Bleeding After Loss of a Baby Tooth - Fold a piece of gauze or roll up a cotton ball and place it (tightly) over the bleeding area. Have the child bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes; if bleeding continues after this length of time, call your dentist.

Cold or Canker Sores - Over-the-counter medications will usually provide temporary relief. If sores persist, visit your dentist.

Chipped Tooth - Rinse the area with warm water. Put a cold compress over the facial area of the injury. Recover any broken tooth fragments. Unless the broken edge is unusually sharp or the child experiences sensitivity to cold liquids or air, no immediate treatment is usually warranted, however do call for an office visit to assess the broken area for further treatment.

Grey Tooth - This usually occurs 5-7 days after a traumatic injury to a tooth. Usually, toddlers have bumped into something and didn't even cry, so when the tooth turns dark it comes as a surprise! Not to worry...if the discoloration is not too pronounced, there's a chance the nerve was not severely damaged and the tooth will lighten back up over time. In any case, the tooth should be followed over time by the dentist to intercept any issues that may occur.   Give our office a call should you wake up to discover a discolored tooth in your toddler's mouth!

Tooth Ache - Begin by cleaning around the sore tooth thoroughly. Using warm salt water, rinse the mouth to displace any food trapped between teeth. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you use aspirin on the aching tooth or on the gum tissue. In the event of facial swelling, apply a cold compress to the area. For temporary pain relief, acetaminophen is recommended. See your dentist as soon as possible. Tooth aches usually will require dental attention, and sooner is better than later.