Let’s face it, “uh-ohs” happen. If they happen when our office is closed, here are some suggestions to handle common children’s dental emergencies.

Toothache

Have your child rinse their mouth with warm salt water. If there is swelling, apply a cold compress to the affected area. Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for discomfort, and if symptoms last more than a day, please contact us.

Chipped or broken tooth

Have your child rinse with lukewarm water and avoid cold water. Call us immediately to schedule an emergency appointment.

Baby tooth knocked out

Do not try to reinsert a baby tooth. Contact us for more information.

Permanent tooth knocked out

Recover the tooth and pick it up by the top (the chewing surface); never by the root. Rinse the tooth off but don’t handle it more than necessary. If the tooth is not broken, try to reinsert it into the empty socket in your child’s mouth and hold it in place with gauze or a clean cloth. If you cannot reinsert it, place the tooth in a glass of milk or a salt water solution and contact our office immediately.

Cut or bitten lip, cheek or tongue

To stop bleeding, apply firm, gentle pressure with gauze or a clean cloth. If there is swelling, apply a cold compress to the affected area. If needed, give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for discomfort.

Bleeding after losing a baby tooth

Place gauze or a clean cloth over the bleeding and have your child bite down for 15 minutes. If the bleeding continues, call us for further instructions.

Loose tooth

If your child has a very loose baby tooth, it should be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled.

Object caught in teeth

If your child has something caught between their teeth, use dental floss to remove it. Never use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to remove a stuck object. If you are unable to dislodge the item with dental floss, give our office a call.

Dental emergencies happen but many are avoidable. Dr. Pollock recommends that children avoid the following activities to ensure their teeth remain healthy for years to come!

• Avoid chewing on hard candy, popcorn kernels, and ice cubes
• Always wear a protective mouth guard when playing sports
• Never use teeth to open items like plastic wrappers and packaging
• Brush your teeth after eating to prevent the buildup of cavity-causing bacteria that cause toothaches

A dental emergency can happen to any child at any time. If your child has an emergency, contact us as soon as possible so we can work you into our appointment schedule. If the emergency occurs after hours, on the weekend, or during the holidays, please call our office at (330) 929-3091.