It is a well-known fact that children love to play. Playing not only entertains them but also allows them to acquire new skills, test their limits, and continuously learn. Sometimes, however, it can become hazardous, and the risk of minor accidents is always present. For this reason, parents must know how to handle a potential injury. When teeth are involved, managing the situation is not always easy. Here are some simple yet important rules to follow.
Children and teeth: what to do in case of an accident
If, on the other hand, the trauma causes the tooth to luxate (dislocate), you must not touch the tooth, and you must prevent the child from closing their mouth completely.
In the event of total tooth loss, it is essential to store it in a container with a saline solution, milk, or saliva, taking care never to touch the roots. Following this, you must go immediately to the dentist, who will proceed to reimplant the tooth. The success of the reimplantation is strictly linked to how quickly the procedure is carried out and the absence of bacteria: after just a few hours, it may no longer be possible to proceed.
After the procedure, the child’s teeth must be brushed with a soft toothbrush after every meal. We also recommend applying chlorhexidine gel to the traumatised areas using a gauze, twice a day for a week. This must be combined with a diet of soft, easily chewable foods for two weeks, limiting the use of a dummy (pacifier) where possible
Complications
Finally, parents must be informed of the possible onset of complications such as pain, swelling, increased tooth mobility, or the appearance of fistulas, which will require retreatment. In any case, we at Freesmile recommend visiting the dentist as soon as possible. The decision regarding the treatment to be carried out will depend largely on the time elapsed between the accident and the child receiving care.
