July 2026

What Parents Should Do When a Child Has a Dental Injury

Children tend to be active, which further means that their chances of suffering a dental injury can be much higher than the chances of the average adult. And, injuries involving teeth definitely require immediate attention, as I am sure you understand. So, you have to know what it is that you have to do. Read more about dental trauma in general.

When your child experiences a dental injury, you definitely have to know what to do. Knowing what to do and acting on time can make a huge difference in preserving your smile and preventing any kinds of long-term complications. And, while those moments after the accident are rather stressful, staying calm and acting quickly is certainly important if you want to help your child.

Well, if you want to learn what to do after your child has had a dental injury, then you have come to the right place. Below we are going to share some tips for parents, hoping to help you get better prepared for a situation like this, knowing what to do and how to behave. Without much more ado, thus, let us get started.

Staying Calm Is a Must

As I have already hinted at, one of the most important things to do in a situation like this is, well, stay calm. Children tend to take emotional cues from their parents, as I am sure you know by now. So, if you remain calm and offer reassurance, that an help reduce your kid’s fear and anxiety.

Here is some more about dental injuries: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16916-dental-injuries

Check for Injuries

Another important thing that you will have to do right away is check if your kid has injures beyond the mouth. Do they have difficulty breathing? Do they have a head or neck injury? If the answer is yes to some of those things, or if they have lost consciousness or have any kind of a serious injury, you should get emergency medical care immediately, before you address the dental injury.

If, however, the injury is limited to the mouth, then you should do your best to gently examine the area. Look for swelling, bleeding, teeth that appear loose or displaced, broken or chipped teeth, missing teeth, or cuts on the lips, tongue, or gums. Even if you find that the damage is minor, it is of utmost importance for you to contact a pediatric dentist on time.

Stop the Bleeding

It is not uncommon for minor bleeding to occur after a dental injury. And, well, you should do your best to stop it. To do that, you should use a clean piece of gauze or a soft cloth and apply gentle pressure to the affected area for a couple of minutes.

If swelling also develops, you should put a cold compress on the outside of the cheek near the actual injury, as that can help reduce it. Along the same lines, avoid giving your kid hot foods or drinks after the injury, as that could increase bleeding, swelling and sensitivity, and, of course, immediately start looking for pediatric dental emergency care in Abbotsford to get the care your kid needs. After all, while you can do these first steps alone, you will still need a professional to look into the actual injury.

Determine the Type of Injury That Occurred

Now, when we mention dental injuries, different people may think of different things. And that is because those injuries can definitely range from some small chips to, well, complete tooth loss. So, understanding the type of injury is sure to help you determine just how urgently treatment is needed.

Some of the most common dental injuries include loose teeth, chipped or cracked teeth, teeth pushed out of position, knocked-out teeth, as well as injuries to the gums, tongue, lips, or the jaw. Keep in mind that some injures may not appear severe initially, but they can still damage the nerves of the teeth, or the supporting structures. This is why a professional examination is an absolute must.

Watch for Some Hidden Damage

You should also always keep in mind that not all dental injuries are obvious. This means that your kid may seem completely fine at the moment, but still develop some symptoms later. Those symptoms can include tooth discoloration, increasing pain, sensitivity to cold or hot, swollen gums, difficulty biting, persistent bleeding, and similar.

If you notice any such symptoms, you should remember that they can be signs of damage to the tooth’s nerve, or to the surrounding bone. And even if your kid says at some point that the pain has gone away, a professional examination is still necessary (more info on dental trauma monitoring and management). So, in short, seeing a professional is an absolute must.

Keep the Kid Comfortable

You are probably going to have to wait for at least a short while to get your dental appointment. And, during that period, what you have to do is keep your child comfortable. How can you do that, though?

Well, you can offer them soft foods, such as yogurt, soup, mashed potatoes and similar. And you should make sure they avoid crunchy, sticky, or very hard foods. Then, you should also encourage them to drink water, and remember to apply cold compress for swelling. Finally, if your healthcare provider recommends it, you can use pain medication that is age appropriate to help deal with the pain.

Find the Right Pediatric Dentist in Your Area

One final thing to do is, of course, find the right pediatric dentist in your area to examine the problem. No matter what kind of a dental injury your kid has, as talked about at https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-injury, there is absolutely no doubt that they will have to see a professional. And, your task is to choose the right one in Abbotsford.

So, take your time to find more of them, getting recommendations from the people you know and searching online. Then, check out the different experts in more details, inspecting their experience, their reputation, as well as anything else that you need to know. Finally, get in touch with more of them, compare availability, and talk about the prices and compare those as well, while keeping in mind all the other factors, so as to ultimately make your best choice.