Tooth Pain: What Do You Do When Your Child Has It

Tooth pain can be caused by many things, but often it comes from teeth grinding or an infection. If your child is experiencing severe pain that is preventing them from doing everyday activities, see a dentist immediately. The longer you wait the worse it will become. Act on the first signs of continued discomfort to get ahead of more severe issues.

First Things First

When tooth pain strikes, it can be hard to know what to do first. Here are some steps for tooth pain relief that may help. We all want our kids’ toothaches fixed as quickly and easily as possible. And sometimes, the quickest way is also the simplest:

• Call Dr. Botero and explain your child’s symptoms to receive guidance.
• Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, if recommended by Dr. Botero. Some parents may choose to give children OTC meds right away; others prefer to call their dentists first.
• Try an ice pack wrapped in a wet cotton washcloth on the sore tooth to help with discomfort.
• Elevate your child’s head about 6 inches by placing extra pillows under the mattress or sleeping surface. You may need to prop your little one on her side too. This toothache remedy helps ease tooth pain because swollen, inflamed gums are more likely to be irritated when they’re pressed against something solid all night long (“occlusal pressure”).

When Pain Persists

If the toothache persists after these tooth pain relief steps, or if your child can’t open her mouth enough to take in food without discomfort, call your dentist. Depending on how bad the toothache is and what treatment she needs, you might be able to go ahead and schedule an appointment—even though your dentist’s office may not be open yet.

The toothpain should subside within hours following one of these measures, but sore teeth shouldn’t be left untreated for more than a day or two. If tooth pain lingers longer than that, your child may need antibiotics (even if it’s not an infection). That’s because toothaches caused by pulpitis (infection of the tooth’s nerve) can spread to nearby tissues and on rare occasions become life-threatening—so don’t take any chances.

At-Home Tooth Pain Relief

Toothaches that aren’t accompanied by intense toothache pain (such as with tooth infections) may go away on their own if you give children easy tooth pain relief measures like those mentioned earlier in this article. Sometimes the tooth will throb for a few hours or days before it feels better.  Notifying your dentist as soon as possible is key to identifying what caused the tooth pain.

An OTC medication such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol) is usually tooth pain reliever enough to ease the ache. Give the drug no more than four times in 24 hours, however, since too much can actually damage tooth enamel . Unless your child has a fever, give her plenty of fluids while using pain relief toothpastes or gels with numbing agents like benzocaine (Anbesol). Again, as mentioned earlier, if you want to, you can use an ice pack toothpain remedy on her cheek for 10 minutes at a time, but don’t apply heat because it may increase inflammation.

Avoid giving children aspirin when they have toothache pain , since this common over-the-counter drug may cause Reye’s syndrome , a potentially fatal disease that affects the liver and brain. If toothache is severe, however, your family dentist may prescribe a stronger pain reliever.

Remember, if tooth pain lingers longer than two days despite these toothache remedies , it’s time to call the dentist. If your child frequently complains of toothaches without any apparent cause, you should ask her family pediatrician about using an over-the-counter fluoride supplement that can help protect tooth enamel in susceptible children who drink lots of fruit juice or take certain antibiotics.

Our Team is Here to Help with Your Child’s Tooth Pain

Seeing your child in pain can make you, as a parent, feel very helpless. Don’t worry, we are here to help you! Call our office whenever tooth pain strikes so we can support you through the crisis.

Our Tampa-based facility is designed to ensure that your family gets the best care medicine and science can provide with a gentle and kind approach.

Our office offers a closeness to elementary schools and daycares. Because of this, our location makes it convenient for parents to take children to visit the dentist.  Our well-trained staff has developed systems that allow patients and parents to move quickly through the treatment process with enjoyment and less fear!

Call 813-576-0200 to schedule a children’s dentistry consultation with Dr. Botero today!