Dental emergencies can cause a lot of pain and some can cause permanent damage or require extensive treatment if ignored. Even though most people have a regular dentist to go to, there are times when they cannot see the dentist immediately, which is why it is important for people with kids to know how to handle some common dental emergencies at home before getting professional treatment.
Some of the ways to handle dental emergencies children may have before they can see the dentist include:
Toothaches can be very painful. Fortunately, parents can relieve the pain before taking the kid to the dentist by thoroughly rinsing the child’s mouth with warm water and using dental floss to remove any food particles that are stuck between teeth. If the toothache causes swelling in the child’s mouth, the parent can apply a cold compress on the outside of their mouth above the swelling to reduce it. The child can also be given children’s aspirin for the pain. The parent should never apply it to the gums surrounding the affected tooth because it can damage the child’s gum tissues.
If the child breaks or chips a tooth, the parent should save any of the fallen pieces before rinsing the child’s mouth and the recovered pieces of the tooth with warm water. If the child is bleeding, the parent should put a piece of gauze on the affected area until the bleeding stops. A cold compress can also be applied on the affected area to reduce swelling and relieve the pain before the child gets to see the dentist.
If a child’s dental filling becomes loose and falls out, it exposes the nerves in their tooth and can be very painful. The problem can be fixed temporarily by using sugar-free gum to cover the hole in the child’s tooth or using a dental cement, which can be found at pharmacies, to hold the filling in place until the child can see the dentist.
If the child loses a dental crown, the parent should schedule an appointment with the dentist to get it taken care of as soon as possible. If the child cannot see the dentist immediately and is in a lot of pain, the pain can be relieved by applying clove oil to the sensitive area using a cotton swab.
If the crown is still intact, the parent can try to slip it back in place. Parents should make sure that the inner surface of the crown is coated with dental cement to hold it in place until the child can see the dentist. Parents should not use regular glue or super glue to hold it in place as that can poison the child and damage the teeth.
If the child wears braces and a wire is sticking out of a bracket poking their cheek or tongue, the parent should use a pencil eraser head to move the wire to a more comfortable position so it does not continue to poke the child’s cheek and tongue. If the parent is unable to move the wire to another position, they can cover the end that is sticking out with orthodontic wax or a piece of cotton ball until the child gets to see the dentist.
If your child has a common dental emergency, the first thing you should do is contact your dentist to schedule an appointment. If you cannot see your dentist immediately, these tips should help you handle most common dental emergencies until the child can see the dentist.
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