5 Tips to Reduce Your Child’s Oral Pain After a Dental Procedure

At Sunshine Pediatric Dentistry, our top priorities are our patients’ safety, oral health, and comfort. Occasionally, after a dental procedure that was needed to keep them healthy, your child may experience oral pain. Because we understand that no parent wants to see their child in pain, we’ve put together a list of five ways you can help reduce your child’s oral pain after a dental procedure.

1. Follow Our Instructions

Any time one of our patients needs dental work, we are careful to explain both to our patient and their parents about what they can expect during the procedure and as they recover. It is critical to closely follow our post-procedure instructions to limit your child’s pain and to make the recovery process progress as smoothly as possible.

2. Encourage Rest

After your child’s procedure, encourage them to rest and take it easy to give their body a chance to heal. Reading, crafts, movie marathons, and boardgames are great activities for recovery!

3. Apply Ice to Swelling

If you notice any swelling in the area of the procedure, reduce swelling by gently applying an ice pack wrapped in a washcloth to your child’s cheek for 10-20 minutes at a time. Be sure to keep an eye out for signs of infection like redness, drainage, or fever.

4. Encourage a Tooth-Friendly Diet

Depending on their procedure, we will probably send you and your child home with strict instructions about what they can eat and drink, and what they need to avoid. In general, make sure that they drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet full of essential vitamins and minerals. And as always, limit their consumption of sugary treats and beverages. If you’re in doubt about whether your child can eat or drink a certain something, call us and ask!

5. Communicate with Us

Last but not least, maintain a open line of communication with our team throughout your child’s recovery. If you notice any sudden or unusual changes, notify us immediately. We are here for you and your child not only during their dental procedure, but during your child’s recovery process to ensure they return to full health and activity as soon as possible.