How To Save A Knocked-out Tooth?
When your child comes running off the playground with a bloody mouth and a knocked-out tooth in their hand, it can leave you feeling frazzled and overwhelmed. After all, this is a dental emergency, right?!
The good news is that if your child manages to knock out a tooth, your quick and appropriate reaction can secure him/her a quick recovery. By going down a quick “what to do if my child got his tooth knocked out” checklist, you can easily handle the situation.
So, if you have a child who just knocked out a tooth, this guide is for you. Here’s what you need to know if your child got his or her tooth knocked out by accident!
How To Save A Knocked-out Tooth?
If you have a child knock out a tooth, the best thing to do is to try to save the tooth. Luckily, you can do this with just a few simple steps. Let’s take a look at what steps to take.
Grab the Tooth by the Crown
For parents dealing with a knocked-out tooth on the playground, you’ve probably already got the tooth in hand. If not, locate the tooth as quickly as possible.
Make sure to pick the tooth up by the crown, not by the root of the tooth. you don’t want to damage or dirty the root by touching it.
Rinse the Tooth
If there’s any dirt on the tooth, rinse it off with a bit of water. Make sure to only use water and to avoid any other chemicals.
You should also handle the tooth gently, avoiding scrubbing at it. Don’t wrap the tooth in any other materials, such as cloth or tissue.
Put the Tooth in the Socket
Next, attempt to reposition the tooth in the child’s socket. Gently push the tooth into the socket by pressing down on the crown. Ask your child to bite down on the tooth to hold it in place. If that is not possible, get your child to put the tooth under his tongue until you get to the dentist.
Keep the Tooth Moist
The key thing to note when trying to save a knocked-out tooth is to keep the tooth moist at all times. As mentioned in the previous step, the easiest way to do this is to have your child keep it in their mouth.
If your child is quite small, this method might not work. In that case, place your tooth in in milk or an emergency preservation kit. Just avoid tap water as this can damage the cells on the root of the tooth.
Visit a Dentist
The last (and most important) step is to visit an emergency dentist. You should try to meet your dentist within 30 minutes of your child’s tooth being knocked out.
The best results are achieved within an hour of the incident, so the faster you see a dentist the better. However, if you can’t get in that fast, you could still have a chance at saving your tooth even if it’s been out of the mouth for more than an hour.
The Myths
There are a couple of myths about knocked-out teeth that seem to be circulating among parents. Let’s check out some of the most common myths and see whether or not they’re worth their salt.
Cup Of Milk
Just about any parent will tell you that when your child has a tooth knocked out, you should put the tooth in a glass of milk. While this might seem strange, it can actually help!
If you’re not able to put your child’s tooth back in and you don’t have an emergency preservation kit handy, you can put it in a glass of milk in a pinch. The sugars and proteins in the milk may help preserve the tooth longer.
Push It Back In
Next, let’s talk about pushing the tooth back in. While you should try to put the knocked-out tooth back in its socket, this isn’t the only step you need to take. Pushing it back in will not fix the problem alone.
Keeping a tooth in a child’s mouth is a good idea because it protects the tooth and keeps it moist. However, you’ll still need to visit an emergency dentist to make sure the tooth loss isn’t permanent.
Cleaning
When kids lose teeth they’re rarely in convenient places. Usually, it’s at the park, on the playground, or even in the classroom!
If your child’s tooth is dirty and needs cleaning, beware! You should quickly rinse the tooth under purified water and avoid tap water. Also, avoid harsh chemicals as these can damage the tooth’s roots.
How To Prevent My Child From Getting Their Tooth Knocked Out?
If you’re concerned about your child’s teeth getting knocked out, you can take a few precautionary steps.
For one thing, have your child wear a mouthguard when playing contact sports. You can also simply steer clear of rough-and-tumble activities, although this can be tough with young children.
It’s also important to make sure your children always wear a seatbelt in the car. And, if they’re biking or roller-skating, your kids should use helmets to help avoid losing teeth.
Just be aware that no matter how hard you try to prevent kids’ teeth from getting knocked out, it can happen from time to time. Being prepared and acting fast are the keys to saving your child’s teeth in those situations.
What To Do If The Tooth Is Knocked Out?
So, your child’s tooth has definitely fallen out. What now? The steps you take vary a bit if you’re dealing with a baby tooth vs a permanent tooth. Let’s take a look.
Baby Tooth
If your child’s baby tooth gets knocked out, you’ll want to help your child rinse their mouth with water. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and apply a compress to the tooth’s socket to help put a stop to bleeding.
In this case, you mostly want to wait until the bleeding and swelling goes away. There’s no need to take any further action.
Permanent Tooth
If your child loses a permanent tooth, your steps should be a more drastic. In this case, clean the tooth with purified water and then place it back in your child’s tooth socket (or in an emergency preservation kit).
Then, book an appointment with your local dentist to help them get their tooth treated as quickly as possible.
Handling a Dental Emergency Like a Pro
If you ever find yourself in the above dental emergency, don’t panic. You can easily get your child’s tooth treated regardless of whether it’s a permanent tooth or a baby tooth.
Just remember, it’s always best to speak to an emergency dentist. Get in touch with our team and we’ll help you through the process of dealing with a child’s knocked-out tooth.