Toothaches might be dental emergencies, but not all mouth pain is caused by a toothache. Other causes of mouth pain include eruption of teeth, sores in the mouth, earaches, and sinus infections. A child with mouth pain should see a dentist or medical provider to identify the source of the pain.
What Parents Should Look For
- Mouth pain
- Drooling
- If the child is old enough, ask him to point to the tooth that hurts.
First Aid Care for a Toothache
- Wear medical gloves, if available.
- Have the child rinse his mouth with warm water.
- Use dental floss to remove any food that might be caught between the teeth and causing pain.
- Look for swelling or a "pimple" around the tooth, which might be a sign of a dental abscess.
- See whether the tooth is loose.
- The child needs to be evaluated by a medical provider or dentist.
Tip: A child with a toothache should see a medical provider to identify the cause of the pain. Sometimes a mouth sore or infection can feel like a toothache. If a mouth sore or infection is not causing the problem, the child needs to see a dentist. If there is any swelling in the mouth or on the face, the child needs medical care from a medical provider or dentist that day.
