A sudden toothache, swelling, a bump from playing, or a broken tooth can cause considerable worry when it happens to a child. Knowing how to react and what situations require prompt attention can help prevent complications.
Not all discomforts are equally serious or require the same type of attention. Some can wait a few hours to be assessed, while others need much faster action.
In Asistencia Dental Plus, At our dental clinic in Valencia, we handle these types of situations and help families identify what has happened and what is the most appropriate way to proceed.
Content
What is considered a dental emergency in a child?
We speak of a dental emergency when a problem arises in the teeth, gums, or tissues of the mouth that causes severe pain, inflammation, bleeding, infection, or an injury that may compromise a tooth.
In children, some of the situations that require a faster assessment are:
- Intense or persistent tooth pain.
- Inflammation of the gums or face.
- Signs of infection or the appearance of an abscess.
- Breakage, displacement or loss of a tooth after a blow.
- Bleeding that is difficult to control.
- Significant injuries to lips, tongue or gums.
- Objects that have become trapped between the teeth or in the mouth.
If in doubt, it is best to contact the clinic and explain what happened to assess the level of urgency.
Toothache that appears suddenly
Toothache in a child can have various causes. Advanced tooth decay, infection, a recent injury, gum inflammation, or even food trapped between the teeth can all cause discomfort.
If the pain is intense, appears spontaneously, wakes the child up during the night, or is accompanied by inflammation, It's not advisable to wait several days to see if it disappears on its own..
Until the evaluation, the child can gently rinse their mouth with water if they are old enough to do so without swallowing it. If any food particles are observed between the teeth, they can be carefully removed using dental floss.
Aspirin, alcohol, or other products should not be applied directly to the tooth or gum. It is also advisable not to administer any medication without considering the child's age and weight and following the advice of a healthcare professional.
Inflammation, infection, or the appearance of a phlegmon
A very inflamed gum, a lump next to a tooth, or swelling of the cheek may be related to a dental infection.
In these cases, Treating only the pain does not solve the root of the problem.. It is necessary to assess the tooth and the surrounding tissues to determine what is causing the infection and what treatment it needs.
Attention should be especially prompt if inflammation increases, fever develops, or the child becomes lethargic.
Furthermore, there are situations that cease to be merely a dental emergency. If there is significant inflammation that makes it difficult breathing, speaking, or swallowing, If the eye area is affected or the child's general condition deteriorates rapidly, the priority should be to seek urgent medical attention.
What to do if you have something stuck between your teeth?
Sometimes intense discomfort has a much simpler origin: a piece of food or other small element can get trapped between two teeth.
If it is clearly visible and located between the pieces, you can try to remove it with floss gently, without forcing the area.
Never use needles, pins, pointed tweezers, or any sharp objects to try to remove it. You could damage the gum, push it in further, or cause an injury.
If it doesn't come out easily, causes pain, or seems to be stuck in the gum or other tissue in the mouth, it should be removed by a professional.
Bumps, broken teeth, or loose teeth
Falls and blows during play or sports practice are a frequent cause of dental emergencies during childhood.
After trauma, it is important to check if the tooth:
- It has fractured or chipped.
- He moves around more than usual.
- He has changed position.
- It appears to have moved towards the gum.
- He's completely gone off the rails.
The lips, tongue, and gums should also be examined, as trauma can affect other structures besides the tooth itself.
Although the injury may appear small, A blow can have consequences that are not always visible at first glance.. Therefore, if there is a fracture, mobility, displacement, or significant pain, an evaluation is advisable.
In our guide on What to do if a child has a tooth injury We explain in more detail how to act in the face of different types of trauma.
What happens if the tooth falls out completely?
This is one of the situations in which it is especially important to know if we are dealing with a baby tooth or a permanent tooth.
If it's a baby tooth
A baby tooth that has come out completely after a blow It should not be put back in its place. Reimplanting it can affect the permanent tooth that is developing underneath.
Even so, the child should be assessed to check the condition of the gums, rule out other injuries, and carry out the necessary follow-up.
If it's a permanent tooth
The complete loss of a permanent tooth is a dental emergency and The timing of the action can influence your prognosis.
It should be picked up by the crown—the white part we normally see in the mouth—avoiding touching the root. If it's dirty, it can be gently rinsed with milk, saline solution, or saliva, without rubbing it.
Dental trauma guidelines recommend immediate reimplantation of the permanent tooth whenever possible. If this cannot be done easily, the tooth should be kept moist, preferably in milk or saline solution, and the patient should see a dentist immediately. In young children, it should not be carried in the mouth due to the risk of swallowing it.
Wounds and bleeding on lips, tongue or gums
Trauma can also cause cuts to the lips, tongue, or gums.
If there is bleeding, it can be placed a clean gauze, applying gentle and continuous pressure. A cold compress applied from the outside can help control inflammation.
When the wound is deep, the bleeding does not stop, or we suspect a major injury, a professional assessment will be necessary.
And if the blow has also affected the head and loss of consciousness, vomiting, disorientation or other neurological symptoms appear, the priority is medical attention.
What not to do in a child's dental emergency
Nerves can lead us to act too quickly. There are some actions that are best avoided:
- Do not attempt to reposition a baby tooth that has fallen out.
- Do not constantly manipulate a loose tooth.
- Do not touch the root of an avulsed permanent tooth.
- Do not leave a permanent tooth that has come out to dry out.
- Do not use sharp objects to remove anything stuck.
- Do not apply medication directly to teeth or gums.
- Do not wait several days if there is severe pain, increasing swelling, or signs of infection.
Stay calm, observe what has happened, and seek professional guidance. It's usually the best way to start.
When should you see a dentist as soon as possible?
It is advisable to seek dental care if the child presents Intense pain, swelling, a broken or displaced tooth, persistent bleeding, or any trauma that has clearly affected a tooth.
At Asistencia Dental Plus we offer customer service Dental emergencies in Valencia to assess these types of situations and determine the necessary treatment in each case.
In addition, our service Pediatric dentistry in Valencia It is geared towards the oral health care of children from their early years, both from a preventive point of view and in the face of problems that need treatment.
Prevention is also part of taking care of your dental health.
We cannot prevent all emergencies, but we can reduce some risks.
Using a suitable mouthguard when the child participates in certain sports activities, preventing them from using their teeth to open containers or bite hard objects, and maintaining regular check-ups are simple measures that help protect their mouth.
The reviews also allow Detect cavities and other problems before they cause pain or infection, preventing an injury that was initially small from becoming an emergency.
When faced with a child's dental problem, the most important thing is not to improvise. Knowing how to distinguish between a minor discomfort and a situation that requires prompt attention helps you act with greater confidence and composure.
If your child is experiencing pain, swelling, or has suffered any dental problems, you can contact Asistencia Dental Plus at the 963 16 26 56 to explain what happened and assess the next steps.
