Toothaches are excruciatingly painful, with a pain score of 4 to 7 on a scale of 0 to 10. While adults can handle toothaches well, the same doesn't apply to children. Watching your child squirm from an excruciating toothache is almost unbearable for a parent. However, toothaches in children are pretty normal, and there's no reason to panic or stress.
The key is to manage your child's toothache without compromising their overall or dental health. Here's how you can do just that:
Mix about half a teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of water until homogenous. Ask your child to swish the solution for about 30 seconds before spitting it out. The salt in the water helps kill bacteria, while the warmth helps ease discomfort. This is a simple yet effective way to manage tooth discomfort in children.
Garlic is a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory that can help ease toothache in children. All you need to do is crush a couple of cloves and mix them with some sesame oil or any other vegetable oil until it forms a paste. Next, apply the paste directly on the affected tooth and let your child swish it around their mouth. Store-bought garlic paste works just as well.
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Pack some crushed ice in a zip-lock bag and place it on the cheek nearest the affected tooth. Put a thin layer of cloth between the cheek to protect your child from freezer burn. Ice helps ease the pain by constricting blood vessels and restricting blood flow to the nerves. This reduces swelling and pain.
Like garlic, clove oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties since it contains eugenol. Soak a small cotton ball with clove oil and place it on the painful tooth for a few minutes. Alternatively, you could ask them to chew on a piece of clove and hold it between their teeth to release its oil. This can help soothe the pain and reduce inflammation as well.
The antibacterial and antioxidant properties will come in handy to alleviate your child's toothache. Ask your child to swish the mouthwash for a few minutes before spitting it out. If that doesn't work, plop a few drops of thyme essential oil on a small cotton ball. Use the cotton ball to dab thyme oil on the hurting tooth.
If the above solutions don't cut it, you can always turn to over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. However, you should only consider these options as a last resort and consult your pediatrician before giving them to your child.
Toothaches are as excruciating for children as they are for adults. Use the above tips to ease your child's toothache. However, if the pain persists, consult a Las Vegas pediatric dentist to get an accurate diagnosis and a long-term solution.
Contact Desert Kids Dental if you need help relieving your child's toothache. We specialize in children's dental care and offer customized solutions according to your child's needs.