Kids Toothache and Dental Emergencies in Park Ridge, IL
A child with a toothache or a hurt tooth is stressful for the whole family. At Loukas Dentistry in Park Ridge, we see children of all ages, and we make room for kids in pain as quickly as we can. This page covers what to do right now, what can wait until morning and when to go to the emergency room instead.
Call us first: (847) 696-1919. Tell us your child’s age, what happened and whether there is swelling, and we will tell you how soon your child should be seen.
Go to the Emergency Room If
- Your child hit their head, lost consciousness, or is vomiting or confused after a fall
- Swelling is spreading toward the eye or down the neck, or your child has trouble breathing or swallowing
- There is a high fever with facial swelling
- Bleeding from the mouth does not slow after 10 to 15 minutes of firm pressure
- The jaw may be broken or your child cannot close their mouth normally
Once your child is medically stable, call us so we can take care of the teeth.
Toothache in a Child: What to Do Tonight
- Have older children rinse with warm salt water and spit it out.
- Gently floss around the sore tooth. Trapped food, such as a popcorn hull, is a common cause of sudden pain.
- Hold a cold compress on the cheek for 10 to 15 minutes at a time if there is swelling.
- A children’s pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help, dosed for your child’s age and weight as directed on the label or by your pediatrician.
- Never give aspirin to children, and never place any pill directly on the gum.
- Avoid very hot, cold, sweet or hard foods until your child is seen.
A toothache that wakes your child at night, comes with swelling, or lasts more than a day should be checked promptly. Pain that comes and goes with sweets is often a cavity that is easier to treat early.
Knocked Out Tooth: Baby Tooth or Adult Tooth?
Baby tooth. Do not try to put it back in. Replanting a baby tooth can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Have your child bite on clean gauze to stop bleeding and call us to have the area checked.
Adult (permanent) tooth. This is time sensitive. Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline without scrubbing. If your child is old enough to cooperate, gently place it back in the socket and have them bite on gauze. If not, keep the tooth in a cup of milk and call us right away. The sooner the tooth is replanted, ideally within 30 minutes, the better its chance of being saved.
Not sure which kind of tooth it is? Front adult teeth usually come in between ages 6 and 8. If in doubt, keep the tooth in milk and call.
Chipped, Broken or Loosened Teeth
Rinse your child’s mouth with water, save any broken pieces in milk and use a cold compress for swelling. A small chip with no pain can usually be seen within a day or two. A larger break, a tooth that is bleeding from the center, a tooth pushed out of position or a tooth that is very loose after a fall should be seen the same day. Even if a hurt tooth looks fine, an injured tooth can darken or become infected weeks later, so we like to check it and follow it over time.
Bitten Lip, Tongue or Cheek
Clean the area gently with water and apply firm pressure with clean gauze or a cloth. A cold compress helps with swelling. If bleeding does not slow after 10 to 15 minutes of pressure, or the cut is deep or goes through the lip, go to the emergency room. Children sometimes chew their lip after a dental numbing appointment, so watch them until the numbness wears off.
Swelling or a Bump on the Gum
A pimple like bump on the gum or a swollen cheek can be a sign of infection from a cavity or an injured tooth. Call us the same day. Antibiotics may be prescribed when infection is spreading, but the tooth itself still needs treatment. If swelling reaches the eye or neck, or your child has a fever and seems unwell, go to the emergency room.
What Happens at Your Child’s Emergency Visit
We start by helping your child feel safe. Parents are welcome to stay right alongside them. We examine the area gently, take a small digital x ray when needed and explain what we found in plain language. Treatment depends on the problem and may include a filling, smoothing or bonding a chipped tooth, stabilizing a loosened tooth or treating an infection. When clinically appropriate, nitrous oxide may help an anxious child relax. If your child needs more time, we focus first on getting them comfortable and plan the rest of the care for a follow up visit.
Preventing Dental Emergencies in Kids
- A mouthguard for contact sports, basketball, soccer, hockey and skateboarding
- Regular checkups for kids so small cavities are found before they hurt
- Sealants on back teeth, which can help prevent cavities in the grooves
- Fewer sticky and sugary snacks between meals
Parent Questions About Kids Dental Emergencies
What should I do if my child has a toothache at night?
Have your child rinse with warm water, gently floss around the tooth, use a cold compress for swelling and give a children's pain reliever dosed for their age and weight. Call us in the morning, or right away if there is facial swelling or fever. Go to the emergency room if swelling spreads toward the eye or neck or your child has trouble breathing or swallowing.
Should I put a knocked out baby tooth back in?
No. Do not replant a baby tooth, because it can harm the adult tooth developing underneath. Stop the bleeding with gauze and call us to have the area checked.
What do I do if my child knocks out an adult tooth?
Hold the tooth by the crown, rinse briefly in milk if dirty and gently place it back in the socket if your child can cooperate. Otherwise keep it in milk and call us right away. Replanting within about 30 minutes gives the best chance of saving the tooth.
Is a chipped baby tooth an emergency?
A small chip with no pain can usually wait a day or two. If the tooth hurts, is bleeding from the center, is pushed out of place or is very loose, call us the same day.
Can you see my child the same day?
We make room for children in pain as quickly as we can and will often see them the same day. Call (847) 696-1919 and tell us what happened so we can advise you.
Do you treat kids and parents at the same office?
Yes. Loukas Dentistry sees children from infancy through the teen years along with adults, so the whole family can be cared for in one Park Ridge office.
Call Loukas Dentistry for Your Child’s Dental Emergency
Call (847) 696-1919 and tell us your child is in pain. We are at 714 W Higgins Rd, Park Ridge, IL 60068, and see families from Park Ridge, Niles, Des Plaines, Edison Park and Norwood Park. For adult emergencies, see our emergency dentist page.
