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Toothaches in children can be tricky ordeals that cause distress for both the child and the parent. You may feel helpless and frustrated because you cannot pinpoint the location of the pain. It is so hard to see your little one experience discomfort and feel like there is nothing you can do about it. But there are ways you can help. Try these tips the next time your child has a toothache.

Zero in on the Painful Area

The first thing you need to do is find out where the pain is coming from. If your child is old enough, ask him or her to point to the painful area. In younger children, look for swelling and redness on the gums and cheek, dental caries (discolorations on the tooth), or broken teeth. Try to get as close to the location of the pain as possible so you can determine an effective course of action to relieve it.

Try to Find the Cause

Not all toothaches are actually toothaches. A child can bite his or her tongue or cheek, have sore gums, or develop ulcers in the mouth. Teeth that are coming in can also be quite painful. If a tooth is discolored, broken, loose, or has spots that are either darker or lighter than the rest of the tooth, those could be causes of pain.

Five-Step Approach to Dental Pain Relief

1. Floss. Help your child floss to remove any food particles that may be wedged between the teeth and could be causing pain.
2. Rinse with warm salt water. Use a warm salt-water solution and have your child rinse well by swishing or holding the salt water over the painful area.
3. Use a cold compress. This can relieve pain and swelling. If there is no swelling, you can try it anyway to subdue the pain. Try it on for about 15 minutes, then off for 20.
4. Give the child ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Use the appropriate dosage for your child’s age and administer it regularly as directed.
5. See Dr. Robin E. Lents. If you determine that the tooth or gum is damaged, or if the pain simply cannot be relieved, call our Florence office.

If your child is experiencing throbbing pain, fatigue, or fever, you should call your pediatrician as soon as possible. If your child is experiencing mouth pain accompanied by trouble breathing or swallowing, it can indicate a more serious situation and you should take your son or daughter to the emergency room.

Most mouth pain in children can be remedied with the simple steps here. The important thing is that you remain calm, no matter what. You child is taking cues from you and if you panic, he or she will panic.

Let’s talk about mouthguards and night guards—two crucial appliances that protect your child’s teeth and jaw.

We could talk about how important a mouthguard is when your family leads an active life. Mouthguards protect teeth, delicate mouth tissue, and jaws from accidents and impacts. 

Or if someone in the house grinds his or her teeth at night, waking up every morning with tooth or jaw pain, we can talk about how a night guard can be a quality-of-life-saver.

But we’re not going to talk about any of these important topics today. Instead of looking at how a guard protects your child, today we’re going to look at how you can help children protect their mouthguards.

If you want their guards to last longer, work better, and stay (and smell!) cleaner, some basic tips make all the difference. Here are some important rules to share with your child.

• Keep your guard clean.

This can’t be stressed enough. Without a good cleaning routine, your guard can become discolored, develop an unpleasant odor, and even cause illness. Not very appealing, right? Happily, keeping mouthguards and night guards clean isn’t difficult.

When you wear your guard, whether during daytime activities or through the night, the same plaque that is present in your mouth makes itself at home your guard. And when your night guard or mouthguard is in its case, that dark, moist environment makes it a perfect breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

As soon as you take your mouthguard out, rinse it off. Brush with a soft toothbrush to remove all the plaque, saliva, or food debris that might be lingering in your appliance. (If you are on the playing field, in the park, or at some other inconvenient location, rinse it and brush as soon as you can.) Toothpaste can help get your guard its cleanest, but can be too abrasive for some appliances.

Once you’ve cleaned it, let your guard air dry in a clean spot for about 30 minutes. Air drying helps prevent bacterial growth. After your guard has dried, return it to its case.

Once a week, you might need to give your guard a good soak in a mouthwash or other dental cleaning solution.

Since cleaning instructions can be different depending on which type of guard you have, be sure to follow our instructions if you have a custom guard, or follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions if you have a store guard.

• Keep it safe.

When your guard isn’t in your mouth, it should be in its case. Floating loose on the bathroom counter or tumbling around in your gym bag puts your guard at risk for breakage and bacteria.

And don’t forget to clean your case thoroughly every few days and air dry it as well. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold, and other unwelcome guests can collect in your case, too.

• Keep it only as long as it’s in good condition.

You can purchase mouthguards from sporting or drug stores, or Dr. Robin E. Lents can make a mouthguard or night guard designed to fit your teeth perfectly. These appliances are made to be strong and durable, but they’re not indestructible. Over time they can wear down or become damaged, especially if you treat them carelessly.

Bacteria can lurk in dents and cracks, and you can cut your mouth on rough, sharp, or broken edges. But if your guard isn’t fitting properly, don’t resort to self-help! Trying to repair, reshape, or trim your appliance yourself is not a good idea, because it might affect its fit and protective ability.

Any sign that your guard isn’t fitting properly or shows signs of wear and tear could mean it’s time for a replacement. You can replace a store model, or ask our Florence team about repairing or replacing your custom guard. A mouthguard that doesn’t fit, doesn’t keep you safe.

Take care of your guard, and it will take care of you. The reward for the small amount of time and effort you put into caring for your mouthguard or night guard is a smile that will last you for a lifetime. That’s a benefit we can talk about all day!

Healthy eating, combined with regular physical activity, plays a vital role in your child’s health and well-being. Dairy foods are naturally nutritious, packed with ten essential nutrients that help your child feel good for life. But did you know that dairy is also great for your child’s dental health? Our team at Shoals Pediatric Dentistry, PC will tell you that, in addition to providing large amounts of much-needed calcium, dairy products also help fight cavities! Dairy products have a specific role to play in dental health as they contain a unique combination of special anti-decay nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and the protein, casein. Cheese is especially useful, as eating a small piece of cheese after consuming sugary foods or drinks can help protect teeth and reduce the risk of tooth decay.

If you’d like to know more about the importance of dairy products in your child’s diet, or about any aspect of your child’s dental health, feel free to ask Dr. Robin E. Lents at your next appointment!

Healthy teeth make you happy to share your smile with the world. But there’s more to your smile than its beauty! There’s a lot of hard work going on, too.

Teeth Are Designed for Healthy Eating

Humans are omnivores, which means we can eat both meat and plants. That’s why our teeth have different shapes—they’re designed to help us eat different kinds of food. 

• Incisors, our front teeth, have sharper edges to help cut through meats and other harder foods when we bite.
• Canines, the pointed teeth, help tear food into bite-size bits.
• Premolars are flat topped and have two cusps, or raised points, which help grind food. 
• Molars are the flat-topped teeth in the back of the mouth. They have four cusps to grind and crush food into a paste. 

So: Incisors and canines bite and tear food into smaller pieces, and then molars and premolars crush and grind those pieces into a paste. Bite, tear, crush, grind—that’s a lot of work! But it’s the key to healthy digestion. 

Chewing is the first step in digestion. Digestion means breaking down our food into parts which our bodies can use as fuel to grow. When you chew your food well, it’s easier for your body to break that food down, to swallow it, and to get the proteins, vitamins, and minerals in your healthy diet. 

But when your teeth hurt, it’s hard to chew food well, which makes digestion harder and sometimes uncomfortable. To get the most from your healthy diet, you need healthy teeth!

Teeth Have Other Important Jobs, Too

• They Help Us Speak

Our teeth work with our tongues and lips to form many of the sounds which make up speech. Try saying the word “teeth,” and see how your tongue and teeth work together!

• They Help Shape Our Faces

Our teeth look great in smiles. But there’s more! Your teeth and the way they fit together in your jaw help shape the look of your chin, lips, cheeks, and the front and sides of your face. 

• They Help Make a Healthy Bite

Our teeth and jaws are designed to work together. When something’s not lined up just right, that’s called a malocclusion, or bad bite, and can cause problems with eating, speaking, and self-confidence. Your dentist might recommend orthodontic treatment to help your teeth and jaws look their best and work their best. 

Teeth Can Only Work Their Best with Your Help

You’re in charge! 

• Brush twice and floss at least once every day to clean away plaque and food particles from your teeth. This helps to protect them from cavities. 
• Eat a healthy diet to give you the vitamins and minerals which keep your teeth strong.
• Make sure you wear mouth protection when you play sports or do activities where you may fall, or collide with another person, or be hit with equipment like balls, bats, and pucks.   
• See your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings.

Talk to your pediatric dentist to learn more about how to help your teeth work their best for you—and be ready to share that beautiful smile!