Parenthood comes with challenges – especially when your little one is hurting and you aren’t sure what to do about it.
What do you do when your child has a toothache?
Cavity pain can become very disruptive, both day and night. If your child is suffering from a toothache, it is always a good idea to contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, here are a few things to look out for and what you can do to provide relief from the cavity pain.
Signs Your Child Has a Cavity
Toothaches can signal all types of oral health issues. But one of the most common is a cavity. When tooth decay starts eating away at the enamel, it can lead to pain, but it can also bring about other symptoms, too.
Below are the signs your child may have a cavity:
- Visible hole in the tooth
- Discolored or stained tooth – may start out as a white spot and then darken
- Sensitivity to hot and cold food and beverages
- Sensitivity to sugary sweet treats
- Tooth pain
Keep in mind that if experiencing mouth or tooth pain, your child needs to be seen by the dentist. This is the only way to find out for sure what the cause is – and to get confident treatment.
What You Can Do For Your Child’s Cavity Pain
When your little one is complaining of tooth pain, you want to do what you can to give them the relief they are looking for. Here are a few tips that may help.
Apply a Cold Compress
Most people tend to turn toward heat when dealing with a toothache. However, you actually want to apply a cold compress to the general area outside of the mouth. This should help to reduce inflammation and help your child feel better.
Unfortunately, for some toothaches, you may need a little more than a cold compress so let’s keep going.
Rinse with Salt Water
Dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt in a cup of water. Then have your child gently swish the salt water mixture around in their mouth and spit it out. This is a great antiseptic that can help with inflammation, too.
Pain Medication
For tooth pain that doesn’t seem to subside with any other treatment, over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen or Motrin should work to ease the pain. Once it kicks in, your child will begin feeling better.
Seek Professional Treatment
As discussed, there are a few things that you can do at home to provide your child with relief when they have a cavity. But, ultimately, your child needs to seek treatment from a pediatric dentist.
A comprehensive evaluation will allow the dentist to determine the cause of the pain and develop a treatment plan to relieve it. Fillings for cavities are performed every day by dentists and are a quick way to get long-lasting relief while protecting the tooth, too.
Cavity Treatment For Your Child
At Suffolk Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we never want to see our little patients in pain. That’s why our expert team of very gentle dental professionals will provide your child with the best experience as they take the steps necessary for relief.
If you think your child has a cavity, contact us today at one of our 5 convenient locations.
