The holidays are here, which means there are going to be family get-togethers to attend. That also means that there will be plenty of opportunities for your kids to get injured, especially with all the outdoor activities your kids will want to get involved in. Dental injuries are particularly common during the winter months. If your child has suffered a mouth injury, you'll need to act fast. Here's what you should do if your child injures their teeth during the holidays this year.

Keep Them Calm

If your child is injured, they're going to be upset, especially if they're young. Unfortunately, you can't get a good look inside their mouth while they're upset. Not only that, but they're blood pressure will be up, which means the bleeding will get worse. You want to try and keep your child as calm as possible so you can help them. If your child is very young, wrap them in a warm blanket and hold them on your lap. This will help calm them down and hold them securely so you can get a good look in their mouth.

Stop the Bleeding

If you can see blood in your child's mouth, you'll want to get the bleeding to stop. The best way to do that is with medical gauze. Roll the gauze up, place it over the wound, and apply pressure until the bleeding stops. Depending on the severity of the bleeding, you may need to replace the gauze several times. If you don't have access to medical gauze, or you run out while you're trying to stop the bleeding, you can use clean wash cloths or towels to stop the bleeding.

Clean Their Mouth

Once the bleeding has been stopped, you'll be able to clearly assess the damage, and clean out your child's mouth. If you can see fragments of a broken tooth, remove as many of those fragments as possible. If there's dirt and debris in the wound, carefully flush the area with clean water and wipe the area clean with a soft cloth. If the blood has begun to clot, avoid disturbing the wound, or it could start bleeding again.

Get to the Dentist

After your child has calmed down, you've stopped the bleeding, and the wound is clean, you'll need to get to the dentist. The dentist will be able to make any dental emergency repairs that need to be taken care of. If you can't find an emergency dentist where you are, take your child to a local emergency room or urgent care center.