If you have children, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with the most common dental emergencies that affect kids. In emergency scenarios, arranging for prompt care often ensures a better prognosis with a reduced risk of complications. Here are three common oral health issues that usually warrant immediate medical attention.  

3 Common Dental Emergencies Among Children 

1. Severe Toothache 

Children might experience minor discomfort as their permanent teeth erupt. But severe pain that doesn’t go away indicates a more serious issue, like an abscess or infection.

If your child has a persistent toothache, rinse their mouth with warm salt water before giving them one dose of an over-the-counter pain reliever that their pediatrician has approved. Then call their dentist to arrange for prompt care.

To prevent infections and abscesses in the future, help your child stay on top of brushing and flossing.

2. Knocked-Out Tooth 

If your child loses a permanent tooth, you may be able to save it by acting fast. If possible, rinse off the tooth promptly and reinsert it back in the socket. Otherwise, place it in a glass of milk to keep it moist, and head straight to the dentist. Dentists can often save knocked-out teeth if they intervene within about an hour of them falling out.

To prevent such accidents in the future, instruct your child to avoid roughhousing, and make sure they wear adequate safety gear—including a mouthguard and helmet—when playing sports. 

3. Complete Crack

If your child’s tooth cracks all the way through or to the gum line, have a dentist address it as soon as possible. A complete crack exposes the dentin and nerves, which will not only cause pain and sensitivity but also make the tooth vulnerable to severe infection.

Have your child rinse their mouth with warm water to clean the affected tooth, then give them a cold compress to apply to their cheek to relieve any discomfort before going to the dentist.

To prevent future cracks, have your dentist make a custom mouthguard that will protect your child’s smile when playing sports. 

If your child has a dental emergency, count on the friendly team at Pedodontic Associates. With two offices on Oahu and one on Maui, this pediatric dentistry practice is equipped to address all kinds of oral health issues, including pressing emergencies. For more than 25 years, their highly trained team has cared for Hawaii’s keiki. To learn more about their pediatric dentists, visit their website. To make an appointment, call (808) 735-1733 in Honolulu, (808) 487-7933 in Aiea, or (808) 877-0066 in Kahului.