Injuries to teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should be addressed right away. A delay in responding to the dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage and may result in the need for more extensive and expensive treatment down the road.
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GUIDELINES FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE
KNOCKED-OUT TOOTH
If the tooth is dirty, hold it by the crown and rinse it off in water. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that's not possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and call our office immediately. Be sure to bring the tooth with you when you come in.
BITTEN TONGUE OR LIP
Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply a cold compress to keep the swelling down. If bleeding is excessive or doesn't stop in a short amount of time, call our office or take your child to the emergency room.
TOOTHACHE
Rinse your child's mouth with warm water to clean it out. Use dental floss to remove any food that may be trapped between teeth. Do not put aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues. Call our office as soon as possible.
BROKEN TOOTH
Rinse your child's mouth with warm water, and apply a cold compress on the face to reduce swelling. Place tooth fragments in a cup of milk or saline. Call our office immediately.
COLD/CANKER SORES
Vitamin E oil applied to the area may provide relief for the occasional sore. Some serious diseases begin as sores, so it is important to see Dr. Carreras if they persist.
BLEEDING AFTER BABY TOOTH FALLS OUT
Fold and pack clean gauze over the bleeding area. Have child bite on gauze for 15 minutes. Repeat once if needed. If bleeding persists, call our office.
OBJECTS CAUGHT BETWEEN TEETH
Gently try to remove the object with dental floss. If you're unsuccessful, call our office as soon as possible. Do not try to remove the object with a sharp or pointed instrument.
BROKEN BRACE AND WIRES
If the broken appliance can be removed easily, take it out. If not, cover the sharp or protruding portion with cotton balls, gauze or chewing gum. Loose or broken appliances which do not bother the child usually do not require emergency attention.
POSSIBLE BROKEN JAW
Apply a cold compress to control swelling. Call our office immediately or take your child to the emergency room.
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WHAT TO EXPECT AND WATCH FOR AFTER EXAMINATION
If your child has suffered an injury to one (or more) of the primary incisors, the following information will help you understand what you can expect to happen and what signs to watch for that indicate the tooth/teeth may require further examination and treatment.
YOU CAN EXPECT
- CHANGE IN TOOTH COLOR
The tooth will probably darken over a period of time, eventually turning quite dark. Usually the color will be a charcoal gray, although it may be brown, yellow or a lighter color. The tooth will begin to lighten again, returning to a color similar to before the injury but not quite as snow white.
- LOOSENESS
The bone that supports the tooth has been expanded by the injury, which will make the tooth looser than normal. As the bone returns to a normal position, the tooth will also tighten up again.
- BLEEDING AND SWELLING
As with any injury, the normal reaction of the injured tissues (in this case, the gums and/or lips) will be bleeding and/or swelling. A warm pack (a washcloth works well) will help decrease that swelling and a warm salt water rinse will promote healing of any cuts.
- PAIN
Fortunately, children do not usually suffer much pain from injuries to teeth. Occasionally there will be pain if the child has tried to chew with the injured tooth. As with any injury, the area should be “babied” to avoid aggravating the injury.
WATCH FOR THESE SYMPTOMS
- CHANGE IN EATING OR SLEEPING HABITS
If your child’s normal eating patterns change (in particular, if he/she complains when chewing or drinking something cold) or if your child is not sleeping, another checkup is appropriate.
- GUM BOILS
These will appear on the gums in the area where the gums and lips meet. Gum boils look like small blisters or pimples on the gums.
- INCREASED SWELLING, LOOSENESS OR PAIN
If any of the “expected reactions” become worse, the area should be re-examined.
If at any time you have concerns, don't hesitated to the call the office.
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DENTAL TRAUMA GUIDE
The Dental Trauma Guide is a non-profit website that provides a wealth of information regarding treatment guidelines for trauma to primary and permanent teeth. It includes detailed descriptions, photos and videos.
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