Toggle navigation
Wikle Family Dental
3900 Douglas Way Lake Oswego, OR 97035(503) 636-8446
  • Facebook
  • blog
  • Twitter

Request an Appointment

  • Home
  • Staff
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Patient Education

4 Things you Should do if Your Child Complains of a Toothache

  • Blog Home
  • Oral+Health
  • 4 Things you Should do if Your Child Complains of a Toothache

4 Things you Should do if Your Child Complains of a Toothache

By Wikle Family Dental
November 30, 2017
Category: Oral Health
Tags: toothache  
4ThingsyouShoulddoifYourChildComplainsofaToothache

If your child has a toothache, there’s good news — and not so good news. The good news is the pain rarely indicates an emergency. On the downside, though, it may definitely be something that needs our attention.

Here, then, are 4 things you should do as a parent when your child tells you their tooth hurts.

Try to find out exactly where the pain is and how long it has hurt. Ask your child which tooth or part of the mouth hurts. You should also find out, as best you can, when the pain started and if it’s constant or intermittent. Anything you learn will be useful information if you bring them to the office for an examination. And, any tooth pain that keeps your child up at night or lasts more than a day should be examined.

Look for signs of recent injury. Your child may have suffered a blow to the mouth that has damaged the teeth and gums. Besides asking if they remember getting hurt in the mouth, be sure to look for chipped teeth, cracks or other signs of trauma. Even if there aren’t any outward signs of injury, the tooth’s interior pulp may have been damaged and should be checked out.

Look for signs of dental disease. Take a close look at the tooth your child’s complaining about: do you see brown spots or obvious cavities? You should also look for swollen gums or sores on the inside of the mouth. If there’s been no apparent injury, these could be signs of infection related to tooth decay.

Try to relieve pain symptoms. If you don’t see anything unusual, there may be a piece of candy or other hard food debris between the teeth causing the pain — gently floss around the tooth to dislodge it. If the pain persists give appropriate doses of ibuprofen or acetaminophen (not aspirin). If there’s swelling, you can also apply an icepack on the outside of the jaw. In any case, you should definitely schedule a visit with us for an examination.

If you would like more information on dental care for your child, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “A Child’s Toothache.”

0 Comment(s) Permalink

Comments:






Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Archive:

  • 2019
      • February (2)
        • What you can Expect if You're Undergoing Implant Surgery
        • We may Need to Build up the Bone in Your Jaw before Implants
      • January (3)
        • 2.6 Million Fans 'Like' Justin Bieber's Chipped Tooth
        • How a New Approach to Treating Decay Could Benefit You
        • Address Your Teeth Grinding Habit Early to Avoid Potential Tooth Loss
  • 2018
      • December (4)
        • Bitewing X-Rays Safely 'Reveal all' About Back Teeth to Prevent Tooth Decay
        • Singer Dua Lipa Sees the Wisdom in Postponing Tour Dates
        • Don't give up on Flossing!
        • Don't Let GERD Ruin Your Teeth's Health
      • November (3)
        • Difficult or Not, Plaque Removal is Necessary for Stopping Gum Disease
        • Dental Injury Is Just a Temporary Setback for Basketball Star Kevin Love
        • Dental Amalgam Continues to be a Durable and Safe Tooth Filling
      • October (3)
        • Use These Techniques to Enjoy Healthy Foods Even with a Jaw Joint Disorder
        • Don't Stress Over Your Child's Teeth Grinding Habit Unless it Persists
        • Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
      • September (3)
        • Treatment Options to Keep Stress From Causing Dental Problems
        • New Advances Could Revolutionize Decay Treatment
        • Tell Your Dentist if You're Having a Shingles Outbreak
      • August (3)
        • Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
        • A Crown Could be the Answer to Preserving Your Damaged Tooth
        • These 3 Tasks Show How Saliva is Amazing
      • July (3)
        • Home Whitening Kits are Safe and Effective, if Used the Right Way
        • How Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Gets Her Kids to Floss
        • 3 Things Your Dentist Recommends You do if You Have Shingles
      • June (3)
        • 4 Diet Changes You Should Make for Better Oral Health
        • Keep an Eye on the Jaw Bone After a Teenager's Tooth Loss
        • Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
      • May (3)
        • Reduce Your Oral Cancer Risk with Better Diet and Lifestyle Choices
        • 4 Tips for Instilling Good Family Hygiene Habits
        • Increase Your Implant's Success Chances by Keeping Your Gums Healthy
      • April (2)
        • Actor David Ramsey Discusses Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
        • Keep Your Smile Beautiful...in April and Beyond
      • March (3)
        • Why Bear a Chipped Tooth?
        • NSAIDs for Pain Management is Safe - if Used Properly
        • Kathy Bates Plays It Smart With Professional Teeth Whitening
      • February (1)
        • Erosion and Other Problems may be Signs of Bulimia
      • January (3)
        • Common Types of Tooth Injuries and How to Treat Them
        • Before we Extract That Problem Tooth, Let's Consider Saving it
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • 3 Surprising Foods That Could Help You Fight Tooth Decay
        • 3 Ways You Can Help Your Child Feel at Home at the Dentist
      • November (2)
        • 4 Things you Should do if Your Child Complains of a Toothache
        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
      • October (3)
        • Those Red Patches on Your Tongue are Nothing to be Alarmed About
        • Can an App Help You Brush Your Teeth?
        • Take Proactive Steps to Protect Your Oral Health During Cancer Treatment
      • September (2)
        • Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
        • Back-to-School Shopping...for Oral Health!
      • August (2)
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
        • 4 Reasons Why a Home Whitening Kit Might not be Right for You
      • July (3)
        • No "Glee" in Tooth Grinding
        • Here are the Facts on the Impact of Metal Allergies on Dental Work
        • Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
      • June (2)
        • Consider Bone Health When Deciding Between Implants and Dentures
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
      • May (2)
        • Gum Disease Could Affect More than Your Teeth and Gums
        • Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
      • April (2)
        • Don't Let Smoking Increase Your Chances of Implant Failure
        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
      • March (2)
        • Dental Implants: a Durable, Life-Like Solution for your Tooth Loss
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
      • February (2)
        • Avoid Permanent Tooth Alteration with No-Prep Veneers
        • Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!

Tags

  • celebrity smiles (20)
  • mouthguard (1)
  • porcelain veneers (1)
  • teeth grinding (3)
  • dental implants (8)
  • gum disease (3)
  • oral hygiene (8)
  • thumb sucking (1)
  • periodontal disease (1)
  • oral health (7)
  • orthodontics (1)
  • braces (1)
  • dental emergency (1)
  • dental injury (4)
  • metal allergies (1)
  • tooth grinding (1)
  • teeth whitening (3)
  • chipped tooth (4)
  • mouthguards (1)
  • geographic tongue (1)
  • toothache (1)
  • pediatric dentistry (2)
  • tooth decay (5)
  • nutrition (3)
  • wisdom teeth (3)
  • tooth pain (1)
  • bulimia (1)
  • ibuprofen (1)
  • pain management (1)
  • bonding (1)
  • dental care (2)
  • oral cancer (1)
  • dental exam (1)
  • shingles (2)
  • saliva (1)
  • crowns (1)
  • stress (1)
  • tooth wear (1)
  • tmj disorders (1)
  • fillings (1)
  • GERD (1)
  • flossing (1)
  • x-ray (1)
  • bone grafting (1)

Categories:

  • Dental Procedures (23)
  • Oral Health (40)

Our Location

3900 Douglas Way
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 636-8446

Map & directions

Office Hours
Monday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday:Closed
Saturday:Closed
Sunday:Closed
  • Home
  • Staff
  • Offices
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Education
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Dental Web Design Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map