What to Do When Your Child Damages a Tooth

Posted by: Dr. Sirakian Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dentistry

It’s summertime, and that means children are spending their days outside. Good news for parents trying to reduce screen time, but bad news for teeth? With the longer days and warmer weather, the odds of kids taking a nasty spill are greatly increased. So, what should you do if your child’s teeth take a hit? Read on for some possible scenarios, and how to handle them.

Scenario 1: Bumped Baby Tooth

If your child still has all his baby teeth, you may be in the clear. Upon impact, the tooth may get knocked clean out, or simply loosen a little bit. If the bumped tooth just gets a bit wiggly, it may tighten back up over time. As long as it’s kept clean and not irritated with overly crunchy or chewy diets, this tooth is likely to heal on its own.

Scenario 2: Fractured Tooth

If your child chips a piece from a permanent tooth, and you can find the piece, hang onto it! There’s a possibility it can be bonded right back on to the piece of the tooth that’s still attached. Keep your child comfortable, and the area clean, and get to your dentist ASAP.

Scenario 3: Tooth Knocked Out

Okay, worst case: your child’s permanent tooth comes right out! First, retrieve the tooth, attempt to put it back in the socket, and have your child hold it in place. The tissue and blood in the socket is a more natural environment for the tooth. If it won’t go back in, cold milk is a good alternative until you can get to the dentist. The longer you wait, the greater the chance of the tooth dying, so time is of the essence!

Best practice is to see the dentist whenever your child’s tooth takes any kind of hit, just to be on the safe side. It’ll bring you peace of mind, and allow your child to get back out there more quickly!

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