7 Toothache Remedies for Children
September 19, 2018It is common for children to have toothaches, the experience is equally distressing for child and parents. The commonly noticed symptoms are a throbbing and continuous pain in the tooth, tender and sore jaw around the tooth, and extra sensitivity of the tooth to hot or cold liquids and foods.
Why it Happens
There are several common causes to which a toothache in little ones may be attributed. It is possible that when the child was eating, some food item got stuck between two of her teeth. Or, if the child accidentally bit a hard object, it may have cracked a tooth, causing sensitivity to cold and hot liquids. Tooth decay is another possible reason. You would notice a yellow-brown flaw in the enamel, the usual location being on the surface of a molar. A fourth possible cause is Gingivitis, the medical term for inflamed gums and worse, bleeding gums caused by poor oral hygiene and care. Finally, another more serious cause for a toothache is a dental abscess for which root canal treatment is required.
7 Effective Remedies
Any complaint of a toothache in a child is to be taken seriously and a dentist appointment arranged at the earliest, especially if the pain doesn’t resolve within 24 hours. In the meanwhile, there is a choice of remedies that may be adopted to alleviate the pain.
#1 Brushing and Flossing
In the case of food wedged between teeth, brushing and flossing on both sides of the affected tooth would help to dislodge the food particle. Be careful and gentle while flossing. If the child is at an age where she can do so on her own, do supervise so that she does it correctly.
#2 Salt Water Gargle
Salt water is a good antiseptic. It destroys bacteria and stimulates healing.
Provided the child is suitably aged to understand, make her do swishing and spitting with a saltwater solution. To make the solution, mix approximately half a teaspoon of table salt with a cup of warm water. Stir till the salt is dissolved and make sure the solution is not too hot for your child to bear. Repeat after a few hours if pain persists.
#3 Clove Oil
The application of clove oil in easing tooth pain dates back as far as Ancient Greece. In addition to assisting with soothing a toothache, clove oil can numb the region of the mouth surrounding the tooth, and avert further infection. Dab a cotton swab with some clove oil and gently apply to the area around the affected tooth for short-term pain relief.
#4 Apply a Cold Compress
Either get a cold compress from the store or make your own ice pack. Apply it on your child’s outer cheek close to the swollen and painful area. The cold from the ice will bring the swelling down.
#5 Turmeric paste
Turmeric contains curcumin, known for its antiseptic, antibacterial and analgesic properties. Curcumin can alleviate tooth pain as well as prevent abscesses and infections.
Make a paste out of one teaspoon turmeric powder and a little water. You may optionally also add raw honey to make it more appealing to your child. Take the required amount of paste on a cotton ball and apply it straight onto the sore tooth.
#6 Ginger
The antibacterial properties of ginger make it suitable for relieving gum pain and tooth pain resulting from infection.
For the treatment, extract the juice after grating a piece of fresh ginger root. Soak a cotton ball in this juice and apply it to the problem tooth for immediate pain relief.
#7 OTC (Over-the-Counter Medication)
You can give your child anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen. Preferably, do it under a doctor’s guidance. Don’t ever rub a painkiller or aspirin directly on your child’s gums. Owing to the acidic nature of the drug, it could cause burns.
How to Prevent Oral Problems in Your Kids
Prevention is always better than cure so here are some tips to maintain good oral health in children:
- Make sure the child brushes twice a day and flosses once daily or you do it for her.
- Limit the intake of foods rich in sugar. Baked cod is better than a chocolate doughnut anytime!
- Never let your child sleep with the bottle still in their mouth. A pool of sweet milk residing in her mouth may attract streptococcus mutans leading to tooth decay.
- Schedule periodic dental visits.
As a parent, cultivate good oral hygiene habits in your child from a young age. This can reduce the need for costly dental appointments as well as help safeguard the health of your child’s teeth and gums for the long term. Although the dental procedures have become very convenient, thanks to dental sedation and EZ IO insertion kits, but if we maintain our dental hygiene than why even think about the lengthy dental procedures.
Author Bio:
Ross is a blogger who loves to write especially in the health vertical. He has written many informative Blogs, he has also written blogs in other verticals too like personal development, unique gifting blog.he is currently working with https://www.
