When a Child Gets a Toothache

TOOTHACHES ARE NEVER fun, particularly for little kids who might not know what’s happening. They can be caused by a variety of things and are usually worth a visit to the dentist, especially if it’s still hurting after a couple of days, but what can parents do when a toothache comes during the holidays or after hours?

What Causes Toothaches?

For children, a toothache could simply be teething from a new baby tooth or adult tooth. This is a normal part of development. Otherwise, the most common reason for initial tooth pain is decay, but it can also happen with gum disease, dental abscess, inflamed pulp, or a cracked tooth. Impacted teeth can be painful as well, and tooth sensitivity can be very uncomfortable.

Toothache Remedies

It’s usually best to bring a child with a toothache to the dentist. If that isn’t possible at first, there are a few things that can help manage their discomfort until then:

1. Rinsing and spitting with warm salt water will reduce inflammation.
2. Applying a cold compress to their cheek near where it’s sore.
3. Giving them children’s over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication.

How to prevent future toothaches? Brush and floss daily and schedule regular dental visits!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.