Toothache
Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between the teeth. Children’s Tylenol may be given to temporarily relieve the pain. Take your child to visit the dentist as soon as possible if pain persists longer than 24 hours.
Cut or bitten tongue, lip or cheek
Clean the area lightly with a cloth, and put cold compresses on the area to keep the swelling down. If bleeding is excessive or does not stop after a reasonable amount of time, take your child to your dentist or a hospital emergency department.
Knocked out permanent tooth
Keep tooth moist at all times. Hold the tooth by the crown, and if the tooth is dirty, rinse the root in water. Do not scrub the tooth or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If it cannot be replaced in the socket, put it in one of the following:
- Emergency tooth preservation kit
- Milk
- Mouth (next to cheek)
- If none of these is practical, use water (with a pinch of salt, if possible)
Cracked or broken tooth
Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down. Take your child to see a dentist right away. If possible, take the broken tooth fragment with you. The dentist may be able to bond the fragment to the tooth.
Other emergency conditions
Object caught between teeth: Gently try to remove the object with dental floss. If you’re not successful, visit your dentist. Do not try to remove the object with a sharp or pointed instrument.
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 with pressure for 15 minutes. This may be repeated once, if the bleeding continues, see a dentist.
Cold/canker sores: Many children occasionally suffer from "cold" or "canker" sores. Usually over-the-counter medications give relief. Because some serious diseases may begin as sores, it is important to have a dental evaluation if these sores persist.