A young child with a towel wrapped around their head brushes their teeth in front of a bathroom mirror.

Top 5 Tips for Reducing the Risk of Dental Emergencies 

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Are you worried about having to take your child to the dentist for an emergency? Teeth can get knocked out. Kids can get sudden toothaches or fall and crack a tooth. You can’t completely prevent these situations from happening. But you can take steps to lower the chance of dental emergencies. Our dentists in Jacksonville and St. Johns, FL, at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry offer the following advice on reducing this risk.

Don’t Miss Routine Dental Exams

Bring your child in every six months for a cleaning and exam, so we can check for cavities or other problems and treat them early.

Make Sure Your Child Brushes and Flosses Daily

Either do this for your child or teach them how to if they’re old enough. Regular dental care at home helps them maintain healthy teeth.

Don’t Let Your Child Use Their Teeth as Tools

Biting or tearing objects can easily lead to cracked teeth or other damage. Offer them the tools needed to perform these tasks instead.

Have Your Child Wear a Mouthguard While Playing Sports

A custom mouthguard can protect your child’s teeth from being knocked out or broken during athletic activities. Encourage them to wear other protective gear, like helmets, too.

Lower the Risk of Slip and Fall Accidents Around Your Home

Keep floors and walkways free of clutter or objects that can lead to falls and put your child at risk of losing a tooth or two.

Visit Our Pediatric Dentists for Emergency Care

Is your child having an urgent dental problem? Our dental team at Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry offers treatment for dental emergencies in St. Johns and Jacksonville, FL, to ensure that your child receives immediate care for toothaches and other serious dental issues.

A young girl sits in a dental chair, touching her cheek and talking to a dentist wearing a white coat, gloves, and a face mask in a modern dental office.

Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies

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Dental emergencies can scare both parents and children, and getting to your dentist in Jacksonville or St. Johns, FL, quickly will help you take the proper care of your child. Yet not all dental problems are true emergencies. At Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry, we’re here to help with dental emergencies, and here are some times when you’ll want to get in ASAP.

Knocked Out Tooth

With children, a knocked out tooth can be a dental emergency or no big deal, depending on the type of tooth. If it’s a baby tooth that’s nearing the time it needs to fall out naturally, you don’t have to do anything. However, if it’s an adult tooth or a tooth that isn’t likely to fall out for a while, you need to get dental attention. Keep the tooth moist in milk, and visit Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry as quickly as possible.

Cracked Teeth

If your child cracks a tooth and is experiencing pain, a quick appointment with the dentist in Jacksonville or St. Johns, FL, as quickly as possible. These teeth may need caps to limit pain, and fixing the crack will also help prevent cavities from forming in that newly exposed area.

Toothache

A major toothache is something that needs immediate attention, as long as you can’t see a problem like food stuck between the teeth that’s causing the issue. Like adults, children can have problems with severe decay that require more than just a filling. Children can also develop infections and abscesses that cause severe pain. For these issues, you’ll need emergency treatment.

If your child’s dealing with one of these emergencies, visit the dentist in Jacksonville or St. Johns, FL, right away. Cochran, Soares, and Associates Pediatric Dentistry can often see you the same day to ensure your child’s need is taken care of. Call for an appointment today.