Kids based in Baltimore without dental insurance received free dental care at the Kool Smiles clinic in Southwest Baltimore on Sunday. Kids with cavities, gum damage and other mouth problems were treated and sent home with advice regarding brushing and flushing.
Dentists and hygienists from five local offices of Kool Smiles spent the day cleaning teeth, pulling teeth and filling cavities for free. The dental event, known as "Sharing Smiles Day," was held at the Westside Shopping Center location.
Dental care is extremely important since it is an indication of the body's health, according to Dr. Jane Whang, the area dental director for Kool Smiles. The company then wanted to provide dental care for children to meet their needs, according to Baltimore Sun.
Although the company does not charge indigent families during emergencies, the event focused on dental education and preventative care for both parents and their children. Some of the children have never even been to the dentist before. Whang explains that in many cases, it's not that they do not care, but because they do not know.
Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases in children based in the U.S. More than 40 percent of children suffer from dental decay by the time they reach kindergarten, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The sooner children begin getting regular checkups, the healthier mouths will stay throughout their lives, according to The Center for Pediatric Dentistry. Checkups can help prevent tooth decay and cavities, which may lead to pain, difficulty in concentrating and other medical issues.
Every child should visit a dentist as early as one year old, or as soon as the first tooth appears, according to the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dentists can also teach parents the causes of decay, how to brush young teeth and the importance of encouraging kids to drink water, milk or juice from a cup.
In the past two years, Kool Smiles has held two of these events as the management plans to make it an annual event. Aside from prioritizing volunteer work, Whang explains that the company plans to sponsor mission trips to Ecuador and other countries that lack the same level of dental that is available in the U.S.
