What Is Considered a Dental Emergency?

As a parent, you worry about your child. It’s perfectly normal to. Some worries are more justified than others, sure, but everything usually goes more or less the way it’s meant to. At least until it doesn’t. If your child trips and falls, gets hit in the mouth, or suddenly starts experiencing dental pain, you might have a dental emergency on your hands. But how do you tell?

Needing Treatment to Stop Bleeding

There are a few different things that are considered dental emergencies. If your child needs treatment to stop bleeding that’s coming from their mouth, that’s generally considered an emergency. They could be bleeding because they were hit or they bit themselves accidentally. If the gums are bleeding for no apparent reason and it isn’t stopping, that could be a sign of a more serious problem and should be addressed immediately.

Dealing With Severe Pain

Severe pain in the mouth is another sign of a dental emergency. Severe pain can be caused by infections, an abscess, toothaches, or exposed nerves. All of these can be quite serious, so don’t delay treatment. Remember, these will all usually get worse if left unattended.

Saving a Tooth

If a tooth is knocked out, that’s an instant dental emergency. Immediate action must be taken if the tooth is to be saved. If you can find the tooth, carefully pick it up by the top without touching the root. Carefully rinse the tooth and place it in some milk. Get to the dentist as soon as you can.

Severe Infections

Severe infections are not something to be taken lightly. They have the potential to be fatal and must be addressed immediately. Swelling or knots around the gums and swelling in the face are signs you might notice if there is an infection. That’s part of why things like abscessed teeth and broken crowns are as serious as they are.

Dental emergencies can be scary for both you as the parent and your child. It’s up to you to make sure your child gets the help they need if they’re experiencing one. Understanding what a dental emergency is will help you get a better idea of whether you need to bring your child in immediately or if it can wait until the next day.

Sports are a common cause of dental emergencies. Let us help you by using Sports Dentistry to help your child keep their teeth in the best condition possible as they play.