What to do in a Dental 911!!

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, hoping you are enjoying the tail end of your summer break!

In today’s Special Report I will be providing my SUPER MOMS, DADS, & caregivers with the knowledge you will need to be as prepared as you can be for common dental emergencies. If an injury happens on the playground, in school, or at home, having an established relationship with you child’s dentist (Casa Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics) along with keeping up with regular check ups & cleanings, is the first & best way to be prepared. This way, you will have someone to call that can provide you with guidance, care & support.

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With all emergencies, remaining calm & immediate attention is imperative. Below I will outline what action you can take in the case of some common situations where you can prevent a bad situation from getting worse. Taking the right action can mean the difference between saving or losing a tooth.

ALL DENTAL EMERGENCIES:

Contact your dentist ASAP

IF A BABY TOOTH IS KNOCKED OUT:

Contact your child’s dentist as soon as possible. Acting fast can lessen discomfort & prevent infection
Rinse the mouth with warm water & apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
Rather than looking for the baby tooth (that should not be placed back), spend time comforting your child

IF A PERMANENT TOOTH IS KNOCKED OUT:

Find the tooth & DO NOT touch the root
Rinse the tooth GENTLY in cool water (do not scrub it or use soap)
Replace the tooth in the socket, if possible, and hold it in place with a clean piece of gauze or washcloth. If putting the tooth back in the socket isn’t an option, place the tooth in a clean cup with milk or saliva.
Go to the dentist IMMEDIATELY!

IF A TOOTH IS CHIPPED OR DAMAGED:

Contact the dentist immediately
Rinse the mouth with warm water & apply a cold compress to reduce any swelling & to prevent infection
Find any tooth fragments. Rinse in cool water & place in a clean cup with milk or saliva & take them with you to the dentist.

If your incident is a more complicated injury or accident, call for emergency services or call the dentist while you are in route to the hospital. Knowing what to do first in unexpected situations is half the battle. Always be strong for your child(ren) & give he/she the reassurance needed to calmly take the appropriate action to make your emergency situation better & not worse. There are some simple precautions you can take to avoid some accidents or injuries to teeth such as: wearing a mouth guard when participating in sports or recreational activities (refer to one of our previous blog posts to learn more about mouth guards http://www.casasmiles.com/monster-free-movement-special-agent-flossit/), avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels & hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth, & use scissors, NEVER your teeth, to cut things.

Ultimately, I hope you never have to put into practice today’s knowledge, but at least now you know what to do if your child or someone around you needs to act fast & appropriately!

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/casasmilespediatricdentistryandorthodontics?pnref=lhc. Instagram http://instagram.com/casasmiles/, Twitter https://twitter.com/casa_smiles, Yelp http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-smiles-pediatric-dentistry-and-orthodontics-coral-gables & Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/casasmiles/ to hear all about our daily news! You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation http://www.casasmiles.com/contact-us/.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

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