When Your Child Falls and Hurts a Baby Tooth: Knocked-Out and Loose Teeth

A hurt baby tooth is usually just watched, but a dental check is a must. Why a knocked-out baby tooth isn't put back, what to do, and when the ER comes first.

Once kids start walking and running, falling and bumping the mouth is common. When there's blood and your child is crying, it's easy to freeze, not knowing what to do first. Here's what to do calmly when a baby tooth gets hurt, and the signs that mean you should head to the dentist or ER right away.

What can happen when a baby tooth gets hurt

Toddlers who are learning to walk and run often fall forward and hurt their upper front teeth. Injuries come in many forms. A tooth can get loose, be pushed up into the gum, be pushed forward or back out of position, or come out completely. A tooth can also chip, or the lips and gums can get cut.

Most baby-tooth injuries are simply watched while they heal on their own. Still, there's an important reason for a dental check. The permanent tooth bud sits right below the baby tooth. Even if things look fine on the outside, only a dentist can tell whether the root or the area underneath was hurt.

In the weeks after an injury, the tooth may turn gray, yellow, or pinkish. It's alarming, but discoloration alone isn't treated right away. Over weeks to months, it may fade back to its original color. Still, it needs to be watched, so show it to the dentist at every checkup.

Here are some things parents often mix up.

• "The bleeding stopped and my child is playing, so it's fine": Even if it looks okay, you can't tell about the permanent tooth bud underneath. Have it checked by a dentist the same day or the next.
• "If you bring the tooth in milk, they'll put it back": That's for permanent teeth. Baby teeth aren't put back.
• "A gray tooth will fall out soon": Discoloration alone doesn't mean the tooth will fall out or needs treatment right away. Keep an eye out for other signs.

Here's what to do after a fall

1. Check on your child first. If your child lost consciousness, is vomiting, or is unusually drowsy, a head injury comes before the tooth. Go to the emergency room right away.
2. If there's bleeding, apply pressure. Press gently and steadily on the bleeding spot with clean gauze or a towel. The mouth can look like it's bleeding a lot, but pressure usually stops it.
3. Look inside the mouth. Once your child calms down a bit, gently lift the upper lip and look at the front teeth and gums. Check whether a tooth is loose, pushed in, out of position, or missing.
4. Look for the tooth. A knocked-out baby tooth is never put back in. If you find it, you can bring it to show the dentist. If you can't find it, the dentist needs to check whether it came out or was pushed up into the gum, so be sure to mention that.
5. If a tooth is loose, pushed in, or out of position, see a dentist as soon as possible. For other injuries, have it checked by a dentist the same day or the next.
6. Be gentle for a few days. Offer soft foods, and gently clean the hurt area with a soft toothbrush too. Keeping it clean helps it heal.

If the tooth changes color, write down the date and take a photo. It helps the dentist follow how it's doing.

Frequently asked questions

Get care right away if

• Your child lost consciousness, is vomiting, or is unusually drowsy (ER first)
• A tooth is loose, pushed up into the gum, or out of position
• A tooth was knocked out completely, or you can't find the tooth
• Bleeding doesn't stop well even with pressure
• Later on, a pimple-like bump appears on the gum or the tooth keeps getting darker

English ebook · Dentist Ingyoon An

A guide to the decisions behind dental care

Tooth Calendar follows dental care from pregnancy to eighteen in 78 chapters. Explore the reasons behind feeding, brushing, baby-tooth decay, sedation, and injury decisions—including what can be watched and when to seek help. Age-based contents and a topic index help you find the concern you have today.

Preview & buy on Google Play Books

The information in this article is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional dental care. Talk to a dentist about your child's condition.

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