Dealing with urgent dental situations
Bitten Lip or Tongue:
If your child bites his lip or tongue hard enough to cause bleeding, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call our office and we’ll be able to advise you on next steps depending on the severity of the bite.
Object Caught in Teeth:
If something has become lodged in between your child’s teeth, use dental floss to remove it. Never use anything metal, plastic or sharp to remove a foreign object. If you’re unable to remove the item with floss, call our office and we’ll be able to help.
Chipped or cracked tooth:
Call our office as soon as possible, especially in the event of a serious chip that has exposed the pulp of the tooth. We will take an X-ray to determine the treatment necessary, which could be as simple as placing a filling or bonding.
Knocked-Out Tooth:
Don’t panic! If you act quickly, it may be possible to save, and replace the tooth in our office. Call our office immediately. Being careful not to touch the root, rinse the tooth with water and place it in a clean container with milk (saliva, saline, or plain water will work in a pinch). Don’t let the tooth dry out and don’t wrap it in anything.
Toothache:
If your child complains of a toothache, rinse his or her mouth with warm water and inspect the teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Call the office to schedule an appointment to get to the bottom of the pain.
