Become a Gum Expert for Better Health

Become a Gum Expert for Better Health

About Me

Become a Gum Expert for Better Health

When you think about gum, you might think of blowing bubbles, or freshening your breath. However, the gums you need to think of first are the pink ones in your mouth supporting your teeth. I didn't know how important healthy gums were until I came down with a case of gingivitis in my early 20's. I had neglected my brushing and flossing habits for nearly a decade, so my last few years of college were marred by pain in my mouth and bleeding gums. It took me over a year of hard work to reverse the damage I caused and restore my mouth to peak health. My recovery included an uncomfortable and lengthy procedure known as root planing, and that experience convinced me to help others avoid the entire issue of gum disease. This is why I've created my own website to help everyone protect their gums the easy way.

 

What Should You Do If Your Child Knocks Out A Baby Tooth?

20 August 2015
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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Baby teeth typically fall out when permanent teeth begin growing in, because the permanent teeth push the baby teeth out of the way. There are times, though, when a child has trauma to a baby tooth that forces the tooth to come out before it was ready. Here are three things you should know if this happens to your child.

What should you do first?

After a child gets a tooth knocked out, it is likely there will be blood from the trauma. If this is the case, place a piece of gauze or a damp soft cloth in the child's mouth, and have the child bite down on this. The pressure will help stop the bleeding, which may help you and your child calm down faster after the incident.

Should you go to an emergency dentist?

When a baby tooth is knocked out, you do not usually have to rush to the dentist, unless you are hoping to have the dentist re-implant the tooth. While this can be done, it is usually not necessary. The tooth is just a baby tooth, and it would have fallen out eventually on its own. At some point, a permanent tooth will begin erupting, and this tooth will take its place. 

Will any treatment be necessary?

If you decide to skip a trip to the emergency dentist, you may still want to make an appointment for your child to see a dentist in the near future. The problem with losing a baby tooth prematurely is that it might leave a gap in the child's mouth for many years. While this on its own is not really a problem, it can turn into an issue if the other teeth start shifting.

When there is a gap present between teeth, other teeth tend to shift to fill in the gap. To prevent this from happening, your child's dentist might suggest inserting a spacer in this gap. A spacer is typically a small metal device that attaches to the adjacent teeth. The purpose of a spacer is to save the spot for the adult tooth and to hold the other teeth in place until the adult tooth comes in.

Getting a baby tooth knocked out prematurely can be scary for a child and for you, but you shouldn't worry too much if this happens. You should take your child to the dentist afterwards to find out what should be done about this issue.

For more information, contact a professional like those at Village Family Dental.