Having a toothache can make an adult feel miserable, so you can imagine how a child feels when they have tooth pains.
A toothache can make it difficult to eat, sleep, and talk. Although having a toothache isn’t something to celebrate, National Toothache Day is all about education, awareness, and prevention by implementing a good oral care routine for you and your little heroes.
What Causes Toothaches in Children?
A toothache is when the soft part inside the tooth, called the pulp, develops an infection and becomes swollen. The pulp contains blood vessels and nerves.
A toothache can occur in your child if they have an injured tooth. The most common injury in children’s teeth is a cavity, which is a hole in the tooth. Cavities happen when there is a lack of oral hygiene and overconsumption of sugar and starch that cause bacteria in the mouth to harm teeth.
Untreated cavities lead to tooth decay, which is the number one illness in American children, according to the American Dental Association.
What Are Symptoms of a Child Experiencing Tooth Pain?
Although toothaches aren’t always pressing, they are often signs that something is wrong. All children experience tooth pain differently but there are some common symptoms parents should look out for, including:
- Continuous throbbing pain at the site of the tooth
- Worsening pain when the tooth is touched
- Tooth pain that gets worse when consuming hot or cold foods/drinks
- Soreness in the jaw around the affected tooth
- Earache
- High temperature or fever
- Fatigue and overall feeling bad
How Are Kids’ Toothaches Treated?
Treating a toothache depends on the symptoms your child is feeling, as well as their age, health, and the severity of the pain. The following are some of the treatments done to treat toothaches:
- Taking antibiotics
- Taking pain-relieving medicine
- Rinsing the mouth with warm salted water
- Removing the affected tooth
- Draining abscess (if needed)
- Getting a filling if there is a cavity
- Root canal
A toothache can be prevented by good oral habits. National Toothache Day brings awareness of the significance for your kids to follow a solid oral care routine. It is important to teach your kids why they should brush their teeth twice a day, floss every day, reduce the consumption of sugar, and why they need to visit their McAllen pediatric dentist for check-ups.
How to Celebrate National Toothache Day?
Again, we are not celebrating having a toothache, instead, we are promoting good oral hygiene for your kids. There are a few things you can do this day to instill great oral hygiene habits in your children.
You should avoid giving your kids foods and drinks that contain a lot of sugar on February 9. On the contrary, make an appointment for a check-up or teeth cleaning with your dentist.
You can also go out and purchase your child a new toothbrush, making sure to let them choose. This can help get your kids to want to brush their teeth. It can be beneficial to talk to your children and explain what happens if they don’t follow their dental care routines.
McAllen Pediatric Dentists Want To Bring Awareness to Toothaches for Children and How They Can Be Prevented
Toothaches are not fun and can make your kids feel stressed. National Toothache Day is a reminder to teach your children the importance of good oral hygiene.
If your little one is in pain, make an appointment to visit your McAllen pediatric dentist to put that smile back on their face.