Dealing With Dental Emergencies
We smile when we think of young children learning to walk and negotiate stairs. Or older children playing on monkey bars and participating in organized sports. Our goal is to keep them safe while they have fun and explore their world. But no matter how vigilant we as parents are accidents still happen. And those accidents can include dental emergencies.
As pediatric dentists we see a number of dental emergencies ranging from broken or dislodged teeth to loose or broken brackets or wires on our orthodontic patients. Let’s discuss a few types of emergencies and what you can do before bringing your child in for evaluation and treatment.
My toddler fell and knocked a tooth loose!
As children learn to walk or negotiate stairs, it isn’t unusual for them to fall – frequently. If your child’s tooth knocks into something, bleeding around the gums is a normal result. However, if your child’s injured tooth looks smaller than it appeared before the accident, he may have intruded or pushed it into the gums. Watch for swelling or other signs of infection. If the tooth appears to be loose or knocked out of place in anyway, try to reposition it. If it doesn’t move back into the original position contact your dentist as soon as possible.
My daughter knocked a tooth out!
If the tooth was a baby tooth, don’t try to put it back in your child’s mouth. Thoroughly clean the area of the affected tooth. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm water and use dental floss to dislodge any impacted food or debris. If there is bleeding apply gentle pressure with gauze or a clean washcloth. If your child’s face is swollen apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek. Never put aspirin directly on the gum or aching tooth because it can cause burns. Take her to your dentist or doctor right away.
If your child knocked out a permanent tooth, try to find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown or top of the tooth (the whitest part), never by the bottom or root. Gently rinse it in cool water. If the tooth isn’t broken, try to put it back into the socket or hole it came out of as soon as possible. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, put it in a clean container with milk or water. Then get to the dentist immediately. Time is the most critical factor in saving the permanent tooth.
My son chipped a tooth!
If you find the chip bring it with you to the dental office. Sometimes a fragment can be bonded back onto the tooth. Even without the broken piece a dentist can often restore the tooth to its natural appearance in under an hour.
My daughter has a toothache!
If your child has a toothache, you can help the child rinse with lukewarm water and apply a cloth covered ice pack to her face. Sometimes children who complain of a toothache have food stuck between their teeth. You can try gently flossing the area to see if that relieves the pain. If not, call your pediatric dentist for an evaluation.
My son’s braces are hurting him.
Sometimes a loose bracket or wire can irritate the lips or gums. If it is a loose bracket is causing the problem, you can try to remove it with a tweezers, put it in an envelope, and bring it to the orthodontists. If there is a loose wire poking the cheek, try to place it in the tube in the back of the mouth. Or you can use a cuticle nipper to cut the end of the wire or put wax over the end to reduce rubbing.
If a brace breaks off of a tooth it can be left there if it is not uncomfortable to your child. If the brace does become bothersome the "O-tie" that holds it on can be removed with a pair of tweezers or an unbent paper clip. The most common cause of a broken brace is eating foods that are too hard or too sticky. Chewing on pens, pencils, or fingernails may also cause a broken brace. Regardless of how the brace broke call your orthodontist to schedule an appointment to have it repaired.
Of course baby proofing your home, properly using mouth guards, following dental recommendations, and regular visits to your dental professional will also help reduce the number of dental emergencies you may face.