Many dentists, including pediatric providers, understand that urgent oral issues can occur at any time of the day or night, and offer same-day emergency visits to accommodate them.
For instance, if your child develops a sudden, severe, or persistent toothache, you can contact their pediatric dentist for an urgent appointment so they don’t have to wait long for relief. But if it happens overnight or on a weekend, you might have to wait a day or two before you can call for help. Continue reading to learn about 3 ways to help ease your child’s discomfort in the meantime!
Remedy #1: Apply a Cold Compress
If your child is expressing frustration over a toothache, or is too small to tell you they’re hurting but is exhibiting signs of distress when eating or drinking, it’s only natural to want to do everything you can to help soothe their pain. One simple but effective way to provide some much-needed relief is by using a cold compress.
For example, you can try holding an ice pack to the tender side of their face for about 10 to 15 minutes at a time, which is often long enough to induce a temporary, numbing reprieve. If your child is an infant and is teething, you can dampen a clean washcloth with water and place it in the freezer briefly, then allow them to chew or suck on it under your supervision to prevent choking or other potential hazards.
Remedy #2: Rinse Their Mouth with Salt Water
There are many potential reasons for your kid’s throbbing tooth, such as cavities, developing gum disease, or an oral infection. These issues all result from an overabundance of unhealthy bacteria thriving in their mouth, which produce enamel eroding acids or form plaque along their gums that can trigger disease.
If your child is old enough to follow your instructions, you can have them rinse their mouth out with salt water. Not only might this dislodged any trapped food or other items stuck in their smile, but it also acts as a natural disinfectant to kill germs, reduce inflammation, and soothe irritation.
Remedy #3: Try Children’s Pain Medications
You can also help ease your kid’s toothache by giving them the recommended dosage of over-the-counter children’s medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Many stores and pharmacies carry these and other similar solutions, so thankfully, they’re not usually difficult to find, and they often come in appealing flavors to be more palatable. They also can provide enough relief to help your child get through the day or night successfully.
These are temporary measures that can help soothe symptoms but don’t address the underlying cause of your child’s discomfort. You’ll still need to contact their emergency dentist as soon as possible for an assessment and customized treatment plan to prevent worsening aches and dental issues.
About the Practice
At Tic Tac Tooth Pediatric Dentistry, your child benefits from a team of experts who are passionate about improving their dental health to enhance their general well-being. Our board-certified providers offer a complete menu of services, including same-day emergency visits and dental sedation, to conveniently meet the unique needs of still-developing smiles. Their caring approach is combined with advanced technology to deliver customized treatment plans for more comfortable, accurate results meant to last. You can request an appointment for your child on the website or by calling the office at (630) 995-3393.