Keeping Children’s Smiles Safe and Healthy Througout Sacramento
Dental emergencies happen, even to our children. Your child’s developing teeth set the path to their long-term oral health, which is why you need to contact our office immediately should your child experience a dental emergency. Never hesitate to call our after-hours emergency number.
Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Children are active, and a fall or other misstep can cause your child to bite their lip or tongue. If it bleeds, the first thing to do is clean the area with plain water and apply pressure with a cold, damp washcloth to the bite. We’ll help you to determine the seriousness of the wound.
Any foreign matter stuck between the child’s teeth that can’t be removed with dental floss may be cause for concern, and warrants a call to our office. Never try to remove the object with anything other than floss.
Accidents happen, and if your child has broken, chipped, or fractured a tooth, you should rinse their mouth with warm water and give our office a call as soon as possible. A cold compress can be used to limit swelling of the gum tissue. In cases where a child’s tooth has been knocked out, the quicker you act, the higher the possibility to save the tooth. Rinse the lost tooth with plain water and place it in a clean, sealed container with milk, which will help preserve the tooth. Call us immediately.
Teeth that have become very loose should be removed, as children risk swallowing or inhaling them. Toothaches are another common pediatric emergency, and the first step is to rinse the child’s mouth with warm water, and floss to be sure there isn’t anything stuck between the teeth. A cold compress and oral pain relievers for children can be used to alleviate pain while until you can get to our office. We don’t recommend applying aspirin or topical pain relievers on the area of the toothache, as it can damage the gums.
If you suspect a more serious dental injury, such as a broken jaw, you should head to the hospital immediately.
Help prevent dental emergencies by keeping your child safe. Young athletes should wear custom-fit mouthguards to protect their teeth, and hygiene habits, like regular brushing and flossing, are important to keeping your child’s smile healthy.