Unfortunately, sometimes mouth-related traumas happen to children. Here are some of the most frequent dental emergencies and what to do when they happen.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Probably the most common dental emergency for kids is a knocked-out permanent tooth. Quick action can often save the tooth, therefore being prepared in advance with knowledge about what to do can make a world of difference. Here’s what you should do:
- First, find the tooth and gently rinse off any dirt or debris with water or milk. Be sure not to touch the root end of the tooth!
- Next, if at all possible, carefully place the tooth back into your child’s tooth socket. Have your child hold the tooth in place by biting down on a piece of gauze.
- If that’s not possible the second-best option is to have your child keep the tooth between their teeth and gums. (Do not try this if you are afraid your child will swallow the tooth!)
- The next choice is to place the tooth in milk or saline solution to transport it to our office. Whatever option you use, get to our office as quickly as possible to increase the chances to save the tooth.
Broken Tooth
This dental emergency is not quite as urgent, although you should still come in as soon as you can. Save the broken piece of tooth as you would a knocked-out tooth. Make a saltwater rinse with a cup of warm water and a teaspoon of salt for the child to swish around in their mouth. Believe it or not, there’s a chance that we will be able to reattach the tooth. If not, we can talk about options to restore the tooth.
Toothache
Painful and persistent tooth pain should not be ignored. It could be caused by an infection. Contact us for an emergency appointment. To relieve your child’s pain in the meantime, use a children’s over-the-counter pain reliever. Again, have them wash out their mouth with a saltwater rinse. An ice pack can also provide some relief.
Lost Filling
If a filling falls out, gently clean the area with a saltwater rinse. Make sure food doesn’t get stuck in the open area. Call us to schedule an appointment. Although losing a filling isn’t urgent like losing a tooth, we want to take care of it as soon as possible to ease your child’s discomfort and protect the tooth’s root.
Emergency Dentist in Helotes, TX
Now that you know what to do when an emergency happens, you can rest a little easier. Accidents rarely occur when it is convenient, but we leave room in our schedule for dental emergencies. Our experienced team at Helotes Family Dental will get your child taken care of with competent, gentle care. Preventive care can prevent some emergencies. Contact us today for an athletic mouthguard if your child is involved in athletics!
Contact Us