Accidents, trauma, and emergencies can occur anywhere and anytime affecting both adults and children. Dental emergencies are common among kids since they are always on the go and prone to falls and accidents. Knowing how to handle such emergencies until you reach the dentist is crucial and decides the fate of your oral health.
The specialists at Jackson Heights dental office are well-trained and highly skilled in handling dental emergencies. This article will focus on some common dental emergencies in children. So read on!
Unwinding common dental emergencies in children
Knocked-Out Tooth or Tooth Avulsion
- Trauma to the face and mouth from falls, accidents, or sports-related injuries can fracture, loosen, or completely knock your toddler’s teeth off. The complete tooth displacement from the socket is known as tooth avulsion.
- Remain calm, find the tooth, and pick it up by the crown (do not touch the root)
- Clean the tooth by rinsing it in running water and placing it back in the socket
- Apply gentle finger pressure to keep the tooth in place
Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth
- Your toddler may suffer from a broken, chipped, or fractured tooth while falling during play or after getting hit by any hard object, like a ball.
- Until you reach your dentist, consult them about any painkiller like acetaminophen to manage pain
- For kids older than 2 years, make them rinse their mouths with salt water
- If there is any sharp edge, cover it with a piece of paraffin wax, or chewing gum to avoid injury to the tongue or other soft tissues like cheeks
- Use a cold compress on the face to manage swelling
- If you locate the fractured tooth fragment, preserve it and bring it to the emergency department
Loose Tooth
- Premature tooth mobility in toddlers may be due to a hard blow on the toddler’s face due to falling, or a road accident.
- Avoid giving your toddler anything hard or sticky to chew until you see a dentist
- Do not try to pull out the tooth or apply pressure on it
- Give your kid a soft diet
- Monitor your kid so that they do not swallow the tooth
Toothache
- Toothache can occur due to several reasons like dental decay, gum disease, or dental trauma.
- Give your toddler a mild painkiller after consulting the dentist to manage pain and discomfort.
- Examine their mouth and remove any object stuck in the teeth using dental floss
- Give them a cold compress to manage swelling
Broken Jaw
- Your toddler can break their jawbone due to falls or activities during intense physical activities.
- Monitor your toddler and refrain them from moving their jaw
- Apply a cold compress on the face to manage swelling
Know how to care for your child and handle the situation in times of dental emergencies to prevent further complications until you reach the dental clinic.
