What to do if a 6-year-old child has toothache

If a 6-year-old child has symptoms of toothache, it is most likely caused by gum hypersensitivity or tooth sensitivity. Children have no independent control over their diet. They may be eating cold and sweet foods such as ice cream one second, and eating spicy and hot pot the next. If they have an unbalanced diet for a long time, their teeth will definitely not be able to bear it. What should I do if my 6-year-old child has tooth pain?

Tooth sensitivity, medically known as allergic dentin or dentin hypersensitivity, is a symptom of pain caused by external stimuli such as temperature (cold, hot), chemicals (acid, sweet) and mechanical action (friction or biting hard objects).

Tooth sensitivity and pain, clinically known as dentin hypersensitivity, is a symptom of pain caused by external stimuli such as cold, heat, sour, sweet food, and biting hard objects such as walnuts and pine nuts. By examining the tooth surface with a probe, one or several sensitive areas can be found, which are characterized by rapid onset, sharp pain and short duration. Patients often experience pain when talking, being blown by cold wind, or accidentally biting a certain point of the tooth while eating, which will be relieved after a while. Dentin hypersensitivity can occur in a single tooth or in multiple teeth.

Dentin hypersensitivity can be caused by any dental disease that destroys the integrity of the tooth enamel and exposes the dentin, such as abrasion (frequent biting of hard objects, such as walnuts, bones, etc., and bruxism at night), tooth fractures caused by trauma, wedge-shaped defects in the tooth neck caused by long-term improper brushing, caries, and periodontal atrophy leading to exposed tooth roots.

Dentin hypersensitivity will gradually develop into pulpitis, apical periodontitis, etc. Some patients may have to have the teeth extracted in the end. Therefore, once dentin hypersensitivity occurs, go to the hospital for treatment in time. If the allergy is caused by caries, wedge-shaped defects, etc., the symptoms can be eliminated quickly through treatment. Currently, the main methods for treating dentin hypersensitivity include local drug therapy, laser therapy, and restorative therapy. If tooth allergy is caused by tooth wear, exposed tooth roots, etc., it will be difficult to cure and it is prone to recurrence.

Some folk remedies, such as frequently chewing garlic or rubbing the allergic area with fresh garlic three times a day, or chewing walnut kernels, tea leaves, etc., all have a certain desensitizing effect. Because the main component of walnut kernels is linoleic acid glyceride, it can achieve a desensitizing effect, and tea is rich in tea polyphenols and fluoride, which can closely combine with the calcium in the teeth, enhance the acid resistance of the enamel, and increase the protective layer of the teeth.

The best way to prevent dentin hypersensitivity and prolong desensitization is to reduce tooth wear and increase tooth hardness. In order to reduce tooth wear, first, try to avoid biting hard food, such as walnuts and crabs, and never use your teeth to open beer bottle caps; second, insist on brushing your teeth in the correct way every day. It is recommended to rinse your mouth with fluoride mouthwash and brush your teeth with desensitizing toothpaste to improve the wear resistance of teeth. Desensitizing toothpaste should be used twice a day and has a certain therapeutic effect with long-term use.

Tips for alleviating tooth sensitivity

1. You should choose toothpaste containing high-quality abrasives and a health toothbrush, and brush your teeth with the correct method to avoid tooth wear.

2. If there are small cavities or tiny cracks on your teeth, use a toothpaste with a repairing function.

3. If tooth sensitivity occurs, you should use desensitizing toothpaste to relieve pain. This is suitable for people who have many sensitive teeth, the allergic site is not very clear, and the allergic symptoms are relatively mild.

4. Make sure to brush your teeth for a certain period of time, such as 2 to 3 minutes, so that the active ingredients in the toothpaste have time to act on the diseased areas of the teeth. And brush your teeth frequently, especially before going to bed. You should avoid eating after brushing your teeth before going to bed.

5. If the symptoms are severe, you should see a dentist promptly for examination and treatment, which generally includes laser desensitization or drug desensitization.

Life Tips

In daily life, you can reduce or prevent tooth sensitivity through dietary health care:

1. Tea for teeth protection

Put the tea leaves directly into your mouth and chew them gently to fully absorb the rich fluoride and tea polyphenols in the tea leaves. This can relieve toothache and discomfort, and has the effect of disinfection and sterilization. Fluoride, in particular, is excellent in preventing tooth decay.

2. Chew walnuts to desensitize

If tooth allergy has occurred, you can chew some walnut kernels before meals. The oily and acidic substances in walnut kernels can penetrate into the dentinal tubules, relieve dentin sensitivity, and play a certain desensitizing role.