What to do if your child knocks a tooth out

That moment when your child takes a knock to the face is a terrifying time but the best advice is to stay calm.

If a baby tooth gets knocked out there is no real urgency to do anything except provide comfort and support to your child who will likely be very upset.

Apply a cold compress to your child’s face to reduce any swelling and relieve pain.  If there is any bleeding, have your child bite down on a clean cloth or a piece of gauze to apply pressure until the bleeding subsides.  If your child appears to be in any pain you can give them the appropriate dose of child paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Baby teeth are very small and can easily be ingested or inhaled if they come out.  If you think your child has swallowed the tooth and is having breathing difficulties you should go straight to A & E, otherwise don’t worry about finding the tooth (unless you want it as a keepsake) as it will be of no use to the dentist.

Baby teeth are not very deep rooted and your dentist is very unlikely to attempt to re-implant the tooth.  A permanent tooth will be growing underneath and will eventually erupt to fill the space.

If you are concerned or need any reassurance call your dentist.

If an older child suffers a knock to the teeth and a permanent (adult) tooth is knocked out you should follow the same first aid advice above however you should try and find the tooth rinse it with milk, try to handle the tooth from the crown and avoid touching the root surfaces. DO NOT rinse the tooth with water or anything containing alcohol and don’t scrub the tooth to remove dirt. Once it has been rinsed try to put the tooth back in the socket and get the child to bite down on a clean cloth and make an emergency appointment with your dentist.  If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket you should store it in a small amount of milk or your child’s saliva until you can get to your dentist.

If you find yourself in this situation and don’t know what to do, try to call your dental practice who should be able to give you advise over the phone.

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