What to Do if Your Child Knocks a Tooth Out: Avoid Pediatric Dental Disasters
As parents of young children, we do everything to keep our children safe, happy, and healthy. This applies to oral health as well. You should ideally have them regularly brushing and flossing their teeth twice a day to prevent gum disease and cavities, but what should you do if one of those tiny teeth gets knocked out? As a parent, it is natural to panic if there is a dental emergency your child has to endure, especially if they are bleeding and in pain. Fortunately, in situations like this, your pediatric dentist deals with these mishaps all the time.
In this article, we will take a close look at five steps you can take when your child knocks a tooth out.
Step 1. Make a Call to Your Pediatric Dentist
The first thing you should do in the case of your child knocking a baby tooth or adult tooth out is to call your pediatric dentist for help. Reach out to the child’s dentist to make an emergency appointment. If they don’t provide you with same-day services, they will likely schedule your little one for the earliest appointment. They will also most likely provide emergency care instructions over the phone for you to follow until you can go and be seen.
Step 2. Locate the Tooth (If You Can)
Whether it is a baby tooth or an adult tooth that your child has lost, it can be helpful for your child’s dentist if you bring it along with you. If it is a permanent tooth your child lost, there is a chance that it can be easily reimplanted as long as it is still viable. Once you find it, make sure to only touch the top or the crown, to avoid harming the root of the tooth and to keep it in top condition.
Step 3. Clean the Tooth Off
Avoid holding the tooth under direct running water or scrubbing it clean thoroughly, as this can damage the nerves and other tissues needed for it to be replaced. Instead, we recommend gently cleaning it in a bowl of lukewarm tap water.
Step 4. Reinsert the Tooth
If you can safely do so, it can be helpful to try to put the tooth back into its socket. If there aren’t jagged edges present that will scratch the sensitive tissue inside your child’s mouth, you can place it gently back in its space. Have your child bite down on a small piece of moistened paper towel or gauze. Try to have them keep their jaw closed until you reach your pediatric dentist.
Step 5. Keep the Tooth Properly Stored
If it isn’t feasible to place the tooth back in the child’s mouth, you can put it in a small glass or baggy with your child’s saliva, or even a tiny bit of milk. This will keep it safe and keep the cells in the root intact until you arrive at the dentist’s office.
Conclusion
If your child knocks a tooth out, once you arrive for your child’s appointment, their dentist will examine their mouth and take the necessary images to determine the extent of the damage. From there, they will likely recommend appropriate treatments to mend it. They might not be able to repair it in a single visit, depending on the damage, but they will do everything they can to alleviate symptoms and protect their smile for now.
The worst will soon be behind you, and your child will be on their way to having a stunning restored grin with the help of your local Montana pediatric dentist team. Trust the professionals at Lolo Dentistry, the expert children’s dentist in the Western Montana area, to help you keep your child’s teeth healthy. There are three dental offices to serve you in Lolo, Frenchtown, and Superior for Mineral County, Montana, call us at 406-284-8669 for more information on procedures, dentistry, reviews, and more.