As parents, we always want the best for our children, including their dental health. Understanding when your child may be dealing with a dental infection is crucial. Here are some key signs to watch for:
Infected Teeth and Spontaneous Pain: If your child wakes up at night in tears due to tooth pain or avoids using a specific tooth while chewing, it may indicate an infection. However, sensitivity to hot, cold, and sweets might suggest tooth sensitivity instead. Swelling: Red and inflamed gum swelling is a clear sign of infection.
Dark Discoloration: If a tooth’s color doesn’t lighten, there may be an ongoing inflammation process within it. After tooth trauma, regular dental check-ups are essential to monitor the situation, especially to prevent damage to the adult tooth beneath.
Increased Tooth Mobility: Prematurely loose teeth, especially front ones (ages 6-8) and back ones (ages 10-12), can signal an infection.
Draining Fistula: The presence of a white pimple-like bump on the gum may indicate pus accumulation beneath the tooth.
Treating an Infected Tooth
Treatment typically involves antibiotics and pain relievers, addressing symptoms but not the root cause. Further dental care is essential to tackle the infection.
- Infected Baby Tooth: Extraction is often necessary, as an adult tooth lies beneath the baby tooth, and infection can harm its growth.
- Infected Adult Tooth: Adult teeth usually undergo root canal treatment to remove infected pulp tissue.
Seeking Emergency Care
Certain situations demand immediate attention, including difficulty breathing and swallowing, persistent fever, and visible facial swelling. Your child’s dental health is a priority, and timely action ensures their well-being.
Book an Appointment
As with adults, your child needs to get their teeth cleaned and a dental checkup every six months. Kids should start going to the dentist soon after their first tooth erupts or around their first birthday, whichever happens first. Click here to book a dental appointment.