It’s normal for a child to experience tooth pain during different stages of growth, but that doesn’t mean parents should write off this pain. If your child is experiencing overnight tooth pain, that means it’s disrupting their sleep cycle, which is key to healthy growth overall.
To ease both the pain and lack of sleep you and your child are facing, here are five key steps you can take to alleviate nighttime dental pain:
1. Stay Calm & Soothe Your Child – It can seem easy to lose your temper when you’re woken up in the middle of the night. Doing this could cause further panic and distress that prevents you from figuring out what’s wrong. If you show your child that you’re calm and want to resolve the pain they’re facing, it will be easier to find the source of their oral health pain.
2. Examine Their Mouth – What could be tooth pain might be a scratched cheek or bitten tongue, but you won’t know until you take a look. Look for signs of cuts, inflammation around the gums, or swelling to see where the problem area might be. A piece of food stuck in between your child’s teeth may be causing pain or discomfort. If that’s the case, then flossing their teeth will alleviate their tooth pain.
3. Addressing The Pain – If there is inflammation, cuts, or any other noticeable tooth or gum problems, then you should make them rinse their mouth with warm salt water for the time being. This child tooth pain home remedy should be reserved for older elementary school-aged children.
a. An alternative for younger children would be to hold a cold compress on the cheek closest to the painful area. If the pain persists for more than one night, then it’s a good idea to contact your dentist to take a closer look.
4. Pay Closer Attention To Their Diet – If this is a recurring issue without any clear cause at night, then watching what your child eats could help. Foods that are too hot, cold, sugary, salty, or hard can all cause discomfort to a child facing teeth sensitivities. Once you’ve identified problem foods, replace them with softer and healthier options like bananas or applesauce.
5. Dental Emergencies – Excessive bleeding, fractured teeth, and excruciating pain should be dealt with as soon as possible. Bring your child to the nearest emergency room or emergency dental clinic as soon as possible.
Contact Rio Dental & Orthodontics For All Your Child’s Dental Needs
Whether you’re facing an overnight dental emergency or looking to schedule a routine visit, our practice will be more than happy to help you. Schedule your appointment by calling our office in Farmers Branch, Texas now.
