Tips For Taking Care Of Your Child During A Dental Emergency
One of the hardest parts of being a parent is watching your child suffer through an illness or injury. A dental emergency can be terrifying enough when it happens to an adult; watching your child struggle with a toothache can be downright nightmarish. If your child has a dental problem, call Bowmanville Dental today to speak with a member of our staff. We will set you up with an appointment, so your child can get back to his or her life with a healthy smile to show for it.
Is a member of your family experiencing a dental emergency? Call us at 905-697-9799 to discuss the situation and schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We are located in the Bowmanville Mall in Bowmanville, ON. In the meantime, the following tips may help you make your child more comfortable while you wait for your appointment.
First Things First – Take a Peek Inside Your Child’s Mouth
If your child complains of a toothache, try to identify the area/tooth that is causing the pain. A quick glimpse in the mouth can tell you whether the tooth has had prior dental work and whether there is a visible cavity. If you see a dark spot on the tooth, your child may need a filling or baby root canal. Let us know what you see when you call to make the appointment.
You may also want to floss around the tooth, as well; sometimes a piece of food lodged between the tooth and gums can cause intense pain for a child. Removing the food particle may not stop the pain immediately, since the gum tissue may be inflamed or irritated and will need time to heal.
Make Your Child Comfortable
If your little one has complained of tooth pain after eating, put them on a diet of softer foods until the appointment. Avoid anything hard, chewy, or crunchy. Soups, pastas, rice, and purees will not usually aggravate a toothache, so pick a few of your child’s favorite soft foods to prepare. Do make sure your child continues to eat, as we want him to keep up his strength and immune function.
If your child is in constant pain, there are a number of remedies that may make him more comfortable while you wait for your emergency appointment:
• An ice pack applied to the outside of the face in ten-minute intervals
• Over-the-counter children’s painkillers
• Eugenol (clove oil), applied sparingly to the tooth
Always put a cloth around an ice pack, and follow package directions on medications such as children’s ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Eugenol can be found at most pharmacies and is a natural anesthetic, although many children hate the taste of it! Apply just a small amount to the tooth using a cotton bud. A little goes a long way.
Continue to have your child brush and floss during a toothache, as you don’t want to let a cavity lead to the development of more cavities! Do take note of whether their oral hygiene routine aggravates the tooth, however.
When A Problem Tooth Becomes an Emergency
A good rule of thumb to follow, in distinguishing urgent problems from true emergencies, is to monitor your child’s pain and activity level. If you can see that the tooth is preventing your child from enjoying his everyday routine, that’s a distinct red flag. If the toothache is interfering with his ability to eat, sleep, or pay attention at school, tell us you need an emergency appointment and we’ll try to fit him into our schedule the same day, when possible.
If you child develops facial swelling or runs a fever, he may have developed an abscess and will need medical attention. Do not wait for a dental appointment; take him to an emergency medical center immediately, as the infection may spread to other parts of the body.
If Your Child’s Tooth Gets Knocked Out
If your child has an accident that results in a broken or knocked out tooth, first determine whether it’s a baby tooth or a permanent tooth. Baby teeth should not be “reattached” but adult teeth can sometimes be replaced in the socket. Put the tooth in a small container of milk and bring it to our office straightaway. Call us en route to let us know you are coming in. If the connective tissues are intact and too much time has not elapsed, we may be able to put the tooth back into place. If not, we will explain your tooth replacement options.
Dental Emergency Care in Bowmanville
Questions? Need dental emergency care? Call us. We are here for your family. At Bowmanville Dental, we are a full-service family dentistry. We will keep your family’s smiles healthy—from the first tooth, through braces and wisdom teeth removal. We offer various forms of sedation for anxious patients of every age and try to accommodate every dental emergency with a same-day appointment.