What Should I Do If My Child Needs Urgent Dental Attention?

A dental emergency is a situation in which a child’s tooth or teeth are at risk of being seriously damaged or lost.

In the United States, 50% of children have experienced a dental emergency by age 13. A dental emergency can be classified as a situation in which a tooth or teeth are at risk of being seriously damaged or lost. It is bruising to the teeth and gums that cause pain, swelling, and discomfort.

Not all emergencies require urgent dental care, and it is important to know the signs of a true dental emergency to get the right treatment.

What is Considered a Dental Emergency in Children?

A dental emergency is when there is severe pain in the mouth, swollen gums from trauma from teeth-grinding or just from being hit in the face with something, visible injury to the mouth or jawbone, or when there are signs that blood flow to the teeth and gums has been interrupted.

Knocked teeth, tooth abscesses, and cracked are common dental emergencies in children, and you need to visit a pediatric dentist in Taylor, MI if you notice any issue.

What Should You Do When An Emergency Occurs?

Prompt action when an accident occurs can save the teeth from extraction. It is, however, important to distinguish between an urgent or non-urgent dental emergency so you can know what you need to do. Some dental accidents can be handled at home, like food stuck between the gums.

But, most dental accidents need a visit to an emergency dentist in Taylor, MI, for immediate treatment. Before you visit a dentist, there are a few things you need to do to prevent complications, and they include:

• Rinse the mouth to get rid of the dirt and fragments of the teeth and reattach. It is recommended you reattach the tooth if it is the permanent tooth affected. You can store the tooth in a milk solution to preserve the teeth. However, if it is the primary teeth, you are advised not to reattach them because it can affect the jaw and the teeth. Teeth can be saved if you visit the dentist in the first hour after the oral accident occurs.
• If the child has tooth pain, try to figure out the cause of the pain. Tooth decay and infection are some of the causes of toothache. Rinse your child’s mouth with warm water to ease the pain and discomfort. Avoid using painkillers unless advised by a pediatric dentist because some of them can cause gum irritation.
• Injury to the cheeks, lips, and tongue can cause swelling and bleeding. You can stop the bleeding by placing a gauze pad on the affected area and using an ice pack to reduce swelling.
• If the child has pimples on the gums, it could be a dental abscess. It is a serious infection that needs immediate treatment because it can spread to the rest of the body. It is vital to contact a pediatric dentist in West Bloomfield, MI, for assistance if your child has it.

How Can You Prevent Dental Emergencies in Children?

There are many ways that parents can prevent dental emergencies in their children. Ensure that your child uses a toothbrush with soft bristles, and they should brush their teeth after each meal to remove food particles from in between teeth with flossing.

Use fluoride toothpaste for children above three years. Also, consider getting professional fluoride treatment when the child turns six. Regular dental cleaning and exams are recommended to check the condition of the teeth. The dentist may advise you to get dental sealants when the permanent teeth erupt or pediatric dental crowns for primary teeth. Do not forget to get mouthguards if your child plays in contact sports to prevent injury to the teeth.

If there is a dental emergency already happening, you should take the child to see a dentist as soon as possible.

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Visit Golnick Pediatric Dentistry for more information on how to handle a dental emergency.