My child has a toothache — what should I do?

A toothache is your child's body signaling that something needs attention — most often a cavity, but sometimes irritation from food wedged between teeth, a new tooth pushing through, a small injury, or occasionally something more involved. Because the cause isn't always obvious and pain tends to worsen if ignored, a toothache is worth taking seriously. While you arrange to have your child seen, there's a lot you can do at home to keep them comfortable.

Start gently. Have your child rinse with warm salt water (about half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water), which soothes the area and helps clean it. Then gently floss around the sore tooth to dislodge any trapped food — surprisingly often, a popcorn hull or a bit of food caught between teeth is the entire problem, and removing it brings immediate relief. For the pain itself, an appropriate dose of children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen, given according to the directions for your child's age and weight, works well and is the right tool. A cold compress held against the cheek can ease both pain and any swelling.

There are a couple of things to avoid. Don't place an aspirin or any pain tablet directly against the gum or tooth, as it can burn and damage the soft tissue — pain relievers should be swallowed, not applied to the mouth. And resist the urge to simply wait a toothache out hoping it passes on its own, because a toothache usually points to an underlying problem that needs treatment, and delaying can let a small issue grow into a bigger, more painful, and more expensive one.

Some toothaches warrant urgent attention rather than a next-available appointment. If your child's toothache comes with facial swelling, a fever, a bad taste or discharge, or pain severe enough to keep them from sleeping or eating, treat it as an emergency and call us right away — these can signal an infection that needs prompt care. Otherwise, call us promptly to get your child seen; we'll find and fix the underlying cause and get them out of pain.

The reassuring news is that most toothaches, caught reasonably early, are straightforward to treat — often a simple filling or removing whatever is caught. The key is not to ignore it. Keep your child comfortable with the steps above, and let us take care of the rest. Call us at (201) 345-3637 and we'll get your child in and feeling better.