It is very common for teenagers to experience injuries to the head and face, often affecting the mouth. The majority of injuries come from sports and play accidents, but they may also come from vehicular accidents, fights, falls, and biting on hard objects.

Follow the tips below to help prevent accidents and injuries and read about how to handle the situation if an emergency does occur.

Tips to Help Prevent Accidents or Injuries in Pre-teens and Teenagers:

• Only let your teenager use equipment or toys that are appropriate for his or her age.
• Supervise any play with ATVs, large equipment, on a trampoline or in a pool.
• Make sure your teenager always has a helmet on when riding, scooting, or cycling – even on bicycles and electric vehicles.
• Keep emergency contact numbers in a prominent place so you and other caregivers can get to them quickly if needed.
• Have your teen wear a mouthguard when participating in sports activities.
• Discourage diving in swimming pools that are too shallow.
• Remind your teen not to run on slippery or wet surfaces (such as pool decks, wood, marble, and tile).
• Remind your teen to use hand rails when going up and down stairs.

What to Do When Your Teen Falls or is Hit in the Mouth:

• Don’t panic. Stay calm and determine the extent of the injury.
• If your child has a facial or head injury, assess whether or not consciousness was lost, even for a brief minute. If so, your child should see a physician immediately – worry about the mouth and teeth later.
• Stop any bleeding with a clean washcloth or gauze.
• If you see swelling, press a cold compress on the area.
• Check for broken and/or missing teeth.
• If there are missing teeth, look for them.
• Baby teeth are not reinserted. Never put a baby tooth back in your child’s mouth.
• If a permanent tooth was knocked out, gently rinse any dirt off of it (do not scrub!), handle it by the crown instead of the root, and put it back in the socket if possible. If you cannot place it back in your child’s mouth, put it in fresh, clean milk instead. Get to a dentist within 30 minutes if possible – the faster you can get it back in the mouth, the more chance you have of being able to keep the tooth.
• Call our office at (336)887-9277 or Page our Dentist on call.
• We will schedule an emergency appointment for your child to check the teeth, face, tongue, gums and other soft tissues for damage. We will take an x-ray to check the bones and roots of teeth. If a tooth was knocked out, we will need to make sure there are no fragments left in the gum.

Abscess (Dental Infection) or Bumps on the Gums:

• If you notice swelling on the inside or outside of mouth, fever, drainage, puss, or bumps on your child’s gums, you should call our office immediately at (336)887-9277, or you may page a doctor on weekends or holidays.
• If your child has an abscess, an antibiotic will most likely be prescribed. Make sure you let your child’s dentist and pharmacist know of any allergies to medications. Finish all medication as prescribed to prevent a return of infection.
• Abscesses can potentially be life-threatening – do not put recommended treatment off.

Cold Sores or Ulcers:

• Children can get cold sores or ulcers just like adults. They may have many different causes, including viruses, trauma (such as a bite on the lip), or stress.
• Call our office at (336)887-9277 and one of our pediatric dentists will determine the best course of treatment for your child.
• Topical ointments, creams or mouth rinses may be prescribed.

Read More About Oral Health for Pre-Teens and Teens

• Hygiene and Diet for Pre-Teens and Teenagers
• Orthodontic Treatment
• Sports Mouthguards
• Permanent Teeth
• When to Change to an Adult Dentist
• Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease