Tooth Trauma

August 9, 2015

Summer IS HERE AGAIN! AND THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER MEANS MORE OUTDOOR ACITIVITES. KIDS ARE OUT THERE BIKING, SCOOTING AND RUNNING AROUND. … AND FALLING OFF THOSE BIKES AND SCOOTERS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD KNOCKS OUT A TOOTH? OR CHIPS ONE?

Here’s a handy little guideline for most dental emergency situations.

Chipped or broken teeth:

Rinse the area with warm water. Place a cold compress on the area to decrease chance of swelling.

For a small chip, be extra gentle with the tooth. Eat soft foods, take Tylenol or Motren for pain and call your pediatric dentist to determine the need to come in.

For a larger chip, look for the missing fragment. Keep it moist by placing It in water. Call your pediatric dentist immediately.

Bumped teeth:

Baby Teeth:

  • If the tooth is pushed in, an xray will need to be taken to determine if the tooth is in danger of hurting the permanent tooth. Place a cold compress over the area and Call the office.
  • If the tooth is just bumped and is not very loose then have the child eat only soft foods and be gentle with the area. As much as possible discourage thumb sucking or the pacifier. Call the office to determine the need to come in.

Adult teeth:

  • If the tooth is pushed in or knocked out of the position call the office immediately. The Pediatric dentist will need to take an xray and determine if the tooth needs to be repositioned or splinted.

Knocked out baby tooth:

  • WIPE THE AREA GENTLY WITH A WET GAUZE OR NAPKIN. RINSE THE MOUTH OUT WITH WATER
  • APPLY PRESSURE WITH A COLD COMPRESS TO DECREASE SWELLING.DO NOT TRY TO PUT THE TOOTH BACK IN. PUTTING THE TOOTH BACK IN CAN DAMAGE THE PERMANENT TEETH. CALL YOUR PEDIATRIC DENTIST IMMEDIATLEY

Knocked out permanent tooth:

  • Find the tooth. Do NOT touch the root. Place the tooth in milk or saliva and rinse off the dirt. If it is possible put the tooth back in the socket. If it is not possible place the tooth in the socket then place the tooth in a cup of milk or saliva. Call the pediatric dental office immediately. Time is of the essence when it comes to teeth that have been knocked out. The longer the tooth is out of the mouth the less likely that it will stay healthy.

Please keep in mind that your child’s health is the most important aspect of any injury. Always check for signs of other injuries and possible concussion first. Signs of concussion to look for: confusion, nausea, dizziness, headache, vomiting, ringing in the ears, loss of consciousness. If your child has any symptoms of a concussion take them the ER Immediately.

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