How To Help Your Child With A Toothache
It's distressing when your young child complains of a toothache. You never want to see your child in pain and you probably know how painful a toothache can be. While a toothache can be caused by a cavity or injured tooth, it can have other causes in kids since kids can confuse pain that's in the tooth with pain that is near it. Here's a look at how to deal with your child's tooth pain.
Try To Find The Cause Of The Pain
Have your child show you the exact location of the pain and then examine the area for signs of a cavity or broken tooth that might need immediate attention. Also, look for signs of swollen gums, redness, or sores near the tooth. You might see food stuck between the teeth that's the cause of pain or you might see a cavity, but you might see nothing wrong at all. The pain might be from new teeth trying to push their way through. If you do see a cavity or signs of an infection, call your child's dentist and let them know so your child can be evaluated and treated.
Know When To Seek Emergency Care
If the pain is mild or if it goes away, then seeing a dentist at the first available appointment might be okay. If your child is in extreme pain or has a fever or other symptoms of an infection, you'll want to see the dentist right away. Your child may need antibiotics or pain medication until the dental work can be done.
Treat Tooth Pain At Home
One thing to try for tooth pain is swishing the mouth out with salt water. Swishing helps remove food stuck to the teeth that could be the source of irritation. Also, help your child floss if you think stuck food is the problem. Placing an ice pack against the cheek might help with pain and swelling. Mild pain might be relieved with home remedies but if the pain persists or becomes worse, then seek help from your child's dentist so your child doesn't suffer and so a toothache doesn't develop into a dangerous infection.
Proper dental care can prevent toothaches caused by decay and gum disease, but even if your child sees the dentist regularly and brushes and flosses daily, a toothache can still develop due to an injury or new teeth coming in. Toothaches are fairly common in small children, so on your child's next visit to the pediatric dentist ask for advice in handling toothaches so you know what to do in a dental emergency.