NOTE: If your child really did just have a dental emergency and this blog is your first line of defense, please make sure there is no need for immediate medical assistance. If you’re simply preparing for the “just in case” dental emergency, read on!
Dental emergencies are a pain, they’re frightening, and they might make you want to yank your hair out by its roots. While they can happen to anyone, kids tend to be more susceptible to a knocked out tooth on the playground, loose teeth, and other oral injuries. At our pediatric dental office in Long Island, we want to make sure you have the basic know-how for many common dental emergencies.
Toothaches
- Thoroughly clean the tooth and the gums surrounding the tooth.
- Check for any “leftovers” from dinner that may be lurking around and causing pain.
- Help your child rinse his mouth with warm salt water.
- Give your child a dose of a children’s pain killer. DO NOT apply it directly to the pain site.
Broken Tooth
- Rinse the affected area gently with warm water.
- If possible, find and save any pieces of the broken tooth.
- Use a cold compress to help ease any pain. DO NOT apply an ice pack directly on the skin.
- Call your pediatric dentist in Long Island as soon as possible.
Cut Lip, Tongue, or Cheek
- Apply moderate pressure to any bleeding site with a clean absorbent. Gauze works well.
- If bleeding persists and does not diminish after 15 minutes, seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
Knocked Out Baby Tooth
- DO NOT try to reinsert a baby tooth.
- Schedule an appointment with your dentist to make sure the entire tooth came out and that nearby teeth are intact.
Knocked Out Permanent Tooth
- If you can find the tooth, DO NOT hold it by the root. Try to only touch the top.
- Only rinse off the tooth if dirt is visible.
- Try to put the tooth back into the socket. Hold the tooth in place by asking your child to bite softly on a clean fabric to help keep it in place.
- If you can’t get it back in place, store the tooth in whole milk.
- Get to the dentist as soon as you can. The sooner the tooth is replaced, the more likely it can be saved.
If your child experiences a dental emergency and you’re not sure what to do, give our Long Island pediatric dental office a call.
Accepting patients from Long Island, Westbury, Nassau County, and surrounding areas.
