Mouth Care Following Treatment
Advise your child not to bite his lip, tongue or cheeks and not to eat until the numbness wears off, which is usually 1 or 2 hours. Encourage your child to have fluids or jello. Abstain from eating until normal feeling returns and then begin with a soft diet. The gums may be tender for a few days. Scrub the gums clean, even though uncomfortable or bleeding for the most rapid healing. Alternating children’s Tylenol and Ibuprofen may be helpful. Occasionally there is some sensitivity for one or two weeks; if this persists or worsens please call us.
Oral Surgery or Permanent Tooth Removal Post Op Care
Do all of the above plus the following. Avoid spitting, rinsing or sucking from a straw for 24 hours. Keep your child calm and quiet for the rest of the day. The next day begin warm mild saltwater gentle rinses after every meal and before bedtime for 5 days. If sutures were placed, they will resorb and fall out on their own.
Care of Oral Ulcers
Drink plenty of nutritious fluids, such as milk, non citrus fruit juice, or bland soup. If necessary, force your child to drink. Nutritious fluids and food aids healing. Mouth rinse can reduce discomfort for meals and oral cleaning. Cepacol or Chloraseptic mouth rinse every two hours is helpful. Glycerin, Gly-Oxide, Zilactin, Kanka or Orabase applied to the ulcers after each meal and bedtime can be soothing if the ulcers are affecting your child’s normal activities. Keep the teeth clean with a soft toothbrush. Use acetaminophen for fever. Ulcers usually last 7 to 14 days.
Intermediate Care of Abscessed or Decayed Teeth
To reduce sensitivity and slow the progress of your child’s decay, avoid sweets and snacks until the teeth are treated. Snacks and sweets promote decay and discomfort. Clean the teeth and gums carefully with a soft toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste three or four times a day. If your child has a fever, facial swelling or is unable to eat well, antibiotics should be taken as prescribed. Encourage a nutritious diet and drink only water between meals. Chewing gum can help since this stimulates your child’s saliva. Call us for persistent discomfort, fever, swelling or lack of appetite.
Cardiovascular and Heart Defects
Bacteria normally present in the mouth enter the bloodstream through gingival openings during eating, tooth brushing, flossing and during dental treatment. Once in the bloodstream the bacteria can grow on your heart defect and cause Bacterial Endocarditis , a very serious illness that can cause death. Healthy teeth and gums that do not bleed when brushed and flossed well, reduce the openings for the bacteria. Antibiotics are recommended before dental treatment by the American Heart Association to reduce the chance of getting Bacterial Endocarditis. The antibiotic is taken one hour prior to the visit. Please call us if your child becomes feverish.
Call us right away. Your child’s injury will likely need to evaluated and perhaps treated. Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen may be given for discomfort. A visit and x-rays may be needed to evaluate your child’s injury.
Knocked out primary teeth should be left out. Displaced primary teeth can often be repositioned close to their original placement. Intruded primary teeth can re-erupt close to their original position. They may turn dark and remain dark or return to normal color; either is OK. The unerupted permanent tooth may be damaged. This will remain unknown until the permanent tooth erupts. The goal is to minimize injury to the unerupted permanent teeth.
Knocked out permanent teeth should be replanted immediately. Try this yourself before you arrive. Displaced teeth usually need to be repositioned. The teeth usually require splinting and may need future additional treatment. Fractured or broken teeth need to be evaluated and require medication if the tooth nerves are involved.
Post Injury Care
Cold packs placed on the injured area can reduce swelling and help control bleeding and discomfort. Continue to keep your child’s teeth and gums clean. All of these injuries require continuing periodic evaluation.
Care of Facial Lacerations, Abrasions, or Surgical Wounds
Wash the area gently, despite soreness, once or twice a day. Dab the wound dry. Apply Vaseline or Bacitracin after drying and three or four more times a day until healing is complete.
Problems may arise in the future. Darkened permanent teeth need to be evaluated for additional treatment. Watch for a gumboil, drainage, persistent swelling or looseness. If you notice any of these problems, call the office.
Wear a mouthguard for contact sports i.e., soccer, basketball, football, etc. Always wear a seatbelt.
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