Dental Emergency Tips for Parents of Active Kids

Kids are naturally inquisitive and seem to be filled with boundless energy. Sometimes, this can lead to mishaps which can leave parents worried and their children hurt. Such instances may sometimes involve the teeth.

In these situations, it is crucial for parents to avoid panicking and to perform the appropriate emergency treatment to contain the situation as quickly as possible.

Here are a few important things that parents of active kids need to do to help their children keep their healthy teeth and enable them to deal with dental emergencies.

Knocked-out teeth

If a baby tooth has been knocked out, the first thing that you need to do is to ask your child to rinse his mouth with water. If there is swelling, you can apply a cold compress to help reduce it.

Instead of trying to look for the knocked-out tooth, talk to your child and comfort him in this situation that may be traumatic to him. Remember, baby teeth cannot be put back into place as this can cause damage to the permanent teeth that have yet to erupt.

On the other hand, if the tooth that has been knocked out is a permanent tooth, you will need to find it and rinse it with water. Do not use anything else like soap to rinse it. The tooth should also be handled with care and held by the crown or the visible portion.

After that, you can attempt to replace the tooth into its socket and then hold it into place using either gauze or a washcloth. If it is not possible to put the tooth back into place, it should be put into a clean container filled with milk or saliva.

In either case, it is important to see a dentist as soon as possible.

Chipped or broken tooth

When your child’s tooth is chipped or broken, the first thing that you need to do is to ask your child to rinse his mouth with water. If there is swelling, you can apply a cold compress to the affected area.

If you can still find the part that was broken, find it and take it to your child’s pediatric dentist.

Falls and collisions

If your child regularly plays sports that may involve collisions and falls (basketball, soccer, football, etc.), you should make sure that your child wears a mouthguard.

You can either purchase a pre-formed mouth guard from your local sports store or have your child’s dentist tailor one for him. If your child is suffering from a dental emergency contact us today!