Emergency Info

Mini Mouths – Dentistry & Braces For Kids

EMERGENCY CARE FROM OUR CORAL SPRINGS, BOCA RATON & PEMBROKE PINES DENTIST FOR KIDS

At Mini Mouths, we know that our patients may need our services after traditional business hours. If your child is experiencing a dental emergency, we advise you to immediately call our office at (954) 575-5488, (561) 218-4012 or (754) 217-4633 so that our dentist can be paged. We care about your child’s comfort and wellbeing, which is why we are here to assist you in your time of need.

As a parent, it is important that you are aware of how to handle a dental emergency. The steps your take right after a dental injury or incident can make all the difference when it comes to saving your child’s tooth. In the information below, we have outlined a few tips for handling various types of dental emergencies. It is crucial that you stay calm, follow these steps, and then take your child to the dentist as soon as possible!

Caution: You should not, under any circumstances, give your child aspirin for pain relief. It is best to give your child Tylenol (acetaminophen). If you have any questions, please get in touch with our dental staff.

Types of Dental Emergencies

TOOTHACHE

Is your child complaining of pain in one or more of his / her teeth? If so, have your child rinse out his or her mouth with warm water, and then check for anything that might be lodged in-between the teeth. If there is any swelling in the face and / or the pain persists, it is best to apply a cold compress. You can also help alleviate pain by giving your child acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not give your child aspirin, apply topical pain medication, or apply heat. Be sure to schedule an appointment with us a soon as possible so we can identify the cause of the toothache.

CUT ON THE LIP, CHEEK, OR TONGUE

Your first step should apply ice to any areas that are bruised. If there is bleeding, take a clean cloth or sterile gauze and use it to place pressure on the injured area. If the bleeding persists after 15 minutes of applying pressure, you should take your child to the emergency room.

BROKEN TOOTH

If your child’s tooth is broken, hold the tooth in place. You should not hold the tooth by the end (the root), but rather by the top (the crown).While it is okay to rinse the tooth with water, you should not clean or move it more than needed. If the tooth can be put back in its socket, make sure to do so and hold it there with a piece of clean cloth or gauze. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, you should bring it with you to the dentist’s office in a cup of milk or water. No matter what your situation is, you should notify your dentist or go to the hospital right away. If you get the tooth treated fast enough, there is a chance that it could be saved.

POSSIBLE BROKEN JAW

Broken jaws are typically caused by severe head trauma, such as a rough blow to the head. If you are worried that your child may have a broken jaw, take your child to the closest emergency room immediately. In the meantime, you should do your best to prevent your child’s jaw from moving. You can do this by using a handkerchief or towel to tie the mouth and jaw shut.

BLEEDING AFTER THE LOSS OF A BABY TOOTH

You can try to stop the bleeding by taking a folded piece of clean gauze and using it to apply pressure to the affected area. Your child should bite down on the gauze for approximately 15 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop after this period of time, get in touch with our office.

OBJECT CAUGHT BETWEEN TEETH

You can try to gently remove the lodged object using floss. You should not attempt to remove the object with a sharp tool, or a tool made of metal or plastic. Reach out to our office if you still cannot remove the object.

LOOSE TOOTH

When your child’s tooth is very loose, it can potentially be inhaled or swallowed, which can be dangerous. As a result, you should remove a tooth that is very loose as soon as possible.

COLD OR CANKER SORES

This is a common ailment for children. You can usually help alleviate the symptoms with the use of over-the-counter medication. It is important that you have the issue evaluated by a medical professional, especially because many diseases start out with cold / canker sores.

Preventing Injuries & Dental Emergencies

There are many things you can do to prevent dental emergencies for your child. The more prepared you are, the less likely it is that an injury will occur.
Here are a few prevention tips:
• Keep young children buckled in their car seats or seat belts (depending on the child’s age)
• Make sure your home is child-proof so that falls are less likely to occur.
• Make your child wear a custom-fitted mouth guard if he or she is involved in contact sports.
• Keep your child from chewing foods that are very hard, such as popcorn kennels or ice.
• See to it that your child is brushing and flossing properly.
• Have your child visit the dentist regularly.

CALL OUR OFFICE AT (954) 575-5488, (561) 218-4012 OR ( 754) 217-4633 IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOUR CHILD IS FACED WITH A DENTAL EMERGENCY!