember, prevention is the key to healthy teeth.

Freddie Frog:
Can I go see your Dentist friend too?

Lizzie Lion:
No silly, frogs don't have teeth.

Freddie Frog:
Do Dentists only take care of your teeth?

Lizzie Lion:
Dentists help us take care of our whole self by taking care of our teeth.

Freddie Frog:
What else does your Dentist tell you about tooth care?

Lizzie Lion:
My dentist makes sure I remember to brush and floss and be careful of my teeth. He tells me about all the right things to do in case I have an accident or some problem with my teeth. You can read all about it by clicking on the Band-Aid icon at the bottom of this page. --- Tooth Fairy, what do I do when I start to grow up and my baby teeth fall out?

The Tooth Fairy:
That's a very special time in your life little lion, it means your body and mouth are growing big and strong and now you're ready for your permanent teeth to grow. Each of you are very dear to me and I like to help you celebrate this time by coming to visit you while you sleep. If you put your tooth under your pillow, I'll know and leave you a special surprise. Kids, why wait for a tooth to fall out for a visit from the tooth fairy. You can e-mail her at: toothfairy@fairyland.com.

First Aid for
Dental Emergencies

Clean the area around the sore tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm salt water or use dental floss to dislodge trapped food or debris. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth. If face is swollen, apply a cold compress. Take acetaminophen for pain

Apply ice to bruise areas. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a clean gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take the child to a hospital emergency room.

Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the top (crown), not the root portion. You may rinse the tooth, but DO NOT clean or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Try to reinsert it in the socket. Have the child hold the tooth in place by biting on a clean gauze or cloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing milk or water. See a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.

If a broken appliance can be removed easily , take it out. If it cannot, cover the sharp or protruding portion with cotton balls, gauze, or chewing gum. If a wire is stuck in the gums, cheek, or tongue, DO NOT remove it. Take the child to a dentist immediately. Loose or broken appliances which do not bother the child don't usually require emergency attention.

Rinse dirt from injured area with warm water. Place cold compresses over the face in the area of the injury. Locate and save any broken tooth fragments. Immediate dental attention is necessary.

Fold and pack a clean gauze or cloth over the bleeding area. Have the child bite on the gauze with pressure for 15 minutes. This may be repeated once; if bleeding persists, see a dentist.

Many children occasionally suffer from "cold" or "canker" sores. Usually over-the-counter preparations give relief or apply vitamin E oil on lesion a few times daily. Because some serious diseases may begin as sores, it is important to have a dental evaluation if these sores persist

Prevention is the Key - A professionally made properly fitted mouth guard can prevent or minimize sports related dental injuries to your child.

It is highly recommended that for any contact sport especially basketball, baseball and soccer, where there are high incidents of serious injuries during practice that professionally made mouth guards be used.