Accidents are a part of childhood, especially when kids are playing sports or at a busy playground. A common accident is when a child’s tooth is knocked out.

When you or your child gets a tooth knocked out, receiving prompt dental attention is paramount. While this can be a stressful situation, knowing how to respond quickly and effectively can help you navigate this dental emergency.

1. Find the tooth

The first step is to locate the tooth. If it’s an adult tooth, time is of the essence, so try to find it as quickly as possible.  If it’s a baby tooth, then it can’t be reattached, but it’s still worth locating the tooth to take it to the dentist with you (and keeping it for the tooth fairy!).

2. Handle with care

Take care to handle the tooth delicately, holding it by the crown rather than the root. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse the tooth in milk or saliva, avoiding the use of water unless there is no other option. But be careful not to remove any attached tissue fragments.

3. Reinsert the tooth if possible (adult teeth only)

For adult teeth, the best way to preserve a knocked-out tooth is to place it back into the socket.  This can be tricky, especially if your child is in pain or frightened, so don’t force the tooth back into the socket if it doesn’t go in easily.

Place some clean cloth, gauze or tissues for your child to bite down on to keep the tooth in place.

If you can’t reinsert the tooth, the next best option is to keep it moist. The best way is in a container of milk, but if milk isn’t available place the tooth in your child’s cheek. Avoid storing the tooth in water, as this can damage the root cells.

For baby teeth do not attempt to reinsert the tooth. Doing so could potentially damage the developing adult tooth beneath the gum. Instead, keep the tooth and bring it with you to the dentist.

4. Seek immediate dental care

We strongly recommend that you visit a dentist as soon as possible to maximise the chances of saving the tooth long-term. If it’s an adult tooth, getting to the dentist within 30 minutes after losing the tooth offers the best chance of saving the tooth. Even with a baby tooth, an evaluation by a dentist is important to ensure there’s no further damage to the mouth or underlying permanent teeth.

Emergency dental care at Hampton Beach Dentists

We understand that dental emergencies can be stressful, but we are here to help. If you ever have a dental emergency, please call the Hampton Beach Dentists team on 03 9598 5666, and we will do our best to see you as soon as possible.