How to Handle Dental Emergencies in Children

Dental emergencies can be alarming especially when they affect your own children. They often happen at unexpected times so it can be easy to spiral into a panic especially if you don’t know how to handle them. Dental emergencies are actually more common than you may think and knowing what to do when they happen is extremely important. If your child faces a dental emergency, be sure to find an emergency dentist in your area quickly, like by visiting www.emergencydentistsusa.com.

It’s important to note that it’s usually best to visit an emergency dentist as opposed to the emergency room as dentists are better equipped to treat tooth-related issues. However, if there have been any head injuries or other trauma you should go to the emergency room immediately. This article will go over some of the most common dental emergencies seen in children and how to handle them before you visit an emergency dentist.

Knocked-Out Tooth

If one of your children’s teeth gets knocked out, it’s important that you try to preserve it as best as possible, even if it’s a baby tooth. However, do not try to reinsert the tooth on your own. Call to schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist so they can confirm the entire tooth is out and that no other teeth were affected. Schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Before your child’s appointment, you can rinse the tooth with warm water and keep it in a cup of water or milk. If your child is in pain, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers to help manage it until the dental appointment.

Broken Tooth

A broken or cracked tooth is serious and it’s important to get into a dental office quickly to help save the tooth and prevent infection. If this happens to your child, rinse their mouth with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Also, try to find the broken pieces of the tooth and place them in a cup of milk or water to bring to the dental appointment with you.

Loose Teeth

It’s common for children to have loose teeth as they grow their adult teeth. However, a loose tooth may be a cause for concern. If your child has a loose tooth, it should be removed so your child doesn’t swallow or inhale it. You can call an emergency dentist and they can remove it for you if you’re having trouble doing so at home.

Toothache

Toothaches are an uncomfortable, yet common, dental emergency that children face. Schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist so you can quickly find the root cause of the toothache and come up with a plan of action. Most toothaches aren’t serious and can easily be remedied. It’s important for your child’s overall dental health to see a dentist quickly if they are experiencing a toothache.

Before your child’s appointment, you can comfort them by rinsing their mouth with warm water and using over the counter pain relievers. Sometimes a cold compress can help relieve some of the discomforts as well.

Objects Caught in Teeth

If your child has an object caught in their teeth, it may or may not require a trip to the emergency dentist. Most times, you can remove the objects by using dental floss to gently remove it. Don’t ever use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to try and remove the object as it can lead to injury. If you are having trouble removing the object you can call an emergency dentist and they will schedule an appointment to get the object removed.

Dental emergencies happen quite frequently so most dentists are prepared to deal with them when patients arrive. However, it can still be alarming especially if your child experiences it. As mentioned, an emergency dentist will be best equipped to treat tooth-related injuries, but if there has been any head trauma or another injury you will want to visit the emergency room quickly.

Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can help you avoid panic if your child experiences one. There are many ways to manage pain and avoid infection at home before your child’s emergency dental appointment. Remember to try and stay calm and call your dentist immediately before the situation gets worse.