Your two year old was happily running down the stairs and woops! Now you
have a wiggly tooth that should not be loose yet. Or your seven year old
son caught the fly ball at the game - with his face - and lost a tooth.
What do you do with these dental emergencies?
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Toothache - Rinse your child's mouth out with clean water to get
any debris out. Use dental floss to remove trapped food. Place a
cold compress on the outside of the cheek if there is swelling. Never
place aspirin on the tooth or in the mouth. Call your dentist
immediately.
Broken Space Maintainer, Broken Braces or Broken Wires - If you
are able to take the broken appliance out easily, do so. If not, cover
the wires or bands with gauze, wax or cardboard. See your dentist as
soon as possible for repair.
Foreign Objects Between the Teeth - Try to remove the object with
floss, brushing or vigorous rinsing. If you cannot dislodge the food,
call your dentist for an appointment as soon as possible.
Tooth Knocked Out - Clean the injured area and apply ice.
Find and rinse the tooth off gently and keep wet by placing in a cup of
water. Handle the tooth as little as possible. Call the dentist
for re-implantation within one hour. If you are able, place the tooth
back in its socket and hellold it there while traveling to the dentist's
office. Do not let a young child hold the tooth themselves in the
socket as they may swallow it or choke on it.
Loose Tooth from Fall or Hit - It is not uncommon for a child's
tooth to become slightly loose if knocked. Watch the tooth, and don't
be surprised if it tightens up over night on it's own. If you have any
questions, call your pediatrician or dentist.
Fractured Tooth (Cracked Tooth) - Clean injured area gently.
Place an ice compress over the face in the injured area. Call the
dentist as soon as possible.
Tongue, Lip or Cheek Bite - Apply pressure to the area to control
the bleeding. Place an ice compress on any swelling. If a large
cut is present, call your dentist or pediatrician immediately for further
assistance, as you may need to be seen for stitches.
Fractured Jaws - If your child has swelling or difficulty moving
the jaws, go to an emergency room immediately,. You can place an ice
compress on the affected area while on the way to the emergency room.
If your child has even the slightest difficulty breathing, call 911!
