It can be unsettling when your child chips a tooth. It’s important to take them to the dentist for an evaluation, but there are some things you can do in the meantime to help your little one feel more comfortable. Here’s what you need to know about caring for your tiny astronaut’s chipped tooth:
Clean and Sanitize the Area
Right away, rinse the mouth out several times with warm water. This helps remove debris before assessing the damage. Clean around the area with a baby-safe antiseptic or mild toothpaste diluted with lukewarm water and an extra soft toothbrush or clean cloth, making sure not to scrub too hard and aggravate the area
Floss Away Any Unwanted Pieces
Having pieces of chipped teeth sticking out of their gums can be uncomfortable and potentially damaging, so it might be a good idea to have them flossed out. Wipe off any excess saliva, use dental floss made specifically for children (or adult floss wrapped around one of their fingers), and gently floss around and in between their teeth at least once or twice daily until all pieces have come loose.
Apply Ice Pack on Swollen Gums
If their gums start swelling up due to trauma from the chip, try applying an ice pack on top of a clean cloth for about 5 minutes at a time every two hours, or as necessary until the swelling has gone down significantly. This will help reduce inflammation and pain from biting down on damaged tissue.
Visit Your Dentist
Once you’ve done these steps at home, book an appointment as soon as possible with an experienced pediatric dentist who can assess how severe the damage is and if further treatment such as composite fillings is required for restoration of your child’s smile.
