Toothaches are never fun but it feels even worse when it is your child who is suffering from tooth pain. In fact, toothaches are fairly common in children. Fortunately, while waiting for your child to be seen, there are some things you can do at home to help your child feel less miserable. As soon as your child complains of tooth pain, take a quick look and see if there are any obvious problems. Check for oral injuries or infections, take out impacted (stuck) food particles that could be irritating the gums, and see if there are any loose teeth.
Typically toothaches arise because of the following:
- Cavities
- Plaque buildup
- Tooth injury or trauma
- Lax oral hygiene habits
The one thing to keep in mind is that toothaches are a good indicator that something serious is going on in your child’s mouth so they should definitely be scheduled to come in as soon as possible. Painful toothaches never go away on their own! Until your child’s appointment, you can try the following tactics to help them feel less discomfort.
Temporary Toothache Relief
-Rinse with warm salt water: Per the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), as long as your child is old enough to swish and spit, they can use warm water mixed with salt to soothe oral pain while killing bacteria. Simply mix one teaspoon of table salt into a small cup of warm water and have them swish it around all areas of their mouth, optimally for 5-8 times throughout the day. Since it’s an anti-inflammatory, it also helps reduce swelling in the mouth.
-Rinse with hydrogen peroxide: You can place a food-grade solution of hydrogen peroxide into a glass of clean water. Your child must be old enough to just rinse and spit the solution out and never swallow it as it helps reduce bacteria and soothe the area if you can’t make a saltwater rinse.
-Offer an over-the-counter pain reliever: Toothache pain can often be managed with the help of OTC children’s pain relievers from your local drugstore or pharmacy. Be sure to follow the instructions and recommended dosages for your child’s age and weight and keep an eye out for any contraindications.
-Apply a cold compress: Placing an ice pack on the outside of the toothache area can help with numbing to lessen discomfort. It can also help reduce swelling and control bleeding. The compress causes the blood vessels to constrict, lessening pain. Don’t apply it directly to the painful area, but wrap the gel-style frozen compress or a bag of ice in a soft towel and lend a helping hand for your child to keep it in place long enough to lower pressure and swelling.
-A clove oil cotton ball: Simply soak a clean cotton ball with a few drops of food-grade clove oil with a food-safe oil to dilute it and place the cotton ball over the painful tooth. This oil has a numbing effect so your child can experience temporary pain relief. It also has antibacterial properties. If you prefer, you can also purchase a child-safe, over-the-counter oral medication with clove oil as an active ingredient from your local drugstore.
Call our Valley View Dental team at one of our convenient locations nearest you in Romeoville, Naperville and Montgomery, Illinois, to schedule an appointment for your child to be seen before their toothache continues to worsen.