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MINOR  AND  MAJOR  INJURIES

Mouth injuries are common in toddlers and young children, and often occur when a child trips over or falls.

 

• Mouth injuries in children can range from a cut lip caused by a fall to a serious burn from drinking poisonous fluids. 
• Although they may look unsightly and be distressing, most mouth injuries are minor and can be treated at home. 
• More serious mouth injuries can result in blocking or partial blocking of the airway as a result of swelling or excessive bleeding. These types of injuries need urgent medical attention at a hospital to avoid potential suffocation. 

Mouth injuries are often very painful and children can find them distressing. However, most of these injuries are short-lived and can be treated at home.

 

Bleeding from the mouth or lip

 

Most children will sustain a cut to the mouth or lip at least once in their life as a result of a fall, or running into a solid object, such as furniture. Sometimes the piece of skin joining the top lip to the top gum (the frenulum) tears and this, like the rest of the mouth, will bleed a lot.

 

• Sit your child upright with her head tilted forward. This will ensure that the blood doesn't run down her throat. 
• If you can see the site of the bleeding, place a clean pad of gauze, cotton or even folded paper tissue over it and tell her to hold it firmly in place with a finger, or do this yourself, making sure she can't choke on the pad. Hold this in place until the bleeding has stopped. 
• Don't give your child anything to drink as this may dislodge any clot that is forming. However, for small cuts, an ice lolly can act as a distraction and constrict the blood vessel, thereby reducing bleeding. 
• If the injury involves your child's tongue, it's important to look for swelling. This is a serious condition because a swollen tongue can obstruct the child's airway, and therefore result in suffocation. 

Foreign Objects

 

Serious injuries can be sustained if a child falls or runs into something, with an object, such as a lollipop or pencil, sticking out of her mouth. This can cause the airway or the base of the skull to be pierced, resulting in a life-threatening injury.

 

• Do not allow your child to run around with something in her mouth.
• In the event of choking, don't attempt to remove the object, unless the child cannot breathe
• Ask someone to call an ambulance.
• Try to maintain your child's airway, and don't let it become obstructed with blood. Sit your child upright with her head forward to allow blood to drain out of the mouth. Alternatively, place your child in the recovery position.
• Stay with her and keep her calm until the ambulance arrives. 
• Once your child is at the hospital, the foreign object may have to be removed under general anaesthetic. 

Do not let your child run around with an object such as a lollipop in her mouth. If she falls, it could choke her or pierce her airway.

 

A knocked-out tooth

 

A milk tooth should not be put back into its socket because it may cause damage to the permanent tooth underneath. However, it is sometimes possible to save a permanent tooth if you can get rapid dental treatment.

 

• Either put the permanent tooth back into the socket and hold it there - make sure you put it in the correct way round. Then take your child to a dentist, dental hospital or an accident and emergency unit. 
• Or put the tooth straight into milk and take your child and her tooth to the dentist, dental hospital or accident and emergency unit, where the tooth will be repositioned. 
• The tooth (or teeth) will need to be held in place with a splint for approximately four weeks. 

Abscess or infection in the mouth

 

If your child complains of a painful spot in the mouth, it may well be a mouth ulcer. An abscess under a tooth will usually cause toothache. If you notice a bad smell on your child's breath, it may indicate infection.

 

Mouth ulcers

 

• These appear as painful small, white craters. 
• They are not serious but can indicate that your child is run down or stressed, has poor oral hygiene or has bitten the inside of her cheek. 
• Mouth ulcers usually clear up quickly on their own. Ensure your child gets plenty of rest and supervise her toothbrushing. However, if they recur I take her to the GP to check for underlying illness. 

Abscess

 

 A painful: swollen gum, jaw or facial swelling can indicate an abscess

 

An abscess is usually the result of decay, or a crack In the tooth, through which bacteria set up an infection.

 

Give your child liquid paracetamol for the pain of  and take her to see a dentist urgently.

If your child is suffering from a mouth ulcer, a soothing mouth gel will help to nU/1Jb the pain.

 

Burns to the mouth and throat

 

Burns to the mouth and throat arise from taking in hot food or drinks. They can also occur if a child swallows a poisonous substance.

 

Poisonous  liquids

 

• If your child has drunk a corrosive liquid, such as bleach, weed killer or dishwasher liquid, she may have red burn marks in and around her mouth and lips. 
• Her breathing may sound harsh and high-pitched as a result of the swelling of damaged throat tissue. 
• Call an ambulance. Your child will require urgent hospital treatment. 
• Ask your child to tell you or point to what she has drunk and take the bottle to the hospital. 
• Don't make her vomit as the liquid will burn her gullet again as it comes back up. 
• Give sips of milk or water to help neutralize the acidity of the poison. 
• Wipe away any of the remaining liquid from your child's mouth with a cloth. 
• Stay with your child. If she becomes unconscious, put her in the recovery position. 
• Keep checking your child's breathing and give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if necessary while you are waiting for the ambulance. 

Hot food or drinks

• Before giving warm drinks to a baby, always test the temperature by sprinkling a little on to the back of your hand. Be careful with food or drinks that have been heated in a microwave - they can feel colon the outside but be hot inside, so ensure they are stirred and test the temperature yourself first. 
•  If your child does burn her mouth, give her cold water to drink immediately. Avoid giving warm liquids or ice as the mouth will be very sensitive to hot and cold temperatures at first. 
• Watch for swelling in the mouth that could obstruct the airway. If the mouth blisters, take your child to your  doctor. An antiseptic mouthwash may be prescribed. 

It's important to test the temperature of a liquid before giving it to a baby ­if a drink is too hot it will burn the mouth. Test a few drops on the back of your hand.

 

For  More  Information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.