Help! My child’s tooth has been knocked out!

If your child has a knocked-out tooth, this is a dental emergency and you will need to get your child seen by a dentist as soon as possible. Seeing your child’s tooth knocked out can be just as traumatising for you as for your child. But while it can be distressing in the moment, if you act quickly, armed with the right knowledge, you really can achieve a positive outcome. Here’s what to do if your baby or child ever knocks out their tooth.

What to do if a BABY TOOTH is knocked out

• DON’T attempt to put it back in the socket, as this could risk damaging the permanent tooth underneath.
• DON’T place aspirin or any other painkiller directly on the gums, as this can cause them to burn.
• DO try and stop the bleeding – apply gentle pressure with gauze or a muslin for around 10 minutes.
• DO give your child paracetamol or ibuprofen for the pain
• DO submerge the knocked-out tooth in milk until you can get to a dentist. If you don’t have any milk, salty water is the next best thing.

Next steps: ring Happy Kids Dental on 020 7078 0822 or 07757 787830 (out of hours) to schedule an emergency appointment.

What to do if a PERMANENT TOOTH is knocked out

• DO try and place the knocked-out tooth back in its socket. The quicker this is done, the more likely it is that the tooth can be saved – at least 85% of teeth that are reimplanted within five minutes will survive.
• DO hold the tooth by the crown, not the root end, and rinse, but don’t scrub, it clean.
• DON’T remove any attached fragments of tissue. Put the tooth back in its place, ensuring it’s facing the right way, and get your child to bite on a clean towel to keep the tooth in place.
• DON’T force it. If you are having trouble getting the tooth back in its socket, instead, submerge it in milk or salty water.

Next steps: ring Happy Kids Dental on on 020 7078 0822 or 07757 787830 (out of hours) to schedule an emergency appointment.