How to Act if Your Kid Has a Dental Emergency?

As parents, you always want the best for your kid and their safety. However, accidents can happen, especially when they’re playing and having healthy fun exploring their environment. Be it a knocked-out tooth or a bitten tongue, dental-related accidents can be very scary and painful, forcing you to seek an emergency dentist in Panama City, FL.

Nevertheless, knowing what to do during a dental emergency can make a substantial difference in your child’s comfort and reduce the impact of the incident. To help you understand how to act, we came up with this guide to handle dental emergencies confidently.

What Are Some Common Dental Emergencies in Children?

Children are prone to accidents, and that probably doesn’t come as a surprise. It could be climbing a tree and missing a step or falling while running a race with friends. Several healthy activities can lead to an unwanted dental emergency.

Depending on the type of impact suffered, dental emergencies in children range from mild to severe. Some common examples are:

• A knocked-out tooth by falling or suffering a hit to the face with a ball, for example.

• A loose tooth, if it wasn’t knocked out entirely. This is still a concern as it can be lost easily or affect the natural eruption of your kid’s permanent teeth.

• Chipped, cracked, or fractured teeth caused by trauma.

• Toothache, which is also a sign of trauma to the tooth.

How to Act in a Dental Emergency

In any of the situations mentioned above, keeping a calm, reassuring attitude is key to ensuring the best possible result for your child’s dental health. After all, children react to their parents’ emotions, and if they see you’re distressed and anxious, they’ll probably feel the same way.

Instead, keep a relaxed front and follow these steps before seeking professional dental care.

1. Adress the Situation

The first step in dealing with a dental emergency is understanding what's happening. Once you are able to calm your child down, check their mouth and look where the problem lies. If it's bleeding, ask them to rinse their mouth to gain a clearer picture.  

Then, assess the state of their tongue, gums, and teeth. Did they lose a tooth, or is it only loose? Did they break a tooth, then? Are there any pieces near?

If there are, make sure to retrieve them, as we may be able to reattach them if you visit us in due time.

2. Alleviate Pain and Swelling

If your kid is in severe pain, you can apply an ice pack to the outside of the affected area to reduce swelling and discomfort. Over-the-counter medication for children is another option, but restrict to drugs approved by your go-to pediatric doctor.

3. Handle Tooth Loss

If a permanent tooth was knocked out, try to retrieve it. Then, rinse it without touching the root and place it in a moist container, preferably with milk or your kid's own saliva. This helps keep your tooth healthy and safe while transporting.

In this case, time is crucial. If you're able to visit a dental office within 30 minutes, we can reinsert the tooth, preventing your kid from losing the tooth and avoiding needing restorative treatments like a dental bridge.

4. Reduce Bleeding

If your child is bleeding, you can try reducing it by applying gentle pressure with a clean gauze or cloth after rinsing the area. If the bleeding persists after 15 minutes, visit an emergency room.

5. Visit an Emergency Dentist in Panama City, FL

Once you’ve assessed the situation, controlled the bleeding, and retrieved the missing tooth or its parts, it is time to leave it to professionals. Visit Forest Park Dental so that we can assess your child’s mouth and determine how serious the damage is, and we can do our best to reverse it.

Dental emergencies are scary, but they aren’t the end of the word. By acting promptly and getting the right care, you can reassure your child and get them the care they need to recover their perfect oral health. So reach out!