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No one wants to see their child in pain and when a toothache arises, you want to alleviate any painful symptoms as quickly as possible. Whether your child has a loose tooth or is woken up by unexpected tooth pain, there are a number of ways you can help reduce the pain, until you can get scheduled in to see a dentist. If your child is not experiencing a fever or facial swelling, in addition to tooth pain, then it is generally not an emergency, and you can try to manage the pain at home. You’ll want to ask your child to show you where the pain is coming from, and how long they have been experiencing discomfort. If you don’t see any signs of tooth decay, then it may be due to a recent injury.

Common Causes of Tooth Pain
– Tooth decay: Cavities can lead to oral pain, and are commonly found in children.
– Erupting teeth: As your child grows up, they lose their baby teeth, and the growth of their new teeth can cause pain as they apply pressure to the nerves.
– Cracks and Chips: If your child has misaligned teeth or grind their teeth, it can lead to crack and chips in their teeth, which results in tooth sensitivity.

How to Reduce Tooth Pain

Floss: If you don’t notice any visual indicators of infection (ie. swelling) or visually apparent cavities, then you can begin by helping your child floss on both sides of the painful tooth, as there might be a bone or food stuck in the gum that is causing the pain.

Over-the-counter pain reliever: If the pain continues, you can give your child over-the-counter pain medication such as Acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Make sure to read the label to ensure that you are administering the appropriate dosage for their age and weight.

Cold Compression: You can apply an ice-pack outside of the area where your child is experiencing pain. You should hold it on the area for a few seconds at a time, so they don’t get ice burn.

Salt Water Rinse: Make a saltwater wash mix with half a teaspoon of salt, in a cup of lukewarm water. Have your child rinse their mouth with the mixture, focusing primarily on the area that they are experiencing pain.

If none of these at-home remedies work, then your child might have a dental abscess, in which cause you should visit a dentist as soon as possible. For all of your dental needs visit the Dentistry in Newmarket. We have a wonderful team of dentists, that provide a wide range of services to maintain your oral health.