By Health Correspondent
Being a mother is the most pious emotion ever created! But when you are expecting, you get all kinds of expert suggestions about prenatal and postnatal care. Though one thing that no one ever cares to prepare you for is the fact that once you become a mom, you become a multi-tasker by default. A mom is not only a mother, but she is also a teacher, a cook, a housekeeper, a best friend, a confidante, a chauffeur, a storyteller, a nurse, a coach, etc.
And amongst all the roles that a mother plays, being an ‘always-on-call’ dentist is the one that demands maximum alertness. It is so because a kid with toothache experiences a lot of discomfort which could be pretty distressing for the parents. Thus, it’s essential to be well informed in advance so that you know how to deal with it.
We have it all sorted. Just go through the following tips, and you’ll be a pro in no time!
1. Look for the cause of the pain
Toothaches generally occur when there is either a tooth injury or cavities in the teeth. It can happen at any age. It is difficult to determine the actual cause behind the toothache in kids. So when kids complain to you regarding pain, the first thing you should do is to look carefully inside his mouth to identify the source of the problem.
2 Cold compress
Researchers believe that ice prevents pain signals from reaching your brain.
So, you can try putting some ice in your hand, on the same side of the body as your sore tooth and rub it between your thumb and forefinger till the area becomes numb.
Alternatively, you can also keep a cold compress on that side of the cheek. It relieves the pain for a few moments. You can google sedation dentist near me to find the best dentists around you and consult one soon in case the pain becomes unbearable.
3. Assess the situation
It is vital to probe further about the symptoms of the toothache to determine what you ought to do next.
Try and get as much information as you can by asking questions like- Does it hurt when touched or only while chewing? Is it sensitive to hot and cold?
Examine prudently to see if the tooth is loose, chipped or damaged. Additionally, look for other symptoms like fever and swelling too.
4. Offer something for pain relief
Various studies suggest that frozen snacks, damp washcloths, and teething rings help massage the sore gums, thereby easing up the trouble to some extent.
Cloves are well-accepted as natural toothache relievers. You need to soak a cotton swab in clove oil and dab it gently against the injured tooth and the gums around it.
5. Warm water + salt
Warm water mixed with salt is a traditional remedy to soothe toothaches and is quite helpful in treating extensive mouth sores too.
If your child is old enough, give him ½ tsp salt, mixed with at least 8 ounces of warm water to rinse his mouth with, swish it in the mouth and spit it out.
Try this several times to make sure that the area near the affected tooth is clean and free from bacteria.
6. Floss it away
Kids must know that when the food gets stuck in their teeth, and they don’t get rid of it soon, it carves its way into their gums and causes pain and inflammation. When such a situation arises, gently floss the paining tooth to remove any food particles stuck inside. It will eventually clear away the bacteria and weaken their pain.
7. Medication
In case you don’t wish to go ahead with any of the ways mentioned above to tackle toothache, you can conveniently jump onto offering painkillers to hold back the pain for a considerable amount of time. You can use medications such as Infants’ tylenol®Concentrated Drops, or Ibuprofen, etc.
It is, however, strictly suggested that you should not consume any medicine without a doctor’s prescription. Therefore, be doubly sure about your kids’ well-being before giving them any medication.
8. See the doc
It is critically important to notice that the tips we have discussed so far are for short-term relief only. It is, therefore, stringently recommended to call up a dentist and fix up an appointment promptly. A proper diagnosis is vital in these cases, and only a doctor can prescribe the best course of treatment, along with some oral antibiotics that can heal the tenderness and eliminate the root cause.
9. Maintain good dental health
As an adage goes- ‘Precaution is better than Cure,’ parents must try and educate their children about the advantages of cultivating healthy habits. Too much sugar and bad hygiene can wreak havoc on their dental health, causing great affliction. They must, therefore, take proper care of their physical as well as mental health.
Be it amongst infants, toddlers, or grown-up ones, kids experience dental issues at least once in their lives. Panicking in such circumstances would be a total waste of time. Instead, get your mommy-superpower mode on and choose what works best for your baby.