Tips for Handling a Dental Emergency

 

 

It’s that time - you’re enjoying your family's summer vacation when suddenly a problem strikes! Your child slipped and hurt their tooth - now what do you do? While we hope you don’t have to experience any dental emergencies while away, we did want to provide some tips on how to handle some tricky situations:

What to do if your child has a toothache:

A toothache may not scream emergency but, it does hurt your little one which in turn hurts you! First, try to find the source of the pain - swelling, redness, or any discolorations. Rinse the area with a warm salt-water solution.

What to do if your child cuts their cheek, tongue, or lip:

Ice the injured area to help control any swelling. Apply pressure with a cloth if there is any bleeding. If the bleeding persists, contact us or visit the emergency room.

What to do if your child chips a tooth:

To reduce the chance for infection - contact us immediately. Rinse with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If you find any tooth fragments, rinse in cool water and place in a cup with milk, saliva, or water.

What to do if your child knocks out a tooth:

With baby teeth, treatment is not necessary. For a permanent tooth, time is a crucial factor! If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If this is not possible, place the tooth in milk, saliva, or water and take it to the dentist right away.  

What to do if you experience a dental emergency while abroad:

In case of an emergency away from home, contact us or use the Find A Dentist Tool by the American Dental Association (ADA). This tool will help you locate an ADA dentist who can help you wherever you are.

No matter what dental emergency you may experience, remember Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric is here for you and your child. For aid with the above or general questions and concerns please feel free to contact us at any of our 3 locations or visit us online to schedule an appointment!

Tips for Healthy Teeth While Traveling

  

The unofficial start to summer - Memorial Day Weekend - is just around the corner! Do you have an exciting family trip planned? Whether you are traveling near or far - make sure you and your family are prepared this season with these travel tooth care tips:

Keep healthy snacks on hand. Try not to stock up on chips or candy and instead grab some portable tooth friendly options. Baby carrots, apples, string cheese, and some water are all much better options for teeth.

Pack your carry-on. Heading to the airport? Keep travel sized toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash in your carry on. This way you can easily freshen up after a long flight - your mouth will thank you!

Take a brush break. Whether you are camping, flying out of state, or taking a road trip - factor in some brush breaks whenever you can. Remembering to brush for two minutes, twice daily is essential for good oral health!

Avoid dental emergencies. Accidents can always happen, but taking simple precautions can help prevent an emergency. Avoid chomping down on anything hard, don’t open things with your teeth, and have a Dental Emergency Kit on hand (which includes: mouth guards for sporting activities, pain relievers, orthodontic wax for those with braces, cotton/gauze, and floss).

Schedule a visit with us. Make sure everything is A-OK prior to your trip by paying us a visit. This way we can make sure there’s nothing that will cause tiny teeth to have any big problems.

For any questions, concerns, or emergencies - we’re here for you and your child. Our practice has been providing excellent pediatric dentistry to children of Long Island for over 14 years.  Please feel free to contact us at any of our 3 locations!

#TravelThursday - Tooth Care While Traveling

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

With your child’s spring break around the corner, you may have some travel plans secured (hopefully to a warmer, less rainy location). As such, we wanted to make sure you were prepared with some tooth care tips while traveling:

Pack properly - Make sure all toothbrushes are covered with a travel container large enough to provide air circulation and holes for drainage and ventilation. Be sure to clean the case thoroughly before and after the trip to rid any dirt or bacteria.

Purchase travel sized items - If you are only bringing a carry on, remember to comply with TSA rules. Travel sized toothpaste (3oz) can easily be stashed in your carry on bags. It may also be a good idea to bring a travel sized toothbrush in your purse for on the go cleaning. Remember, if staying at a hotel,

Bring some sugar free xylitol chewing gum - When traveling, it’s easy to fall out of normal dental care routines. With nature’s secret weapon in gum form on hand, you can still take preventative oral health measures. Xylitol aids in preventing bacteria from sticking to the teeth as well as keeping saliva at a more neutral pH level. Chewing this gum will help to stimulate saliva and keep teeth clean and healthy.

Avoid dental emergencies - If possible, schedule your routine checkup with us prior to leaving. To prepare for emergencies while away, pack a “Dental Emergency Kit” including mouth guards for sporting activities, pain relievers, orthodontic wax for those with braces, cotton/gauze, and floss.

For any questions, concerns, or emergencies - we’re here for you and your child. Please feel free to contact us at any of our 3 locations. Call (516) 798-1111 or visit our website to schedule an appointment. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for updates and industry news.

Dental Emergencies While Traveling

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics

www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

You finally have the whole family off from work and school and it's vacation time; a road trip to a family reunion, camping in the great outdoors, or maybe some cruise ship adventures. Regardless, the last thing your child wants to deal with - or what you want to wake up with yourself - is some kind of dental calamity. 

So before your next trip try these before and on-the-spot tips to remedy the situation until you can seek medical help:

Prior to departure

• Get a routine check-up and have your teeth cleaned. If there are major dental problems, like a tooth pulling, it's best to have them done a month-3 weeks prior to the vacation
• Bring a "Dental Emergency Kit" - you can buy one (most are under $30) or create your own consisting of:
• Mouth guards - In case you plan any sporting activities, better safe than sorry!
• Pain Relievers - Both topical and ingested
• Orthodontic Wax (for those with braces - you know how important this is)
• Cotton & Gauze
• Floss
• Our contact info (phone and email)

On-The-Spot Tips

• Toothache: Rinse mouth with warm water and apply an icepack to the cheek if swelling. It may be helpful to apply a topical pain reliever. If the pain persists - contact us
• Broken or Knocked Out Teeth: Save the pieces or tooth in milk or salt water and get to an emergency care quickly. If there's bleeding, put some gauze over the wound
• Something Caught in Your Teeth: Rinse with warm water and gently floss. If it still feels like something is stuck, avoid probing with a sharp object. Contact us or seek an emergency care for what to do

Don't let a dental problem spoil your vacation! Have you experienced any dental woes while traveling? Let us know how you handled it on our Facebook page!