First Aid for Child Dental Emergencies

If you have a child, you understand that dental emergencies can happen. Some problems are a typical occurrence in children and accidents happen. Do you know how to handle a dental emergency and make your child more comfortable?

Here is an overview of some common dental emergencies in children and what you can do about it.

Toothache:

Children will often experience toothaches which can come from cavities or food becoming lodged in the tooth and gums. To treat toothache, clean around the area of the sore tooth thoroughly. Use warm salt water or dental floss if needed to dislodge food or debris trapped in the tooth.

Never use aspirin on the gum or tooth to soothe the aching. (This includes "children's aspirin").

Give the child acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain as needed and see a dentist as soon as possible. Toothache is a sign of a dental problem that needs to be treated by your child's dentist.

Cut, Broken or Bitten Lip, Tongue or Cheek

If the event that your child bites himself or has a busted lip in play, apply ice to any bruised or swollen areas. If there is bleeding, apply gentle but firm pressure to the area until bleeding stops. If bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes or cannot be stopped with gentle pressure, seek help from the emergency room.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

Many parents panic when their child loses a permanent tooth but the most important thing is to remain calm, recover the tooth and try to reinsert it. You can carefully rinse the tooth but be sure to hold it by its crown and avoid handling the roots or rubbing too hard. Place the tooth carefully back into its socket and have the child bite down on a clean gauze or towel to create pressure to hold the tooth in place.

If you are unable to reinsert the tooth, transport it in a cup of clean water or milk and see a dentist immediately. Time is very crucial when it comes to reinsterting a permanent tooth. If the accident occurs after dentist hours, you can take your child to the emergency room where they may be able to assist in saving the tooth.

Broken Braces and Wires