Emergency Oral and Dental Care
Emergencies do happen and knowing how to prevent dental injury and what to do in case an accident occurs; can save your child’s teeth.Oral and dental injuries are often bloody and can be anxiety provoking for you as well as the child.For all dental emergencies, it’s important to visit your dentist as soon as possible. If the accident occurs when your known dental office is not open, visit emergency room of any local hospital. Here are some common dental emergencies, and some basic guidelines to deal with them.
What if my child cracks or chips his baby tooth?
Immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down. Try to stop any bleeding occurring from the gums or lips or cheeks or tongue by asking your child to bite gentlyon soft clean cloth. See your child’s dentist as soon as possible.
What if my child cracks or fractures his permanent tooth?
Immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down. Try to stop any bleeding occurring from the gums, lips, cheeks or tongue by asking your child to bite softly on any clean clothSee your child’s dentist as soon as possible. If fractured part of tooth is found, bring it to the dentist.
What do I do if my child knocks out hisbaby tooth?
Contact your dentist as soon as possible. The baby tooth should not be put back because of the potential for subsequent damage to the developing permanent tooth underneath.
What do I do if my child knocks out hispermanent tooth?
Find the tooth and carefully rinse it in water. Make sure that you do not touch the root of the tooth with your hands. The root is the portion of the tooth embedded in the gum and not normally seen. Try to place the tooth back in its socket and secure with a clean wrap. If this is not possible or if you are afraid that your child might swallow the tooth, place it in a glass containing either saliva or cold milk or water.See your dentist immediately. Act fast it increases the chances of saving a tooth.
What if my child receives severe blow to the head orhis jaw is broken?
Your child needs immediate medical attention. A severe head injury can be life-threatening.If you think your child’s jaw is broken apply cold compresses to control the swelling. Go to a hospital emergency department or to your child’s dentist immediately.
How do I treat my child’s toothache?
For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. You can apply a cold compress to the face in the area of pain, but do not put heat. To relieve pain, visit your nearest pharmacy and buy over the counter available pain medication – Paracetamol or Ibuprofendosed accordingly to your child age and weight.Never place these medicines on tooth or gums because it will not take the pain away rather it will cause inflammation of gums. If the pain persists, contact your child’s dentist.
If my child bites his tongue or lip, how do I treat it?
If your child bites his tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress. See your child’s dentist or go to the emergency room as soon as possible.
How can my child avoid a dental emergency?
There are a number of simple precautions to avoid accident and injury to the teeth:
- Have your child wear a protective gear – mouthguard and helmet (as appropriate) when participating in sports or recreational activities.
- Instruct him to use scissors (supervised if a young child), and NEVER his teeth to cut thingsor never open a bottle cap by using teeth.
- Supervise young children and do not let them run around with objects in their mouth (e.g. tooth-brush, pencils, etc.)
- Children who are just learning to walk also have a tendency to fall down – often onto household furniture or other items. If you have an infant make sure to child-proof your home to prevent falls. Reduce trip hazards in your home and use gates to block stairways and dangerous areas from young children.
- Buccal up your child in the car. A car seat with seat belt and harness can prevent the face from direct blow on striking during untoward incident while travelling.
- Visit the dentist every 6 months to make sure your child’s teeth are healthy and strong.
