Dental trauma in children is widespread. There are two peak risk periods for dental trauma – the first between ages 1-3, when environmental exploration begins, and the second is the preadolescent/adolescent period, when children become active in sports.
Below are some of the most common childhood dental emergencies and helpful advice on how to deal with them.
Toothache
Some common causes of toothache include tooth fractures, decay, infection, trauma, and wisdom teeth eruption (adolescence). Impacted food can also cause discomfort in young children.
Tips:
- Cleanse around the sore tooth thoroughly
- Rinse vigorously or use floss to dislodge trapped food
- If there is swelling, apply a cold compress
- Take paracetamol or Ibuprofen for pain
- Contact your dentist to seek advice
Dental avulsion (knocked-out tooth)
Permanent Tooth Tips:
- Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root
- Rinse the tooth gently with saline. Keep the tooth moist. If saline is not available, place the tooth in cold milk or the child’s saliva
- For older children, insert the tooth into its original socket using gentle pressure
- Contact your dentist immediately. Time is of the essence for a successful re-implantation
Baby Tooth Tips:
- Do not re-insert baby teeth. This may damage the developing permanent tooth
- Contact your dentist immediately
Displaced tooth (tooth still in the socket but moved out of position)
Tips:
- Rinse the child’s mouth with cold water
- Place ice packs around affected areas to reduce swelling
- Offer Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for pain relief
- Contact your dentist
Broken Tooth
For mild teeth chipping (up to 2mm), if there is no bleeding from the tooth itself and your child is not in pain, your child can generally be seen within a few days to have the tooth evaluated. If the tooth is loose, displaced, or has broken more than 2 mm, or if you notice bleeding from the tooth and/or your child is in pain, contact your dentist.
Tips:
- Rinse the child’s mouth with warm water
- Place a cold, moist compress on the affected area
- Locate and save broken tooth fragments
- If the tooth is loose, do not allow your child to chew or put any force on the fractured tooth
Injured cheek, lip or tongue
If the child’s cheek, lip or tongue is bleeding due to an accidental cut or bite, apply firm, direct pressure to the area using a clean cloth or gauze. To reduce swelling, apply ice to the affected areas. If the bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes or becomes uncontrollable, proceed to the A&E or call a medical professional immediately.
Fractured jaw
If a broken or fractured jaw is suspected, proceed immediately to the A&E. In the meantime, encourage the child not to move the jaw. In the case of a very young child, gently tie a scarf lengthways around the head and jaw to prevent movement.
Head injury/head trauma
If the child has received trauma to the head, proceed immediately to the A&E. Even if consciousness has not been lost, pediatric doctors need to rule out delayed concussion and internal bleeding.
