If your child has trouble breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, severe facial trauma, or a suspected broken jaw, call 911 or go to the nearest ER immediately.

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If a dental emergency occurs during our regular business hours, please call our office right away so we can assess the situation and schedule the earliest possible appointment.

 

If dental the emergency happens after hours or on the weekend, the quickest way to reach us is by email at info@bethelkidsdental.com. In your message, please include:​

• Your child’s full name

• Date of birth

• A brief description of the emergency

• Photos of the area of concern (if possible)

 

Below, you’ll find information on common pediatric dental emergencies and what steps to take until we can see your child.

 

1. What counts as a dental emergency?

Severe toothache, swelling of the face/gums, dental trauma (knocked-out, loose, or broken teeth), uncontrolled bleeding, painful braces/appliances causing injury, or injuries to lips/tongue/cheek that won’t stop bleeding.

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2. My child has a toothache. What should I do?​

1. Clean gently: Rinse with warm water. Use floss to remove any food trapped between teeth.

2. Pain relief: Consider acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed by the product label (avoid aspirin).

3. Cold compress: Apply to the cheek if there’s swelling or tenderness.

4. Contact us: Persistent pain, swelling, fever, or night pain

 

3. A tooth was knocked out. What now?​

• Do NOT reinsert. Reimplanting a baby tooth can harm the developing adult tooth.

• Control bleeding with gentle pressure and a clean gauze/cloth.

• Contact us to schedule an appointment.

 

4. A tooth is broken/chipped. What should I do?​​

• Rinse the mouth with warm water.

• Cold compress for swelling; pain reliever as directed on label.

• Contact us to schedule an appointment.

 

5. The tooth is loose or moved out of place after an injury. Help!​

• Do not wiggle it.

• If the tooth is pushed out of alignment, do not force it back.

• Soft diet, avoid biting on that area.

• Contact us to schedule an appointment.

 

6. There’s swelling on the face or gum.​

• This can be serious. Facial swelling can indicate infection.

• Email us a photo of the area, and we may contact your pharmacy to provide an antibiotic prescription if needed.

• If swelling affects breathing, swallowing, or is accompanied by high fever or lethargy, go to the ER or call 911.

 

7. Bit lip, tongue, or cheek with bleeding.​

• Clean with gentle water rinse.

• Apply firm pressure with clean gauze/cloth for 10–15 minutes.

• Cold compress outside the mouth.

• If bleeding won’t stop after 15 minutes, or the cut is deep/gapping, go to urgent care/ER and call or email us for follow-up.

 

8. Something is stuck between my child’s teeth.​

• Try floss gently.

• Do not use sharp objects like pins or toothpicks.

• Contact us if it doesn’t come out or if there’s pain/swelling.

 

9. Dental abscess (pimple on the gum) or drainage.​

• May look like a small bump with/without pus.

• Do not pop the bump.

• Email us a photo of the area, and we may contact your pharmacy to provide an antibiotic prescription if needed.

• ER if fever, facial swelling, or your child seems ill.

 

10. Braces or appliance emergency: wire poking, loose bracket, broken retainer.​

• Poking wire: Try covering with orthodontic wax or a small piece of sugar-free gum; contact us.

• Loose bracket/band: If still attached to wire, leave it in place and cover with wax; contact us.

• Broken or lost retainer/night guard: Contact us to repair/replace—continued wear is important.

• Broken palatal (palate) expander: Stop turning the key and contact us immediately.

 

11. Nighttime grinding (bruxism) pain.​

• Warm compress to jaw muscles and gentle stretching can help.

• Mention at your next visit; we may recommend a custom night guard if appropriate.

 

12. Can my child take pain medication?​

• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help—follow the product label or your pediatrician’s advice.

• Avoid aspirin in children.

• Contact us if pain persists.

 

13. When should we go to the ER instead of the dentist?​

• Severe head or facial trauma, loss of consciousness, suspected broken jaw (can’t close teeth together, facial asymmetry),

• Uncontrolled bleeding,

• Breathing or swallowing difficulty, rapidly spreading facial/neck swelling, high fever or lethargy.

 

14. How can we prevent dental emergencies?​

• Mouthguards for sports (custom options available).

• Regular checkups/cleanings to catch issues early.

• Avoid hard or sticky foods (ice, unpopped kernels, hard candies) that can crack teeth or braces.

• Use car seats/seatbelts and helmets for sports and biking.

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