It’s the middle of the night and your child suddenly rouses you from deep sleep, crying. He has a terrible toothache. You try to calm him down, even clown around to distract him from the pain, but to no avail. You feel like you’re marooned in an island with no sign of help. What to do?
First, inspect the cavity. Ask your child to brush his teeth. Next, make him gurgle with lukewarm water and salt solution. Let him keep the solution in his mouth for about a minute. Fill the cavity with a small piece of cotton dabbed with toothpaste. Let it stay there overnight. If the pain is so intense, give him a small dose of pain killer or analgesic. Bring him to the dentist in the morning.
