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Marlton Pediatrics

Tooth Injury

Definition

  • Injury to a tooth

Call or Return If

  • Pain becomes severe
  • Cold fluids cause tooth pain
  • You think your child needs to be seen
  • Your child becomes worse
  • Note: If your child has a dentist, call them instead of your doctor.

 

About This Topic

Types of Tooth Injuries

  • Loosened tooth - May bleed a little from the gums. Usually tightens up on its own.
  • Displaced tooth (usually pushed inward)
  • Chipped or fractured tooth
  • Avulsed (knocked out) tooth - a dental emergency for permanent teeth

Symptoms

  • The main symptom is pain.
  • Minor bleeding from the gums may occur.

Prevention

  • Careful adult supervision of young children
  • Education of older children about high risk behaviors

After Care Advice

Cold:
  • For pain, put a piece of ice or a popsicle on the injured gum.
  • Another option: put a cold pack on the cheek.
  • Do this for 20 minutes.
Pain Medicine:
  • To help with the pain, give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Use as needed.
Soft Diet:
  • For any loose teeth, offer a soft diet.
  • Avoid foods that need much chewing.
  • You can go back to a normal diet after 3 days. By then, the tooth should be tightened up.
What to Expect:
  • Tooth pain most often goes away in 2 or 3 days.
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