O'Fallon Family & Cosmetic Dentist

Seventy-five percent of all broken, lost, loosened, or chipped teeth occur in children under 15 years of age.  Luckily, recent advances in dentistry make it more likely that these teeth can be repaired or saved.    However, for the best results, parents must act quickly.  Even if no visible tooth damage has occurred, when a child falls or receives a hit to the mouth, soft tissue inside the tooth may be damaged.

Here are some quick tips for dealing with a tooth that has been chipped or knocked out:

• Have your dentist’s number readily available. Add your dentist’s office as a contact in your cell phone.
• Try to find all parts of the tooth.
• Handle the tooth by the top, not the root.
• Gently rinse the tooth root if it is dirty.
• Apply sterile gauze to stop any bleeding.
• Reinsert the tooth if possible.  If not, store the tooth in a cup of water or milk
• See the dentist as soon as possible.  The sooner a dentist can return the tooth to its socket, the greater chance the tooth has of being saved.
• If braces or wires have broken, cover the sharp edges with gauze, cotton, or gum, but do not try to remove any wires that are stuck in the gums, cheek, or tongue.
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth to reduce swelling and discomfort.

I just found a source for several different variations of charts to keep track of children’s toothbrushing.  These charts could be created on your own or modified to include flossing once a day as well.  Children who are old enough to brush their teeth on their own usually do not spend enough time brushing.  It might be helpful to use a watch timer or a sand hourglass timer found in one of your childrens’ games to help remind them how long they need to brush.  Encourage your children to brush every surface of every tooth, including the outer, inner and biting surfaces.  They will need to pay special attention to the biting surface of their back teeth (molars) as these are the most likely teeth to harbor harmful bacteria due to their pitted surface.  Placing sealants on these teeth can help to prevent the development of cavities.

In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month (yes, there is such a thing), I thought I would share a few resources for parents and teachers.  In schools across the nation, children are receiving free dental health screenings this month.  This month provides a good opportunity for parents and teachers to remind children about healthy teeth habits.  The ADA provides a list of dental health activities for children, as well as ideas for classroom presentations on dental health.   Other ideas for teaching children about dental health can be found at the Apples4TheTeacher website.

I have written a short article on how to prepare your child for the first visit to the dentist.  As well as a blog post on 8 tips for good dental hygiene in young children.   I hope parents and teachers find this information useful in continuing to teach children the importance of caring for their teeth.