Dental emergencies can be challenging and stressful especially when this involves children. You need to handle this quickly so that pain can be alleviated and you can prevent further damage. It is important that your child gets the right care.
You need to recognise the signs of a dental emergency.
This can be chipped or broken teeth, toothaches, knocked out teeth or injuries to soft tissues in their mouth. The symptoms can vary but this will include swelling, pain and bleeding. Sometimes there will be difficulty speaking or eating. If you have recognised a dental emergency, you can visit SD children’s dental Cleveland so that they can receive prompt treatment. A toothache can result from many things such as a gum infection, tooth decay or a cavity. If your child is complaining of a toothache, you can have them rinse their mouth with warm salt water so that the pain and inflammation can be reduced. Heat or ice should not be placed directly on the area affected as it can make the pain worse. You can use over-the-counter pain relievers with the right dosage for your child’s age. But make sure to consult with a dentist as soon as possible so that the underlying cause of the pain can be identified and addressed.
If your child has a chipped or broken tooth,
This can be quite painful. When this happens, you need to rinse their mouth with warm water so that the area can be cleaned. There may be bleeding and if this is the case, you can use a clean gauze or cloth to apply gentle pressure. If you are able, you can save broken pieces of the tooth so that you can bring them to the dental clinic. A broken tooth will need dental restoration such as a crown, filling or bonding. The treatment will depend on the extent of the damage. You have to contact your dentist right away and schedule an emergency appointment. Sometimes rough play or falls can lead to a knocked out tooth and this will need immediate attention. You need to pick up the tooth only from the crown and this is the part that is visible in the mouth. The root of the tooth should not be touched. You can rinse it gently with water so that any debris on it can be removed but it should not be scrubbed or cleaned with soap.
You can try to place the tooth back into the socket
And tell your child to bite down on a piece of clean cloth so that the tooth can be kept in place. Sometimes, reinsertion will not be possible and you will need to store the tooth in a container filled with saline solution or milk. Make sure you go to the dental clinic immediately. You will have the highest chance of saving the tooth if you are able to get treatment within 30 minutes of sustaining the injury. It can be quite painful if your child has an injury to the soft tissues of the mouth like tears or cuts to the lips, tongue or gums. You need to rinse the area with warm salt water so that it is cleaned. This will also reduce the risk of infection.
