Emergencies happen and when they do we are here for you and your child.  Here are some common dental emergencies and ways to address them before calling our office.

Toothache

If your child develops a toothache, examine the child’s mouth to make sure there is nothing stuck in or around the tooth or gum.  An over the counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be given to help with discomfort and cold compresses may be applied to help with swelling.  Contact our office immediately.

Object Caught in Teeth

Sometimes foods like popcorn husks or stringy meats can get wedged in between a child’s teeth causing discomfort.  Try using dental floss to dislodge the object. NEVER use a sharp tool or piece of metal or plastic to remove anything from the mouth.  If you can’t remove the item with dental floss, call our office.

Bitten Lip or Tongue

If your child bites their lip or tongue enough to cause bleeding, have the child rinse with water and see if you can determine the size of the cut.  Sometimes a drop of blood in a mouthful of saliva can make the wound look worse than it is.  Give your child a cold, wet towel or washcloth and have them hold it to the area to reduce or avoid swelling. If you need help determining the size or severity of the cut, please call our office.

Fractured or Chipped Tooth

If your child has chipped or broken a tooth, try to locate the fragment and have the child rinse their mouth with warm water. If necessary, use a cold compress to reduce swelling and call our office as soon as possible.

Broken Jaw

If you know or suspect your child has a broken jaw, immediately call our office and go to the hospital. Oftentimes a broken jaw is suffered from an impact to the head and requires immediate medical attention to rule out concussions and other life-threatening head injuries.

Knocked-Out Tooth

If your child has a fall or other injury resulting in immediate tooth loss, rinse the tooth gently with water and place in a clean container with milk, taking care not to touch the root of the tooth. It may be possible to save the tooth. Call us immediately and/or head to the hospital.

Loose Tooth

If your child has a very loose tooth, it should be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled.

Preventing Injury

There are many ways to help prevent injuries to your child’s mouth. Make sure your home is safe for children and keep sharp, dangerous objects up and away from small hands.  Don’t let them chew on hard candy, ice or non-food items that can get lodged in their mouth or teeth.

If your child plays contact sports, we can make them a protective mouthguard to help prevent trauma in case of injury.