How Do I Know If My Child Has a Toothache? 

Children might not yet be able to tell us that they’re in pain, especially when it comes to their teeth and gums. Fortunately, we can still see some signs that might show they’re having a toothache or experiencing other pain and discomfort. 

How do you know if your child has a toothache? 

Here are some signs to watch out for: 

• Children constantly rub their jawline and area around ears 
• Constantly chewing and unusually cranky (they’re already in discomfort or pain and do many things to distract themselves) 
• Children find it hard to sleep (or they wake frequently because of the toothache) 
• Children eat less (and might even refuse their favourite food and drinks) 

In other words, toothache can make children less enthusiastic and energetic. You know immediately that something’s off but you can’t still pinpoint where. When you see the signs mentioned above, there’s a chance it’s a problem with teeth or gums. 

Other signs and symptoms to watch out for are: 

• Fever 
• Your child has a tender jaw around the tooth 
• Your child suddenly get hurt when you touch an area of their jawline or face 
• Your child is always feeling tired and sick (aside from toothache, other serious issues might be causing this) 

Potential causes of your child’s toothache 

Any of these might have triggered the toothache: 

• Tooth decay 
• Teething 
• Cracked or chipped tooth 
• Misalignment of the teeth or jaw 
• Food debris that’s stuck 

Taking your child to the dentist 

Whenever we notice something’s off with our children, we should immediately take them to the doctor. For teeth and gum concerns, we should take our children to a professional who specialises in children’s dentistry. That’s because our children’s oral condition is still much different from ours. 

The children’s teeth, gums and mouths are still rapidly developing. Also, a toothache can be an extremely painful and traumatic experience (which can scar children for life), which is why it’s crucial to help them deal with the problem right away. 

Here at Specialist Kids Dentist, we specialise in paediatric dentistry. We have undergone years of additional specialised training and experience after qualifying as general dentists. This way, we can precisely diagnose and treat each child as well as ensure their comfort during each procedure.