It is very important to be prepared in case your child has an emergency. Even though we wish that they wouldn’t, emergencies do happen. Being educated and knowing what to do in an emergency can be the difference between losing and saving a tooth. You also need to know your dentist’s phone number.
If your child has a life-threatening emergency, Please Call 911. If your child’s emergency is Dental-related here is what you do:
Bitten Lip or Tongue
If your child has bitten their lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress (cold, wet towel or washcloth pressed firmly against the area) to reduce or avoid swelling.
Broken or Chipped Tooth
If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of their tooth, have them rinse their mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the severed tooth fragment. Call us immediately.
Toothache
If your child complains of a toothache, rinse their mouth with warm water and inspect their teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, as this can cause damage to the gums. Children’s pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately.
Knocked Out Tooth
If a permanent tooth has been knocked out of your child’s mouth, find the tooth and rinse it with plain water, taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it’s in place). If you are sure it’s a permanent tooth, try to place the tooth back into its socket and hold it in place with a clean towel or cloth. If you can’t return the tooth to its socket, place it in a clean container of milk. In either case, call us immediately and/or go to the emergency room. If you act quickly, it is possible to save a permanent tooth.
If a baby tooth has been knocked out, rinse the child’s mouth with water and check for any other damage. Stop the bleeding by placing pressure on the socket with a washcloth or gauze. Do not put a baby tooth back into its socket after being knocked out, as it is unlikely that the tooth will heal properly. Call our office to schedule an appointment to be sure that proper healing is occurring.