Although we do not expect our children to come home with tooth in hand from a hard fall, it is something we should be prepared for. Below are different situations that you may find yourself in and some tips to help you through them.

First it is important to have a family dentist that you trust and your children trust. It is also important that you know the hours of business and emergency contact information.

 If you are unable to speak with the pediatric dentist within 30 minutes, please go to a hospital’s emergency department. It is important to get an evaluation from our pediatric dentist as soon as possible. If your child has intra-oral pain, please consult your dentist’s office. If ignored, dental pain can lead to serious problems. Do not wait too long!Try gently removing the debris with a dental floss. Be careful not to cut your child’s gums. Never use a sharp instrument such as a needle or pin to remove any object that is stuck between teeth. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, contact our office.

Broken, Fractured Tooth:
Rinse the area with warm water. Put a cold compress over the facial area of the injury. Recover any broken tooth fragments. Get immediate dental attention.

What should I do if my child knocks out a permanent tooth?
First of all, remain calm. If possible, find the tooth and hold it by the crown rather than the root. Replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk and take your child and the glass immediately to the pediatric dentist, or an emergency medical treatment facility. The sooner you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth!

Broken Braces and Wires:
Remove a broken appliance only if it comes out easily. If it is lodged or painful to remove, cover any protruding edges with wax, cotton balls, gauze or chewing gum. DO NOT REMOVE any wire caught in the gums, cheek or tongue; see a dentist immediately. Emergency attention is usually not required for loose or broken appliances that cause no discomfort.

Bitten Lip, Tongue or Cheek
Ice can be applied to any bruised areas. For bleeding, apply firm (but gentle) pressure with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding does not stop with pressure or continues after 15 minutes, go to an emergency room.

Sports Injuries:What do the following have in common?: A bat, A ball, A knee or elbow, A hard surface (such as the ground or the bottom of a swimming pool) They all are things that could easily come into contact with your child’s mouth when participating in sports. And they all have the potential for damaging or knocking out teeth, or fracturing or dislocating a jaw. High-risk activities include “contact” sports, such as football, boxing, martial arts (including karate and kick-boxing) and hockey, as well as non-contact sports such as basketball, baseball, bicycle riding, roller-blading, soccer, wrestling, racquetball, surfing, and skateboarding.

Even swimming, with all of its gentility, poses serious hazards for your child’s teeth. Common swimming pool accidents occur when children, swimming underwater, quickly ascend to the surface, hitting the hard ledge, and loosening the front tooth. Running on slippery, slick cement and ceramic pool surfaces also can send your child headfirst into the ground, increasing the likelihood of a chipped or loose tooth.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, many sports-related emergencies involving teeth can be avoided by following the rules and remembering dental first aid steps. If your child participates in any sports, a Mouth Guard is a smart investment.

Mouth guards are soft plastic devices that fit over the front of your child’s mouth, protecting your child’s teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums from sports-related injuries. A well-fitting mouth guard can protect your child from injuries to the teeth, face, and even some severe injuries to the head.

Other Conditions:
Fold a piece of gauze and place it (tightly) over the bleeding area. Ask your child to bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes; if bleeding continues, see a dentist.

Bleeding After a Baby Tooth Falls Out

Cold or Canker Sores

Over-the-counter medications will usually provide temporary relief. If sores persist, visit your dentist.

 Source: http://www.pediatricdenticare.com/Emergencies.html

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