Many parents ask me, "what should we do for our child when he/she has a dental problem?" We hope the information below will provide you with some guidance.

Toothache
Clean the area around the sore tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm salt water or use dental floss to dislodge trapped food or debris. DO NOT place aspirin or any other painkillers on the gum or on the aching tooth. If face is swollen, apply a cold compress. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen (at the recommended dose for your child) for pain and contact my office as soon as possible.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek
Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a clean gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take the child to a hospital emergency room.

Broken Tooth
Rinse dirt from injured area with warm water. Place a cold compresses over the face in the area of the injury. Locate and save any broken tooth fragments. Call the office ASAP for further advice!

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth
Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the top (crown), not the root portion. You may rinse the tooth but DO NOT clean or handle the tooth unnecessarily.

If you cannot re-insert the tooth or have the child keep the tooth in their mouth, transport the tooth in a cup containing milk or water. Call the office IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.

Knocked Out Baby (Primary) Tooth
Leave the tooth out of the mouth. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPLACE IT! Call the office as soon as possible!

Broken Appliances and Space Maintainers
If a broken appliance can be removed easily, take it out. If it cannot, cover the sharp or protruding portion with cotton balls or gauze. If a wire is stuck in the gums, cheek or tongue, DO NOT remove it. Contact the office immediately for further advice. Loose or broken appliances which do not bother the child, do not usually require emergency attention.

Bleeding After Baby Tooth Falls Out
Fold and pack a clean gauze or cloth over the bleeding area. Have the child bite on the gauze for 15 minutes. This may be repeated once; if bleeding persists,call the office.

Cold / Canker Sores
Many children occasionally suffer from cold or canker sores. Usually over-the-counter preparations give some relief. The best remedy is usually rinsing with warm salt water several times a day. Because some serious diseases may begin as sores, it is important to have a dental evaluation if these sores persist.