Children are often prone to slips and fall whenever they run inside or outside the house. No matter how many preventive measures you put in place to prevent it, sometimes, it just happens. Aside from bruises, your child may get a chipped tooth from the incident. A chipped tooth may not be that painful at first, and it is not alarming most of the time, especially if your child doesn’t complain about it. However, that doesn’t mean that it won’t lead to serious dental issues, such as infection.
If your child recently chipped their teeth, here are four points you should keep in mind:
1. Expect Tooth Discoloration
The blunt force from a fall (which is often the result of chipped teeth) may also result in tooth discoloration. The teeth may turn brown, black, red, or even grey. Teeth discoloration happens because there is damage to the tooth’s blood vessel, but this will only last for a short period. It usually works like how you get bruises on your skin. In the case that the discoloration doesn’t fade, it will need to be checked by a dentist to check for signs of infection.
2. Visit the Dentist
Although chipped teeth may not always be serious, it’s still essential to get it checked by a dentist. In some cases, chipped teeth can cause other dental complications, especially for children who find dental hygiene a bit of a challenge. Moreover, parents usually can’t judge a cracked tooth merely by how it looks, which is why a dentist’s assessment is crucial. In doing so, your dentist will be able to professionally assess the damage and prevent other severe dental issues from occurring.
3. Practice Proper Dental Care At Home
Even when you’re in the comfort of your own home, remember to practice proper dental care with your children. Don’t let them brush their teeth alone, and be there to guide your child and teach them the importance of proper oral care. Your dentist may likely prescribe fluoride tablets as a precaution during the recovery period.
4. Keep an Eye Out For Abscess
Keep in mind that some teeth that experience forceful trauma may not recover fully. Because of this, a chip may allow bacteria into the tooth pulp that can lead to an abscess. Signs of dental abscess generally include facial pain, swelling, fever, and unexplained bleeding inside the mouth. There may also be changes in eating habits, which is usually an early sign of abscess development. Likewise, some children may find it difficult to sleep through the night due to the pain.
Conclusion
If ever your child falls down and chips their teeth, remember that they should be assessed by a dentist as soon as possible. In doing so, you will be able to prevent anything more serious from happening to compromise your child’s dental care. If your child is experiencing a chipped tooth, expect discoloration in the early stages. You should also keep an eye out for infection because the chip may bring in bacteria that can affect the pulp of the tooth.
Seeing a dentist following the accident will put your mind at ease. Moreover, you should remember to ensure that proper dental care is still practiced at home. When your children understand the importance of oral care, they will know how to take care of their teeth, which will lessen costly and painful dental issues in the future.
If you’re looking for a dentist in Chattanooga, our experts at Shallowford Family Dental are here for you. We offer pediatric dentistry services that will help alleviate any pain or discomfort that your child is facing. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!