Although we wish they didn’t, dental emergencies can occur at any time. You can’t always prevent them, but you can be informed and prepared in case something happens when you’re around. We will cover some common accidents in this article and you can ask your dentist about specific ones that pertain to your child and their activities.
If your kiddo is in an accident and one of their baby teeth gets knocked out, contact your dentist immediately. Don’t try to put the tooth back into the socket. The reason for keeping the tooth out is permanent teeth are developing below the baby teeth. If you try to put the tooth back in, it’s possible it could damage the growth of the permanent tooth below. Your dentist will likely want to get an x-ray of the affected area to ensure no permanent damage was done and to determine what action is necessary.
If your child is in an accident and one of their permanent teeth gets knocked out, you should rinse the tooth but DO NOT wipe it clean. If possible, insert the tooth back into the socket and hold it there with a clean washcloth. If that’s not possible, put the tooth in saliva or milk and immediately go to the dentist. Your dentist will likely take an x-ray and see if it’s possible to reinsert the tooth in office. If that isn’t an option, they will go over the other options.
There are some preventative actions you can take if your kiddo plays sports or does other activities where dental emergencies are more common. Make sure your child wears a mouth guard in necessary activities and other protective head gear. Also, if you have a little one, be sure to limit objects that are easy to trip on, or just get foam walls in your house ;). Having a dentist/dental home as early as age one is recommended so your child is familiar with the dentist and office in case an emergency occurs.
