Children's dental emergencies: How to handle common tooth injuries and accidents

Dental emergencies can happen to anyone, but they’re especially common in children. Kids are more likely to fall, get into accidents or play sports that can lead to dental injuries. Here’s a guide on how to handle common children's dental emergencies.

Knocked-out teeth

If your child's tooth is knocked out, act quickly and follow these steps:

· Control any bleeding

· Find the tooth and hold it by the crown, not the root

· Rinse the tooth with water. Don’t scrub it

· If possible, put the tooth back in its socket

· Don’t try and reinsert a baby tooth, as this could damage the permanent tooth underneath

· Hold the tooth in place with gauze or a clean cloth

· If you can’t reinsert the tooth, keep it moist by putting it in a glass of milk or water

· See a dentist immediately

Chipped or fractured teeth

If your child's tooth is chipped or fractured, here’s what to do:

· Rinse the child's mouth with warm water

· Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling

· Contact a dentist to assess the damage, just in case the tooth needs to be repaired or crowned

If the tooth injury was caused by head trauma, take your child to a doctor to check for concussion symptoms.

Toothache or tooth pain

If your child is experiencing toothache or tooth pain, take the following steps:

· Clean the area gently with warm water

· Use dental floss to remove debris that may be causing discomfort

· If the pain persists, contact a dentist for an appointment to diagnose the cause of the pain.

Preventing children’s tooth injuries

You can do several things to help prevent dental injuries in your child. Teach your child to floss once and brush twice daily. Take them to the dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. Educate your child about the importance of not chewing on hard objects. Things like ice, pens or pencils can lead to tooth fractures. Additionally, ensure they use a mouthguard when playing sports.

Contacting a dentist and follow-up care

Even if the immediate situation seems resolved, follow up with your dentist after a dental emergency. This is especially important if your child has a chipped or fractured tooth. The dentist will want to monitor the tooth to ensure it doesn't require further treatment.

Children’s Emergency Dentist Services in London

At Cosma Dental Centre, we provide pediatric dentist services and after-hours emergency care. If you need help right away, call us, and we’ll be prepared to help. To schedule an appointment with a family dentist at our dental clinic in London, contact us today.