EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE: TIPS FOR PARENTS

A dental emergency can be scary for both kids and parents. The steps you take after an emergency occurs can make a big difference to how the injury is treated by your dentist, especially if your child’s tooth was knocked out. If your child experiences a dental emergency, don’t panic. Call your dentist in Belmont for emergency care as soon as possible, and keep these tips in mind.

Save the Tooth

If your child has an adult tooth knocked out, try to find it. Gently pick up the tooth, keeping your fingers away from the roots. If possible, place the tooth gently back into the socket in your child’s mouth. This will help to keep it moist. Your child can also place it in between his or her cheek and gum to keep it moistened by saliva. If that is not possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk or saltwater. Keeping the tooth moist will help to preserve the roots so that the dentist can attempt to replace it.

Stop the Bleeding

If there is any bleeding as the result of the emergency, make stopping it a priority. Apply pressure to the injury, using a clean cloth or gauze. When the wound stops bleeding, clean it gently with water and apply pressure to help ensure that it doesn’t start bleeding again. If you are unable to stop the wound from bleeding, consider going to the ER, especially if you can’t see your dentist right away.

Follow Up After Treatment

After your child gets the immediate emergency care that he or she needs, make sure to get all of the follow-up care your dentist recommends in a timely manner. Delaying treatment could cause the injury to reoccur or could delay healing. It’s also important to be vigilant about signs of infection, such sudden, intense pain or a wound with a discharge. Oral infections can affect the entire body and spread quickly, so fast treatment is critical.