Caring for Your Toddler’s Chipped Teeth: What You Need to Know

Rapid changes mark a child’s first few years of life. They start to learn how to walk, talk, and interact with the environment around them. As they explore all their legs’ capabilities by running and jumping, they accumulate bruises, bumps, and the occasional scrape. Unfortunately, this may involve their teeth, as falling on a hard surface is all it takes to chip a tooth.

Chipped teeth in young children is a relatively easy fix since they happen to have milk teeth, which will fall out in a few years. However, they can present some issues in toddlers who are still learning how to properly talk or care for their teeth, like brushing their teeth. Here’s what you need to know about caring for your toddler’s teeth, primarily when they chip:

A Dentist Must Examine Them Right Away

Even when a chipped tooth only looks like a minor issue, it’s best to have it checked by a dentist in Charlotte, NC. Tooth chip severity often varies from harmless and superficial to requiring a filing down, filling in, or a cap. Only a dentist can properly examine it and determine the correct course of action, which you’ll need to take right away to prevent any complications from occurring. 

Toddlers and children struggle to stay still long enough for these procedures, which lengthens the session. It’s best to see a pediatric dentist with extensive experience dealing with young children in these cases. They must also have the appropriate equipment that is specifically designed for this age group.

Expect the Tooth to Discolor

Given the many trips and falls that toddlers get into when navigating their surroundings, they often sustain more damage than a chipped tooth. Unfortunately, this can result in discoloration, with the tooth taking on a grey, black, brown, or red hue. It’s usually temporary, as it is caused by damaged blood vessels in the tooth, similar to when skins get bruised. When the blood vessels heal, the discoloration breaks down, and the tooth turns back to its original cream color.

However, if the discoloration doesn’t fade, you’ll want to have it checked by a dentist. If the teeth stay black or grey, it indicates that it may be severely damaged and infected. The tooth may even be undergoing necrosis, making it imperative to consult a dentist.

Pay Extra Attention to the Chipped Tooth

Once you’ve taken your toddler to the dentist and received a diagnosis, you’ll need to make sure that you clean the chipped tooth properly by thoroughly brushing it twice a day. Even if the chipped tooth only requires filing down, it is more vulnerable to decay. This instance will then require more care and attention. 

Your toddler is still too young to brush their teeth by themselves, so you’ll need to help them or brush it yourself. You can ask your dentist for some fluoride tablets to fortify your toddler’s teeth, especially if you don’t have fluoridated tap water.

Watch Out for Signs of an Abscess

Teeth that have experienced blunt force trauma may result in infection and abscess, as it can incite a slow death in the teeth over several months even without discoloration. The chip may have tiny cracks that allow bacteria to seep into the tooth pulp, possibly leading to an abscess. It’s crucial to stay alert for signs of a dental abscess because leaving it untreated can cause severe complications in the mouth and face.

Common signs of an abscess include facial pain complaints, whether it’s their neck, cheek, nose, or lip. Toddlers often don’t have a firm grasp of vocabulary to explain what they’re feeling in-depth, so watch out for any complaints about pain in this area. If they struggle with disrupted sleep, changes in eating habits, sudden bleeding in the mouth, fever, or swelling, those are also signs of an abscess.

Conclusion

Chipped teeth are a common occurrence in toddlers that are often superficial, but it is crucial to schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as they happen. Doing so will prevent painful complications and treat any issues in their early stages.

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