Does your child have a tooth that aches? You may be tempted to shrug it off as a part of teething or a natural by-product of primary teeth falling out.
While teething does involve discomfort, soreness and slight pain for your child, a child older than the age of three should not be experiencing much pain or discomfort when they lose their primary teeth and grow in their permanent teeth.
During teething, the teeth are coming in for the first time, meaning that the gums will be sore and sensitive to something new.
When young children lose their primary teeth and grow in permanent teeth, the adult teeth merely take the place of the fallen-out primary teeth, not growing new teeth. This results in significantly less pain and discomfort.
If your child is past the teething stage and has toothaches and pains, it is likely a symptom of a larger dental health issue that requires immediate treatment.
Here are common dental health issues in which toothaches are a symptom of:
· Moderate to severe (deep) tooth decay
· A chipped or fractured tooth
· Gum disease
· Infected gums
· A damaged filling
· An abscessed tooth
· Bruxism (teeth grinding and jaw clenching)
These conditions can become potentially serious oral health conditions if not treated, resulting in the possibility of proper teeth and gum functioning. Adult teeth can grow in crooked or decayed which can cause an improper bite and increase the growth of tooth decay and gum disease-causing plaque and tartar. If the abovementioned dental issues aren't treated immediately, there can be the possibility of your child needing costly dental treatment in the future. The reduced ability to correctly use his or her mouth for speaking, biting, and chewing can also negatively affect their quality of life.
All this can start with a minor toothache that only your dentist can examine, diagnose, and properly treat.
As it is with medicine, the more preventative measures are taken and the earlier the treatment begins, the likelihood your child's teeth, gums, and bite will properly develop and little additional dental work will be necessary.
When Should You Take Your Child Into the Dentist?
You may be wondering how you can tell whether or not your child's toothache is an indication of the abovementioned oral health conditions. You could do your investigation online to find out.
Regardless of whether you know if your child has an immediate dental condition to treat or not, it is recommended that you take your child in to see their pediatric dentist when their toothache:
- Lasts longer than 1 or 2 days
- It is severe
- It is accompanied by a fever, headache, earache or pain when opening the mouth
- It produces foul-tasting drainage of infected or decayed teeth
- Swelling and bleeding of the gums around the tooth
- Is the result of a cracked, chipped or lost tooth
- Is sharp, constant or throbbing
It can be tempting to simply shrug off or dismiss your child's toothache, especially when there are no visible, physical signs of decay or disease. Taking your child in for regular dental examinations and cleanings plays a vital role in treating potentially serious oral health conditions that can cause toothaches.
Even if your child has a great at-home dental care routine and there seem to be no signs of cavities or gum disease, contact your pediatric dentist today to schedule an appointment, especially if your child is uncomfortable and in pain from an aching tooth.