What to Know About Childhood Dental Emergencies

At Tots to Teens Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we offer emergency dentistry so you can have peace of mind if your child experiences a dental emergency.

While we hope your child never experiences a dental emergency, it’s still important to be prepared for one in case it does happen! In this blog post, learn about common dental emergencies and how to handle them.

Common Dental Emergencies

Some of the most common dental emergencies that young patients encounter include:

• Toothache – A throbbing toothache could indicate severe tooth decay or an infection. Contact us immediately, especially if your child cannot eat or if there is pus coming from their gums.
• Chipped, cracked, or broken tooth – Keep any tooth fragments and have your child rinse their mouth with warm water mixed with some salt. Call us right away!
• Knocked-out tooth – If your child loses a permanent tooth, preserve the tooth in a glass of milk and call Tots to Teens to get your child in for an appointment as soon as possible.
• Unusual bleeding and swelling – Some minor bleeding and swelling are normal after oral surgery. But if your child’s bleeding and swelling is occuring for another reason, use non-woven gauze to staunch the bleeding, gently ice your child’s cheeks to ease the swelling, and contact Tots to Teens.
• Lost dental restoration or broken braces – Keep any pieces, if possible, and contact us for an urgent appointment.
• A foreign object stuck between teeth – If you can dislodge the object gently with floss, you can do so at home. However, if the object is sharp or has a pointed edge, it is best to take your child to an emergency room right away.

How to Avoid a Dental Emergency

One way to avoid certain dental emergencies is to make sure your child maintains a proper and consistent dental routine. This involves brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, flossing every day, eating a balanced diet, and visiting us twice a year for professional cleanings and examinations.

If your child plays sports or grinds their teeth at night, we recommend they wear a mouthguard to protect their teeth from trauma.

Emergency Dentist in San Antonio, TX

If your child is experiencing a dental emergency, call us immediately! We will do all we can to help your child feel comfortable, relaxed, and safe during their visit with us.

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Categorised in: Dental Emergency