Kids Sports Injuries

Kids Sports Injuries | If you or a loved one should ever have a dental emergency, the dentist should be the very first person that you call. Dentists normally reserve some time for emergency procedures that cannot wait. So make sure that you have their after-hours contact information on hand if needed.

No matter if you are traveling or at home, the following information can be helpful in managing a dental emergency, such as Kids Sports Injuries. Keep in mind that time is sometimes of the essence with some dental emergencies. So reach out to them immediately.

Kids Sports Injuries - kids playing soccer

Missing Tooth

Kids sports injuries are one of the main causes of having a tooth get knocked out. This is a situation that definitely requires immediate attention. If your child loses a tooth after some type of trauma to their teeth or face, follow these steps and contact their dentist.

Using only the crown (chewing surface) of the tooth, grasp it without touching the root.

Carefully rinse it so that it’s clean. You don’t want to scrub the tooth or removing any attached tissue. If you are holding the tooth over a sink, place a small towel in the sink to keep it from getting lost in the drain.

If possible, place the tooth carefully back into its socket. Make sure that it is oriented in its normal position. Gently bite down while holding it gently in place.

If the tooth is incapable of being placed back into its socket, place it in a container or cup of milk. A cup of milk is best.

Since time is of the essence in saving the tooth, contact your dentist immediately for an emergency appointment.

Loose Tooth

Sometimes, a tooth can become loose without actually falling out. At least not right away. In the case of a loose tooth, contact your dentist immediately for an emergency appointment. While waiting for your appointment, you can try to replace the tooth into its normal position with your finger and very light pressure. Avoid forcing it. You can gently bite down to keep the tooth from moving around.

Chipped or Fractured Teeth

If a tooth gets chipped and does not involve any pain, this is not typically considered as a dental emergency. It can normally wait. At the same time, you should be careful when chewing or biting down on it so that it does not become further damaged. Dentists often repair chipped teeth using a composite filling material.

A fractured or cracked tooth is a more serious concern that does represent a true dental emergency. The reason is that the inside part tooth may have experienced trauma and damage. So call your dentist right away for an emergency appointment and do the following:

Gently rinse your mouth with warm water.

Hold an ice pack over the site to reduce swelling.

To reduce pain, take acetaminophen (avoid aspirin) as described on the packaging instructions.

Avoid applying painkillers to the gum tissue, which can become burned by them.

Avoiding Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can normally be avoided by maintaining your routine checkups at the dentist office to help ensure that your teeth are strong, healthy and free of decay.

If you or a family member takes part in sports, wearing a sports mouth guard also helps teeth from becoming broken, knocked out or chipped.