Unanticipated tooth loss happens to children of all ages, and it can set a kid up for many years of oral health problems if they don’t receive the proper care. While your child knocking out a tooth can be a harrowing experience, knowing how to handle the situation can help you take some of the stress out of it and lead you and your little one to the best outcome for their oral health. Here’s a quick guide to pediatric tooth loss and what you should do if your child dislodges a tooth.
How Can Children Knock Out Teeth?
Children can lose teeth for several reasons, those being:
- Baby teeth falling out: It’s completely normal and healthy for your child to gradually shed their first set of teeth to make room for their adult teeth. However, losing a baby tooth too soon can lead to alignment issues and other oral health problems, so contact your child’s dentist if you suspect that they lost a baby tooth early.
- Accidents: Children often lose teeth due to trips, falls, mishaps while roughhousing, and sports-related injuries.
- Poor oral hygiene: Inadequate teeth cleaning can lead to serious oral infections that cause tooth loss.
What Should I Do When My Child Knocks Out a Tooth?
A tooth’s chances of being reimplanted begin to fall sharply after thirty minutes have passed, so it’s important to get your child to their emergency dentist’s office as soon as possible. Adhere to these steps:
- Find and secure the tooth: Take care to handle it only by the crown portion, as touching the exposed root can damage its vulnerable tissues.
- Prepare the tooth for transport: If necessary, rinse the tooth by swishing it in a bowl of lukewarm water, as attempting to clean it with hold, cold, or running water may damage it. When the tooth is clean, store it in a vessel with saliva or milk to keep it moist and nourished. If you have an American Dental Association-approved tooth preservation kit, you may use it to keep the tooth in savable condition for up to twenty-four hours.
- Call your pediatric emergency dentist: Explain the situation and let them know you are coming.
- Head to your dentist’s office: If an adult tooth is still in savable condition, your dentist may be able to reimplant it in the gum tissue. However, it may be necessary to place a spacer to protect your child’s dental alignment if the tooth cannot be saved. Your dentist will also be able to recommend an appropriate restoration for when your child’s mouth is mature enough to support one.
Early tooth loss can take a heavy toll on a child’s oral health and self-image. Knowing how to get the emergency care your child needs can help them keep their smile complete and healthy for life.
About the Author
Dr. Ryne S. Paulson completed his dental degree at Creighton University and a two-year residency in Hawaii. He is proud to help the kids of East Riverton preserve their smiles after dental injuries and infections. His office offers pediatric general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If your child has dislodged a tooth, dial the office at (307) 855-1745. To learn more about pediatric emergency dental care, contact the staff on the web.