Sometimes
it seems as though children’s heads are magnets – baseballs, a little brother’s
foot – it’s no surprise so many activities require helmets. Unfortunately,
tooth injuries can be a common part of growing up. According to www.uptodate.com, nearly 50% of
kids will injure a tooth during childhood. Below are three common tooth
injuries and how best to respond.
Where’s
My Tooth?!
What
should you do when a tooth is knocked out? The answer depends on whether the
injury was to a baby tooth or a permanent tooth. If it was a baby tooth, the
dentist will probably not want to “replant” the tooth, but contact your kid's
dentist as soon as possible to make sure the rest of your child’s mouth is
uninjured. If it was a permanent
tooth, act quickly to save the tooth and reduce the risk for
future complications. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests you
rinse the tooth in cool water (no soap, and no scrubbing) and replace it in the
socket immediately, holding it in place with clean gauze or a washcloth. If you
cannot put the tooth back, place it in a clean container with cold milk,
saliva, or Hank’s balanced salt solution, and see your dentist as soon as
possible.
Chipped
/ Fractured Tooth
If your
child chips or fractures a tooth, rinse the mouth with water, and apply a cool
compress to reduce swelling. If you have the tooth fragment, place it in cold
milk or water. Contact your kid's dentist, and remember to bring the saved
fragment with you to the appointment.
Ouch,
My Tooth!
We don’t
like to see kids in pain, and most of us know how painful a toothache can be.
If your child is complaining about mouth or tooth pain, promptly contact the
dentist. Tooth pain can indicate a number of problems, all of which should be
diagnosed and treated by the dentist. If you cannot see the dentist right away,
relieve some of the pain using children’s aspirin, Children’s Tylenol, or
Children’s Motrin and a cold compress – never apply heat, put aspirin directly
on the tooth, or use Orajel.
Remember,
regular checkups and protection during activities can help keep your kids
healthy and pain-free. Visit http://www.playtimedental.com for more
information.
Maintaining
good oral health requires one to select a dentist who can perfectly deal with
their particular needs. Some dentists specialize in a certain field of
dentistry. A pediatric dentist or a dentist who works with children, examines
babies and kids until they start to become young adults. It is very important
to take your children to a kids’ dentist as baby teeth start to erupt through
the gums. The first tooth usually erupts
at about 6 months old.
During
their visit, the kid's dentist will inspect each tooth carefully and a
hygienist will perform a thorough cleaning. Your child will be treated with a
topical fluoride, checked for cavities, and probably get x-rays of the teeth.
If the kid’s dentist detects any problems, he or she will take care of it early
enough instead of letting it develop into something serious down the road. Most
of the time, serious conditions start as small problems that could have been
prevented if they were noticed early enough.
If your
child does not see a pediatric or kids’ dentist regularly, long-term problems
could occur. Cavities are common issues that can be caught with a routine
check. If they are not addressed, they could sooner or later cause the whole
tooth to decay, which not only causes pain and possibly infection, but also
increases the likelihood of losing the entire tooth. Gingivitis and
periodontitis can also generally be caught early with routine checkups.
In
addition, many children need adequate fluoride in the diet or home care routine,
which is essential for preventing cavities. This is done by using a fluoride
rinse, drinking water that contains fluoride, or taking a daily supplement as
well as brushing with a pea-sized quantity of fluoridated toothpaste. The kid’s
dentist will be able to identify whether your child is not getting sufficient
fluoride and can recommend supplements that will help to prevent cavities.
It is very
important to note that baby teeth help guide the placement of the permanent
teeth. A missing or a decayed baby tooth can result in misaligned or crooked
permanent teeth, which can lead to various problems, such as difficulty in
chewing, premature tooth loss and the inability to maintain good dental
hygiene. For more severe scenarios, it can also interfere with TMJ or the
temporomandibular joint, a joint that connects the skull to the lower jaw,
which leads to much discomfort when an adult. Visiting a kid's dentist early
enough will certainly help to ensure simple issues don't develop into something
very severe.
