Emergencies

Clean the area of the affected tooth. Rinse the mouth thoroughly with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge any food that may be impacted. If the pain still exists, contact your child's dentist. Do not place aspirin or heat on the gum or on the aching tooth. If the face is swollen, apply cold compresses and contact your dentist immediately.

Apply ice to injured areas to help control swelling. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If bleeding cannot be controlled by simple pressure, call a doctor or visit the hospital emergency room.

A frenulum is the small piece of tissue that connects the upper lip to the gums (you may also notice one under the tongue). It’s common for children to accidentally tear this tissue—often from a fall, bump, or even brushing too hard.

While it can bleed quite a bit at first, a torn frenulum usually looks more serious than it is. When a child has such an injury, a lot of parents’ inclination is to head to the ER. Most parents fear the tear will require some type of suture. While it is good to be cautious, heading to the ER for a frenulum injury will only result in time and money spent unnecessarily.

In most cases, it will heal on its own within a few days without stitches or medical treatment. Try to keep the area clean and avoid pulling the lip to check the injury, as this can cause it to bleed again.

Frenulum Tear Management

• Bleeding: Mild bleeding may occur off and on, especially if the lip is repeatedly pulled back to check the injury. Try to avoid disturbing the area.

• Pressure: Applying gentle pressure to the outside of the lip is typically enough to stop the bleeding.

• Diet: Encourage a soft diet for a few days to prevent reopening the wound. Avoid sharp or crunchy foods such as chips and crackers until healing improves.

After following these steps, if bleeding still occurs, the cut appears to be wider into the gum tissue than the frenulum, or you notice other injuries to the mouth or teeth, please contact our office or visit your pediatrician for further evaluation.

Contact your pediatric dentist.  Unlike with a permanent tooth, the baby tooth should not be replanted due to possible damage to the developing permanent tooth.  In most cases, no treatment is necessary.

If possible, find the tooth. Handle it by the crown, not by the root. You may rinse the tooth with water only. DO NOT scrub, clean with soap, or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to reinsert it in the socket. Have the patient hold the tooth in place by biting on a gauze or clean cloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing the patient’s saliva or milk, NOT water. If the patient is old enough, the tooth may also be carried in the patient’s mouth (beside the cheek). The patient must see a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.

Contact your pediatric dentist.

Time is a critical factor; contact your pediatric dentist immediately so as to reduce the chance for infection or the need for extensive dental treatment in the future. Rinse the mouth with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth piece, bring it with you to the dentist.

Keep the jaw from moving and take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Read more about how to prevent dental emergencies during recreational activities and sports with mouth guards .

It can be hard to know what to do when your child has a dental injury. In most cases, our office can handle dental emergencies quickly and effectively. However, there are times when it’s best to seek medical attention right away.

Call Our Office First if:

• A tooth is chipped, cracked, loose, or knocked out.

• Your child has a toothache, dental swelling, or abscess.

• The frenulum (tissue under the lip or tongue) is torn but bleeding is controlled.

• A filling, crown, or space maintainer is lost or damaged.

• There’s mild bleeding or a soft tissue injury that seems manageable.

Go to the ER or Call 911 if:

• Bleeding cannot be stopped after 10–15 minutes of gentle pressure.

• Your child has severe swelling around the face, jaw, or eyes.

• Your child has trouble breathing, swallowing, or opening their mouth.

• There is a suspected broken jaw or facial bone fracture.

• Your child loses consciousness or shows signs of a head injury after trauma.

If you’re ever unsure, please call our office first (outside of our normal hours, please call LeBonheur Dental Clinic at 901.448.5437). We’re happy to guide you and let you know whether your child should come in to see us or go to the ER.