Tips for Helping Your Child Get Through a Toothache

Your teeth are the things you use all the time, whether it be for having a snack or being part of a conversation, but how well are you taking care of them? Your teeth may look similar to bone, but unlike bone they can’t heal themselves and are the only part of the body to not be able to do so. Making sure your teeth are healthy is not only good for your long term health, but if you have a family, is important to pass on to your child.

There are a range of dental problems your child may be struggling with that cause issues like toothaches, and when they do you’ll need to know how to help them deal with it. Let’s determine the best tips to help children with toothaches by examining the common causes of this problem, what other signs may come with it, and some things you can do at home to make it easier on them.

If you live in the Sacramento, California, area and you have a child struggling with a dental condition, Dr. Peter Kim and his medical staff at Sierra Oaks Dental can help.

Common causes of toothaches

Another name for toothache is pulpitis, and during this process the tooth is inflamed and infected in the pulp (the section where the nerves, blood vessels, and tissue are located). By and large the most common reason for pulpitis in children is cavities (dental caries), with over 50% of children ages six to eight having at least one in developing baby teeth, and over half of kids between 12-19 struggling with the same in permanent teeth. And the numbers are even worse in families with lower incomes that don’t have access to proper dental care. 

Other factors that lead to toothaches include mouth injuries, cracked teeth, abscessed teeth, periodontitis (gum disease), and damage to dental restorations.

Signs of a toothache

Toothaches can present with different types of pain, but whether it's sharp, dull, sudden or constant, your child will find it difficult to ignore. It can also lead to a number of different symptoms, like teeth sensitivity, gum bleeding, halitosis (bad breath), having a bad taste in your mouth, pain in the jaw while chewing, and even headaches depending on the extent of the damage. If your child has recently had teeth removed, is dealing with issues in other parts of their jaw, they could also experience some of these signs of tooth pain.

How to help your child cope

You will need to get your child dental help for the toothache, but there are some things you can do at home to help them while they’re struggling, such as:

• Have them identify where the pain is coming from, so you know where to administer any aid
• Give them a saltwater rinse to relieve pain and help clear out particulates in teeth
• Make dietary changes are necessary, like reducing the amount of hard, crispy, hot, cold, or overly sweet foods they eat
• Give them over the counter medications that are safe for childrens at your doctor’s recommendation
• Avoid showing panic or worry, and be sure to reassure them while they’re struggling

If you’ve made the appointment to get their teeth checked out, but have some time before you get in to have them examined, these tips can be very helpful to reduce pain and anxiety for you and your child. When you’re ready to have their dental problems taken care of, make an appointment with Dr. Kim and Sierra Oaks Dental to relieve the pain and improve dental health.