Tooth injuries involve one or more of the front teeth. It accounts for over 80% of all dental injuries, according to Web MD. The majority of these tooth injuries are caused by sports injuries. And take note, this can affect people of all ages. Other causes of tooth injury include falling, bruxism, or the grinding of one’s teeth during the night.
It’s unavoidable since children will leap, play, and sometimes fall. The majority of tooth injuries occur in preschool. It usually happens during the playtime of children and when school-age children fall. Of course, there’s no reason to be concerned if your child loses a baby tooth earlier than expected.
The good news is that most tooth injuries may be treated by a dentist with extensive knowledge. How to treat a tooth injury depends on the type of injury as well as how bad the injury is. If you think your child has a head injury or other injury, call your doctor.
What exactly are tooth injuries?
A healthy mouth necessitates avoiding tooth damage whenever possible. A cracked tooth, a chipped tooth, a fractured tooth, a broken tooth, a dislodged tooth, and a knocked-out tooth are a few types of dental injuries. The type of tooth injury will determine if an emergency dental visit is required.
Your dentist can tell if the injured tooth can be treated during a routine dental appointment. A referral to a dental specialist may be required if the tooth injury is deemed complicated. When a person suffers a dental injury, it may affect not only the tooth but also the soft tissues in the mouth.
What should you do if your child gets dental injuries?
If a toddler or small baby is hurt in the gums or has baby teeth, you should take the following steps straight away:
Use a cool, damp piece of gauze to apply pressure to the region (only if it’s bleeding).
If your child is old enough to understand, have them bite down on the wet gauze slowly.
Sucking on an ice pop or holding an ice pack wrapped in a washcloth against the cheek can help to minimize swelling.
Make an appointment with your dentist.
Ibuprofen or acetaminophen, whatever pain reliever is required, should be given. Make sure you consult with a dentist first.
If there is any swelling in the gums, any lasting pain, a fever, or a change in tooth color, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Other helpful tips to consider:
The following are five excellent suggestions for preventing dental injuries in the future.
Take precautions at home. Many individuals are harmed at home, and securing the home can prevent both children and the elderly from slipping or tripping. It’s also a good idea to install safety gates and padding on any sharp furniture corners.
Make sure you have a mouthguard on. Wearing a mouthguard while participating in sports is the best way to avoid tooth damage. In the journal Sports Health, there is a lot of information about how mouth guards can help prevent most injuries. When worn properly, they don’t have a big effect on airflow or speech.
Wear a night guard at all times. The more someone grinds their teeth at night, the more likely they are to get hurt. Wearing a sleep guard can be very beneficial.
Make sure you’re wearing the right helmet. Those who have been diagnosed with a disease that may cause them to fall should wear a specially designed helmet to protect their teeth if they do fall.
Avoid chewing on hard objects or consuming hard foods. Hard foods, such as nuts, hard confectionery, and even ice, cause many tooth injuries. Chewing on hard things such as pencils or cans can also cause tooth injury and is a habit that should be altered or halted to avoid more tooth injuries.
What should you do if your child’s tooth turns black?
When a baby’s first tooth turns black, it usually signifies that the tooth has been injured or has been subjected to a forceful impact. After a few weeks, the discoloration appears, although it normally goes away on its own. It may take a few months for baby teeth to get whiter, usually about six months.
But, in certain situations, the trauma causes the pulp inside the tooth to die. There is a good chance that the tooth will have to be removed because of this.
What happens if a tooth is chipped or broken?
Collect all the fragmented bits of the tooth.
Warm water should be used to rinse the child’s mouth.
Call your dentist at the same time and make an appointment right away.
If your dentist is unavailable, go to the nearest emergency room.
How do you treat caries in baby teeth?
Fillings are used to cure cavities in infant teeth, which help to prevent the cavity from deteriorating or spreading. People can get cavities if they don’t get their teeth checked by a dentist or if they don’t clean their teeth well enough.
What are the symptoms and indicators of a tooth injury?
Darkened teeth, blood, a chipped tooth, trouble biting and eating, and crankiness are all indicators of a tooth injury in youngsters.
Bottom Line
If your child is experiencing throbbing pain, exhaustion, or a fever, you should contact your pediatrician right away. Furthermore, if your child is having discomfort in the mouth, this could suggest a more serious problem. Not only that but also difficulty breathing or swallowing.
So, you should send your child to the emergency department as soon as possible. Remember that seeing a dentist for an evaluation or x-ray, no matter what kind of dental problem or damage there is is the best way to get the best treatment.