What should I do if my child has a toothache?
When your child has a toothache, it can be a very stressful experience for you both. It can be very hard for your child to tell you exactly where their tooth pain is; making you feel helpless. Toothache pain can keep your child awake at night. Be gentle with them, helping them to avoid anxiety, which can actually make the pain worse.
Does your child really have a toothache?
The first step in helping your child is to make sure that the problem is actually a toothache. If your child can communicate, make sure they don’t have a bitten tongue or sore gums. In some cases, tooth pain can even be caused by a sinus infection. If your child is young, the issue may be teething pain as well. However, in some cases, a toothache may be caused by tooth decay. This is possible, even in very young children. It can also hurt if a child loses one of their baby teeth before it is ready, particularly if the tooth is pulled. That is why it’s best to let your child’s primary teeth fall out on their own.
Whatever the cause, it is important that you take your child to see a pediatric dentist as soon as possible if their tooth is hurting. The dentist can help determine the cause of the tooth pain and treat it, returning your child to health and comfort once again.