DENTAL EMERGENCIES

We at Hello Kids Dental Group are always available to answer your questions. The following information is a guideline to help you make decisions during a dental emergency. Please do not hesitate to contact us or to seek medical attention if after reading the information below, you are still uncertain of what to do, or if you know your child is not okay.

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Toothache

Clean around the sore tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm salt water to displace any food trapped between teeth. Gently use dental floss if needed. DO NOT place aspirin on the tooth or near the gum. For pain relief, Ibuprofen is recommended. In the event of facial swelling, place a cold compress to the area. Contact our office if pain persists or swelling occurs.

Chipped or Broken Tooth

Immediately rinse dirt from an area with warm water and place a cold compress over the face by the area of injury. Locate and save any broken tooth fragments. Contact our office immediately.

Knocked-Out Permanent (Adult) Tooth

Find the tooth and handle the tooth by the top (crown), not the root portion. You may gently rinse the tooth if there is visible debris, but take care not to touch the root portion. Try to reinsert the tooth into the socket and have the child hold the tooth in place by biting on cloth or clean gauze. If unable to place the tooth in socket, place the tooth in a cup of milk or water. Contact us IMMEDIATELY! Time is a crucial factor in saving the tooth.

Knocked out Primary (Baby) tooth

It is not necessary to reinsert a baby tooth that has been knocked out of the socket. Contact our office for an evaluation of the area and follow up appointments will be made to monitor erupting permanent successor.

Trauma

Keep the area as clean as possible. Gentle rinsing with warm salt water is advised only if there is dirt or debris. You may use a soft washcloth. Watch for excessive bleeding, darkening of traumatized teeth, swelling and increase in mobility of the tooth. Please contact the office if any of the above is noted. Make sure to place ice on the face near the area of injury during the first 24 hours post-trauma, to manage the swelling. Maintain a soft diet for 48 hours or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again. Avoid foods that are extremely hot, cold, salty, spicy or acidic.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek

Apply ice to bruised/swollen area. For bleeding, use a clean cloth and apply gentle pressure. If there is continuous bleeding after 15 min of gentle pressure, take your child to the EMERGENCY ROOM. If bleeding has stopped, maintain a soft diet for 48 hours or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again. Avoid foods that are extremely hot, cold, salty, spicy or acidic.

Bleeding After Baby Tooth Falls Out

Fold a piece of gauze and place it firmly over the bleeding area. Have your child bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes. You may need to place new gauze and repeat once more. If bleeding continues, contact us immediately.

Canker Sores

There is no known cause for canker sores (apthous ulcers). Diet, uses of sodium lauryl sulfate products, vitamin deficiencies, mouth injuries, stress or immune system problems are thought to be associated with canker sores.

These sores are not contagious and should heal within 2 weeks. Do not give aspirin. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help ease pain. Cool foods and drinks can make your child more comfortable. Avoid abrasive, salty, spicy and acidic foods.

If your child has canker sores that lasts longer than 2 weeks or cannot eat or drink because of severe pain, please contact our office.

Cold Sores

Cold Sores (fever blisters) are small painful blisters that can appear around the mouth, on the gums or on the face. Cold sore are caused by a contagious virus HSV-1. After a child first gets the HSV-1, the virus can stay quietly in the body without causing any symptoms, but can reappear later on from things such as infection, sunlight, cold weather, and stress.

Cold Sores usually go away on their own in 1-2 weeks, no medication exists that can make the virus go away, but some treatments can help make cold sores less painful and shorten the duration. Do not give aspirin. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help ease pain. Cool foods and drinks can make your child more comfortable.

Children should not kiss others until sores heal. They should refrain from touching their eyes, and keep their drinking glass, eating utensils, and towels away from other family members.

Contact our office if your child has sores that do not heal by themselves within 2 weeks.

Possible Broken Jaw

If possible jaw fracture is suspected. Try to keep the jaw from moving by using a tie or a towel. Immediately take the child to the nearest EMERGENCY ROOM.