What should I do if my 8-year-old child has a toothache? A must-read guide for parents
Recently, children's oral health issues have become a hot topic, especially children around the age of 8 who have frequent toothaches. This article will combine the hot discussions across the Internet in the past 10 days to provide parents with structured solutions.
1. Analysis of common causes of toothache in children

| Reason type | Proportion | Typical symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| caries | 45% | Sensitivity to eating/pain at night |
| Discomfort during tooth replacement period | 30% | Swollen gums/loose tooth pain |
| trauma | 15% | Sudden severe pain/visible injury |
| Other inflammations | 10% | With fever/facial swelling |
2. Three-step method for emergency treatment
1.Assess pain level: Record symptoms using the Children's Pain Scale (1-10 points)
| pain level | Countermeasures |
|---|---|
| 1-3 points | Observation + oral cleaning |
| 4-6 points | Taking painkillers for children |
| 7-10 points | seek medical attention immediately |
2.home care program
| method | Operational points | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| Rinse with salt water | 200ml warm water + 2g salt | No more than 3 times a day |
| cold compress | Ice pack wrapped in towel | ≤10 minutes each time |
| diet modification | Liquid food/room temperature food | Avoid sweet and sour stimulation |
3.Medication Guide
| Drug name | Applicable age | Dosage standards |
|---|---|---|
| ibuprofen suspension | 6 years and above | 5-10mg/kg/time |
| Acetaminophen | 3 years and above | 10-15mg/kg/time |
3. Criteria for medical judgment
The following situations require medical treatment within 24 hours:
| Symptoms | possible causes |
|---|---|
| Pain that lasts >12 hours | Pulpitis/apical periodontitis |
| gum pustule | abscess formation |
| facial swelling | cellulitis |
| Accompanied by fever above 38°C | systemic infection |
4. Comparison of preventive measures data
| prevention methods | efficient | execution difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| sealing of pits and fissures | 85% | ★ |
| Fluoride toothpaste | 72% | ★★ |
| Limit sweets | 68% | ★★★ |
| Regular inspection | 90% | ★★ |
5. Common misunderstandings among parents
1.Misunderstanding:No treatment is required for broken deciduous teeth →Facts:Caries in deciduous teeth can affect the development of permanent teeth
2.Misunderstanding:Toothache requires extraction →Facts:Teeth can be saved through treatment in 80% of cases
3.Misunderstanding:Painkillers treat the root cause →Facts:Drugs only relieve symptoms and require treatment of the cause
6. Expert advice
According to the latest children’s oral health guidelines:
• Professional dental examination at least 2 times a year
• Master the "Bass technique"
• Special attention should be paid to protecting the sixth-year-old teeth during the tooth replacement period
Through the above structured solutions, parents can scientifically deal with their children’s toothache problems. Remember: early prevention and timely intervention are the keys to protecting children’s oral health!
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