What do I do if my child knocks out a baby tooth?

You were carefully watching your child playing but then in the blink of an eye, there was a fall, a bleeding mouth and a missing baby tooth. And probably alot of tears. 😢

This can be a heart-stopping occasion for a parent, and it happens more often then you realise.

Luckily, the management of a knocked out baby tooth is actually pretty easy if you follow these simple steps. More often then not a missing baby tooth actually looks a lot worse than it actually is.

The first thing to do is don’t panic.🛑

If you can, try and have a look inside your child’s mouth to gauge an idea about what has happened – there can be a lot of bleeding if the lips have been involved in the accident and this can make getting a visual tricky.

If there is a bit of blood, then apply direct pressure to the gum with a clean washcloth or rolled-up piece of sterile gauze. If the child is old enough to understand, have them bite down on it gently.

If it looks as though your child has injured more than just his or her tooth, go to Hospital Emergency, where a doctor can check things out thoroughly.

If it’s simply a missing baby tooth, and you have been able to find it, place it in a small container with milk or saliva (not water). Be sure to handle the tooth carefully and avoid touching the root.

DO NOT ✋ attempt to clean the tooth and do not re-implant or replace the tooth back into the tooth socket because you can risk infection or damage to the emerging permanent tooth underneath.

What to do next!

Its sensible to call us at Taree Dental Care on (02) 6550 0960 as soon as possible and explain to our receptionist what has happened to your child. We will make sure your child is seen immediately by our team.

If you haven’t been able to locate the baby tooth, it might be pushed under the gum. But an examination, and a likely dental X-ray, will determine if there is any debris or broken tooth fragments remaining in your child’s mouth.

Your child may very likely be a little sore and shaken but with our caring team and a calm environment your child will be in very good hands. Remember, at Taree Dental Care we are experts in children’s dentistry.

We can also advise you on your child’s after-care, for example, looking after any soft tissue wounds, any soft dietary requirements, or pain management and relief. We will also advise if your child will need to be reviewed.

Remember, management of a lost baby tooth from an accident in comparison to a lost adult tooth is very different. While it is highly unlikely that your child’s future adult teeth will be affected, calling, speaking and seeing us at our Taree dental practice is important. It’s precautionary if nothing else.

And of course, if you have concerns about your teeth, or your child’s teeth, for ANY reason, please come and see us at Taree Dental Care.

Give us a call on 📞 (02) 6550 0960 to make an appointment. We promise to look after your child with the utmost in care and attention.