Dental emergencies can happen to anybody at any time, which is why it’s important to be prepared for the unexpected. As a parent, knowing how to act quickly and effectively if your child has a toothache or dental damage can be the difference between saving and losing their tooth. With the right tools in your back pocket, you’ll be able to relieve your little one’s pain and prevent further damage from occurring. Read on to learn everything you should know about handling children’s dental emergencies from a dentist.
What Should You Do For a Knocked-Out Tooth?
Whether it’s a knocked-out permanent or baby tooth caused by trauma, it’s important to examine your child’s mouth for any signs of a more serious injury. Even if their temporary tooth gets dislodged, it’s still important to contact your emergency dentist as soon as possible. For permanent teeth, it’s important to only retrieve the tooth by handling the biting surface of it. It’s important to keep it moist, so be sure to store it in a sealed container of milk while you’re making your way to the dentist’s office. In this situation, time is of the essence, so it’s important to reach your emergency dentist within an hour of the accident.
What If Your Child Cracks a Tooth?
Depending on the severity of the damage, broken or cracked teeth may not require as urgent of attention. For small chips that don’t cause your child pain, it’s important to schedule a dentist appointment to get it checked out, but it may not require immediate care. Significant breakage or damage can expose the nerves in your child’s teeth, putting them in pain. In this situation, be sure to contact your emergency dentist to schedule an appointment that same day. You can place a cold compress on their face to help keep swelling down and ease their discomfort.
How Should You Treat a Bitten Tongue or Lip?
If your child bites their cheek, lip, or tongue, rinse their mouth with warm water to clean the area and apply a cold compress to prevent any swelling from occurring. You can also hold down a piece of fresh gauze on the area to help the blood clot. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, take them to the emergency room to receive medical attention.
How Can You Relieve a Toothache?
If your child has a toothache, it could be caused by a lodged piece of debris or an infection. Gently maneuver dental floss between their teeth to remove any debris. If their pain persists, it could be the cause of a tooth infection. In this case, take them to visit their emergency dentist as soon as possible.
As a parent, your first priority is your child’s safety and comfort. With this knowledge on hand, you’ll be able to tackle unexpected dental emergencies and prevent additional oral damage from occurring, keeping your little one’s smile as healthy and beautiful as ever.
About the Author
Dr. Armin Tepner is passionate about treating patients of all ages and helping them meet their dental goals. He strives to provide fast and high-quality emergency dental care to help ease his patient’s pain and restore their oral health. He has completed advanced training in sedation dentistry to help make his patients feel relaxed and comfortable in times of distress. For first-aid guidance or to schedule an emergency appointment, visit Indianapolis Family Dentistry’s website or call 317-898-3384.