Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Pediatric dental emergencies are nothing to take lightly. Our team is available to handle emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If your emergency happens after hours, call our emergency number.

You will also need to take action during the dental emergency. Look through the various types of emergencies and the recommended actions. Print this list out so you can access it during an emergency.

Bitten Lip or Tongue

Bitten lips and tongues happen on a regular basis, but sometimes, the bite is serious. If the lip or tongue start bleeding, clean the bite with water. Then, push a cold, wet washcloth or towel on the bite, pressing firmly to stop the bleeding and avoid swelling.

Next, contact Mint Dental. We will assess the situation over the phone to determine how serious the bite is. Then, we will provide you with further instructions.

Object Caught In Teeth

Children are curious beings, and sometimes, that curiosity causes them to stick something between their teeth. Other times, hard pieces of food wedge between the teeth. If your child has something stuck between his or her teeth, gently remove the object with dental floss. If it doesn’t come out with floss, call our dental team.

Chipped, Broken, or Fractured Tooth

If your child breaks, chips, or fractures a tooth, you need to rinse his or her mouth out with warm water, and then reduce the swelling with a cold compress. If possible, find and save the fragment. Then, contact Mint Dental.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Fast action is critical if your child knocks out a tooth. Locate the tooth and pick it up by the crown. That is the only part of the tooth that you should touch. Rinse the tooth with warm water and put it in a clean container with milk. Contact us or head straight to the hospital. If you take quick action, a dentist might be able to save the tooth.

Loose Tooth

Loose teeth can be a hazard for young children. They can swallow or inhale the loose tooth, which is very dangerous. If your child has a tooth that is very loose, remove it. If you cannot remove it, contact our dental team.

Toothache

Toothaches are never fun, but they can be especially upsetting for children. If your child has a toothache, first rinse his or her mouth out using warm water. Then, look inside of his or her mouth to make sure that there isn’t something caught between the teeth. If there is, use floss to gently remove it.

Next, you want to reduce the pain. Apply a cold compress to the area and give your child an oral pain reliever. Do not put a topical pain reliever on the area.

Finally, contact Mint Dental. We will schedule an appointment to examine your child and find the source of a toothache. Your child will be pain-free in no time.

Broken Jaw

A broken jaw is a serious problem that requires immediate action. Place a cold compress on the area to reduce swelling and then contact our emergency number or drive straight to the hospital. Do not waste any time with this condition. Your child may have also sustained a severe blow to the head. That can be life threating, so quick treatment is essential.

Avoiding Injury

We are always here for you during a dental emergency, but prevention is the best course of action. Reduce your child’s risk of suffering from a dental emergency by childproofing your house. Proper childproofing reduces falls, which cuts down on dental emergencies.

You can also cut down on injuries by using the proper restraints while in the car. Use car seats for your young children, and make sure your older children wear seatbelts. Also, don’t let your child chew on hard foods. A popcorn kernel can quickly become a dental emergency. Regular brushing and flossing can also cut down on dental emergencies. Your child is less likely to have a toothache if he or she practices proper oral hygiene.

Finally, if your child plays contact sports, have him or her wear a mouthguard. This can prevent chipping, cracking, breaking, and losing teeth. A custom-fitted mouthguard will stay in place and provide all of the protection your child needs. Schedule an appointment to get a custom-fitted mouthguard from Mint Dental. Emergencies can be frightening, but you are in good hands with Mint Dental. Contact us immediately if your child has a dental emergency. We are always here to help.