Toothaches in Children 2-5 Years

If you think your child is experiencing a toothache that’s a result of a cavity, try these tips:

• Make an appointment with your child’s dentist to find out what’s causing the gum pain or toothache
• Avoid sugary or crunchy foods — to help prevent further decay and pain
• Avoid hot or cold drinks — if they make the toothache worse
• Use a hot or cold compress if your child is experiencing pain due to inflammation—try a cold compress first; if the pain becomes worse, try a hot water bottle or heat pack.
• Use your parenting magic — distract your child from mouth pain by playing a game, singing a song, playing music or reading a story.
• While you’re waiting for a dentist appointment or after one, use an over-the-counter (OTC) pain relieving medication that’s specially formulated for children – to relieve your child’s toothache, like Children’s TYLENOL^® Liquid or MELTAWAYS™. Do not put Children’s TYLENOL^® or any painkiller directly against your child's gums near an aching tooth because it may burn the dental tissue.
• Do not give your child products containing acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)—ASA may cause a dangerous medical condition called Reye’s Syndrome.

If your child’s toothache is actually the pain of new baby teeth coming in, try these tips:[all from http://www.babycenter.ca/toddler/caringfor/teethingsecondyear/]

• Gently rub a clean figure over your child’s gums - to temporarily numb the pain
• Give your child something cold to bite on — like a cold wash cloth, raw carrot, a frozen banana, or cucumber slices. Do not use a teething ring since your child will likely be able to bite through it. Also, watch that your child does not bite off a piece of the carrot as just one piece can pose a choking hazard.
• Use an over-the-counter (OTC) pain relieving medication that’s specially formulated for children – to relieve your child’s teething pain, like Children’s TYLENOL^® Liquid or MELTAWAYS™. Do not put Children’s TYLENOL^® or any painkiller directly against your child's gums near an aching tooth because it may burn the dental tissue.
• Use your parenting magic — distract your child from teething pain by playing a game, singing a song, playing music or reading a story.
• Do not give your child products containing acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)—ASA may cause a dangerous medical condition called Reye’s Syndrome.

If you think your child is experiencing a toothache that’s a result of a cavity, make an appointment with your child’s dentist to find out what’s causing the gum pain or toothache.

You should make an appointment with your child’s doctor if your child is running a fever, if their gums are bleeding or if the pain gets worse. This could be a sign of infection or sometimes teething pain can be confused with ear pain at this age.

You should also make an appointment with your child’s doctor if your child is experiencing a toothache as a result of a thrush. Oral thrush is a condition in which the fungus “Candida albicans” accumulates on the lining of the mouth. Oral thrush causes creamy white lesions, usually on the tongue or inner cheeks. The lesions can be painful and may bleed slightly when scraped. Sometimes oral thrush may spread to the roof of the mouth, gums, tonsils or the back of the throat.

You should also call your child’s doctor any time you feel unsure of any of your child’s symptoms.