What To Do When You Kid Has A Dental Emergency

Posted December 20, 2021

A dental emergency can happen to anyone, but the playful exuberance of kids, not to mention their self-perceived invulnerability, leads to them injuring their mouths more frequently than adults. Unfortunately, not all incidents occur while the dentist’s office is open, so it is important to know what to do in a variety of these situations. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about what to do when a dental emergency befalls your child.

Broken Or Chipped Teeth

If your child breaks or chip a tooth, make sure you save every piece that you can. Once you do this, make sure they gently rinse their mouth with warm water. You should also run the broken tooth under water. If bleeding happens to occur, apply gauze to the area until the bleeding stops. If the area continues to hurt and starts to swell, hold a cold compress to the outside of your little one’s face where there is discomfort. Take over-the-counter pain relievers, if your child is an appropriate age, as needed. Finally, schedule an appointment to visit your dentist as quickly as possible. If you can, it is also advisable to bring in the tooth fragments, as well. Your dentist will recommend the right procedure to fix the issue

Knocked-Out Tooth

Since kids are prone to climbing, jumping, and roughhousing in general, knocked-out teeth are pretty common dental emergencies. If this does happen, you will need to try and find the tooth. If you do, hold it by the crown, and rinse off its root with water. Take care to not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If you can, attempt to put the tooth back in place in their mouth, but do not force it. If you can’t seem to do it, hold it in their mouth on the way to the dentist. If you cannot come in right away, place it in a small container of milk or a product like Save-a-Tooth. Make an appointment to come in as soon as possible. The sooner you see your dentist, the higher the chance of saving the tooth. This is less of a concern if your child still has their baby teeth.

Tooth Pain

If your child has a persistent toothache, should first make sure they rinse their mouth with warm water. Next, try to gently dislodge any food particles that might be situated between their teeth with dental floss. As mentioned above, applying a cold compress to the outside of their mouth or face can help reduce potential swelling. If the pain doesn’t seem to subside, make sure you bring your little one in for a checkup.

Contact Us In Case Of Dental Emergencies

If your child has a dental emergency, be sure to reach out to us as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment or ask us any questions, please contact your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.