Category: faqs

If your child has a very loose tooth, it should be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled.

If your child complains of a toothache, rinse his mouth with warm water and inspect his teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area,…

You can help your child avoid dental emergencies. Child-proof your house to avoid falls. Don’t let your child chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard foods. Always use car seats for young children and require seatbelts for older children. And if your child plays contact sports, have him wear a mouthguard. Ask us about…

If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. It is best to head to the hospital immediately (where an oral surgeon is on call). In many cases a broken jaw is the result of a blow to the head. Severe blows to the head…

If your child has something caught between his teeth, use dental floss to gently remove it. Never use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to remove a stuck object. If you are unable to remove the item with dental floss, give us a call.

If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of his tooth, have him rinse his mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling if the lip was involved. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off. Schedule an appointment to have the tooth restored. If the…

If your child has bitten his lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress if able (a cold, wet towel or washcloth pressed firmly against the area) to reduce or avoid swelling. Give us a call to help determine how serious the bite is.…

If your child’s tooth has been knocked out of his mouth, find the tooth and rinse it with water (no soap) to clean any debris (place a paper towel over the drain), taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it’s in place). Time is of the…

In some situations following dental extractions, your child may experience prolonged bleeding. If this occurs, it may be the result of a dislodged clot. The most important part of post-extraction is maintaining constant pressure on gauze. Take two gauze and fold into a square, then have your child bite down on the gauze for 20…

The most soothing thing you can do is often to rub sore gums gently with a clean finger or with the back of a cold plastic spoon or cold wet cloth. Teething rings often work well. It is best to avoid teething biscuits, they may contain sugar that is not good for baby teeth. Infant…