What Not to Do When Your Child has a Dental Emergency?

When a dental emergency strikes, it can be challenging to stay calm. You see your child in pain, and it can be hard to think in such a situation. It's normal to feel worried and become anxious, too. However, knowing how to handle a dental emergency can save your child's permanent tooth. Also, it will help calm your child and have an easy dental visit.  

Dental emergencies can happen for several reasons, for instance, sports injury, wisdom tooth pain, poor hygiene, or trauma. Your child's teeth can become chipped, broken, cracked, or even knocked out. It's essential to have a quick dental visit to prevent further complications. To help empower you in such a crisis, we have the best tips for you to follow. Let's look closely into these so that you can prepare in advance. 

Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies Every Parent Should Know: 

• Knocked-out permanent tooth. 
• Bitten tongue. 
• Bleeding gums. 
• Intense pain and swelling in the facial area. 
• Fractured or broken jaw. 
• A severe blow to the head. 
• Object stuck in the mouth. 
• Dental abscess. 
• Loose or lost fillings. 

Tips for Handling a Dental Emergency: What Not to Do? 

If your child suffers from a toothache or has had an injury, your child has probably encountered a dental emergency. Staying calm and keeping hold of your nerves is the foremost step to handling your child's dental emergency. However, many things happen during states of emergency. Therefore, you should know what not to do when your child has a dental emergency. Here is a brief guide to enlighten you. 

• Don't Panic

If you panic, your child will become afraid and hesitate to visit the dentist. Although panicking is a natural reaction to a dental emergency, don't stress out and handle the situation intelligently. It will help elevate the problem and calm down your child. 

• Don't Be Harsh

Please don't be harsh with your child or show him anger. It will make him afraid, and he might think something big is going to happen. In this way, your child will elevate his anxiety and might also panic. Understand that dental emergencies can happen to anyone, and you must be kind.  

Show affection to your child so that he can feel comfortable with you. Also, be ready to take action to save your child's tooth. Teach your child what has happened to him and ways to keep his tooth. 

• Don't Let Your Child Chew on Hard Foods 

Eating hard foods will weaken your child's tooth enamel. So, don't let your child chew on hard foods like candies, almonds, ice cubes, pits of fruits, carrots, etc. It's better to give him a liquid diet and consult your dentist afterward.   

• Don't Apply Heat to the Affected Area

Never apply heat to the affected area if your child has facial swelling or a toothache. It will worsen the problem and will add more to the inflammation. Visit your dentist as soon as possible to resolve your child's issue. 

• Don't Give Aspirin or Topical Pain Reliever to Your Child

Don't be a doctor yourself; give your child a topical pain reliever. If your child has bleeding gum, you shouldn't give him aspirin. Aspirin thins the blood and will make things worse. If your child is not bleeding, aspirin should be avoided, and consulting a dentist will help. 

• Don't hesitate to Visit the Emergency Room 

Please don't wait for things to settle on their own. Instead, take your child to the emergency room as soon as possible. After identifying a dental emergency, don't hesitate to visit your child's dentist. 

• Don't Pick the Knocked-Out Tooth by Its Roots

Many people still don't know how to pick a knocked-out tooth for their children. Always grab the tooth from its crown, and don't touch the roots. Otherwise, it will reduce the probability of a successful re-implantation. Also, don't put such a tooth in your pocket; keep it moist instead. 

Concluding Thoughts

No matter how vigilant you are for your child's oral health, you may encounter a dental emergency at least once. Therefore, it's helpful to know about common pediatric dental emergencies before they arise. Knowing these will help you handle your child in a better way. Please remember that handling an emergency allows you to safely get to your nearest doctor. It is always best to let the doctor take it from there.

Contact your kids' dentist in Stockton, Dr. Sajjad Rizvi, D.D.S. at Happy Kids Dental, to know about cavities and common risk factors for Kids' tooth decay.

Resource:

Dental Insurance for Dental Emergencies, is it worth the expense?

*This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition*