Having your child knocked out a tooth can be scary, for you and your child. Knowing what to do and seeking help from an emergency dentist can save you a lot of fear and anxiety. Here’s what you need to know.
Step 1: Comfort Your Child
When your child loses a tooth unexpectedly because of an accident, they’re likely to be scared and bleeding. Comfort your child to calm them down. This will make you and them feel better, making it easier to take the next steps.
Give your child a piece of sterile gauze to place in the gap where their tooth once was, and ask your child to bite down gently. This puts pressure on the injury and can help stop the bleeding. If you don’t have sterile gauze, give your child a clean cloth or a cool, damp, clean paper towel instead.
Step 2: Find the Tooth
Look for your child’s tooth. When you it, pick it up with clean hands. Do not touch the root of the tooth, but instead, pick it up by the enamel. If you need to wash the tooth off, wash it in milk.
If you’re rinsing the tooth over a sink, plug the drain to prevent the tooth from washing away. Don’t wash away pieces of skin or tissue from your child’s mouth. Only wash away dirt.
Step 3: Store the Tooth Properly
The ideal place to store a tooth that has been knocked from its place is back in the mouth. To do this, once the tooth is clean place the tooth in the gap in your child’s gums, and ask them to bite down gently on the tooth to keep it in its place.
If your child is too upset or unable to follow these directions, store the tooth in a cup of milk, saliva, or salty water. Do not store your child’s tooth in fresh water.
Step 4: Contact an Emergency Dentist
Now that your child is alright, and the tooth is safe, it’s time to get to an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Contact your family dentist before you leave for their office to let them know you’re on your way. It’s important to contact a family dentist that offers emergency services, as they’ll be better able to accomodate someone with an urgent need.
Get to the dentist’s office within a half an hour, if possible. The faster you can reach an emergency dentist, the better off you’ll be.
Why You Should Replace a Lost Teeth?
Children lose their teeth all the time, why should one that is knocked out be replaced?
This is a common question that parents ask when they bring their child in with this kind of injury. When a loose tooth falls out, the new tooth is fast to grow in its place & if a tooth is lost by accident, the new adult tooth may not be ready to come into the mouth. This extended period without a tooth can cause crowding or spacing issues for your child in the future.
Contact Dentistry at the Grove
At Dentistry at the Grove, we’ve created a fun, home-like space where you and your child can receive quality dental care. Did your child lose a tooth in an accident? We’re here to help. Call today!