There are few things that can make a parent’s heart start racing like seeing their child suddenly injured with a bloody mouth! Whether it happened on the playground, during a contact (or non-contact) sport, or even from simply tripping at home, it can be hard to know what to do first when your child loses a tooth. However, a few simple and quick steps can make a huge difference. Here’s what you need to keep in mind to handle the situation.
1. Stay Calm & Check Your Child
Children tend to take their cues from adults, so you can do a lot to keep them calm by keeping a cool head yourself and speaking in a reassuring voice. You should have your child gently rinse their mouth with cool water, and then you can check for any other injuries in the area. If your child seems dizzy, is vomiting, is continuing to bleed after 10 minutes of steady pressure, or loses consciousness, head to the emergency room first. Also try to determine if the lost tooth is a baby tooth or a permanent one; in the case of the latter, time will be even more critical.
2. Locate the Tooth
In either case, locate the tooth if you can. Pick it up by the crown, which is the chewing part that’s visible above the gums, and rinse it very carefully with cool water for a few seconds. Don’t scrub it, and don’t remove any tissue still attached. If your child is cooperative, you can try to gently place it back into the socket and have them bite down softly on a clean piece of gauze to hold it in place. If you can’t reinsert it, store it in a small container of cold milk (not water).
3. Contact Their Dentist for Emergency Care
Lost teeth have the best chance of being placed back in their socket within the first hour, meaning you have a limited window to get your child to their dentist. They’ll be able to quickly check for other injuries and determine the best course of action. Baby teeth are meant to fall out eventually, so in these cases they aren’t often reinserted. Permanent teeth are almost always placed back in their original socket, if possible, often with the help of a splint.
4. Keep Your Child Comfortable
You can offer your child soft, cool foods like yogurt or applesauce, and avoid anything hot, crunchy, or hard to chew while the area heals. A child-appropriate over-the-counter pain reliever can help. Of course, a little extra cuddle time and a calm distraction, like a favorite show or book, can go a long way, too!
A knocked-out tooth can be scary, especially when it’s your child, but acting quickly and calmly gives them the best chance at a healthy recovery and at maintaining a happy smile.
About the Practice
Our team here at Bloom Pediatric Dentistry has served families in Murphy and the surrounding area for several years. We proudly offer a wide range of pediatric dental services for children of all ages, from routine preventive care to same-day emergency dentistry—whatever your little one needs to continue smiling happily and healthily. If you have any questions about the blog or you’re ready to schedule an appointment for your child, you can reach out online or call today for more information. Telephone: (469) 663-0663.