Tooth Trauma
Children can injure their teeth from falls or during play or sports activities. The injury may be to a primary (baby) tooth or a permanent (adult) tooth. A tooth may become cracked, chipped, or totally detached from its socket. Your child may have bleeding from the area, pain, or increased sensitivity when a tooth is injured.
In case the tooth has become mobile after the impact the child should be taken to the dentist as soon as possible for an immediate examination so that the dentist can save the tooth and the surrounding tissues in good time.
Guidelines for a Tooth that has been Knocked Out
The following are recommendations of what to do about a knocked-out tooth:
- Remain calm and reassure your child that you can help.
- If the area is bleeding, place a small piece of folded gauze at the site and have your child bite down or hold it in place.
- Offer your child cool water or an ice pop to suck on to help reduce swelling and pain.
- Hold the tooth by the crown (top of the tooth), not by the root (bottom of the tooth) do not scrub the tooth or use tap water as it contains chlorine and may injure the tooth. Placing the displaced tooth in contact lens solution is the best option if you don’t have that placing the tooth in Milk is also a good option.
- Place the tooth back in your child's mouth in its socket if he or she will cooperate. Push down until the knocked-out tooth is level with the tooth on either side. Have your child bite down on a gauze pad placed over the tooth to keep it in place. This needs to be done quickly after the tooth has been knocked out.
- If you cannot replace the tooth in your child's mouth, place it in milk or inside your own mouth, between your cheek and teeth to be bathed in saliva. Be careful not to swallow the tooth. You can also have your child spit saliva into a cup and transport in your child's saliva if you are worried about him or her swallowing the tooth.
- One should rush as soon as possible to the dentist which will increase the chances of a successful treatment. A delay in coming to the dentist can reduce the success rate of the treatment.