Do you know what to do in the event of your child having a dental emergency? What do you do if your kid gets smashed in the mouth with a soccer ball? What needs to be done if your kid wrecks his or her bike and knocks his or her front teeth out? Below, you will learn just what to do during emergencies such as these.
Stay Calm
The most important thing for you to do at this point is to stay calm! Getting yourself worked up will not help your child stay calm and keep his or her blood pressure from increasing. Close your eyes and take a deep breath each time you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed. Keeping yourself calm will help to keep your child calm and make the situation much better than it would be if you both freaked out.
Get Control of the Bleeding
Every parent should have a first aid kit on hand that includes lots of sterile gauze. Use the sterile gauze to pack the injury to gain control of the bleeding. Once you have slowed the bleeding, examine your child's mouth to see if any teeth are broken, knocked out or loose.
If you find that a tooth is missing, try your best to find it. When you do find it, don't touch the root or you run the chance of damaging the root and preventing it from being put back in place. Store the tooth in cold milk as you work your way to the dentist.
Manage Swelling
Instant ice packs are another thing that should always be stored in your first aid kit. Get ice on the injury as quickly as possible to try to limit the amount of swelling that occurs. The ice will also help to slow the bleed as it will cause the blood vessels to contract.
Get Medical Attention
Head injuries are nothing to take lightly. Your child will need to be seen by both the family dentist and a pediatrician. The dentist will take care of the dental issues, while the pediatrician will give your child a thorough examination to ensure that he or she didn't suffer a concussion or other head trauma.
Being prepared for this type of emergency before it happens will help you to take some of the stress out of the situation and make it more manageable for you and your child. Talk with your dentist to learn more about preparing for dental emergencies.
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