While it’s normal for kids to get minor scrapes or bruises, you should never ignore their major injuries. That especially applies if (or when) your child knocks out a tooth from their precious smile. In this latter scenario, you’ll need to take proper action to protect your little one’s grin. You needn’t worry too much, though; your Huntsville pediatric dentist can share the relevant steps. Just keep reading to learn how to respond when your child knocks out a tooth.
What Steps Should You Take Yourself?
Once your child’s tooth has been knocked out, you should quickly take the following steps:
- Retrieve the Tooth – If possible, find and retrieve the affected tooth. Even gathering some splintered fragments would be helpful. However, don’t touch the tooth by its roots; only hold its top.
- Don’t Rub or Rinse – As tempted as you may be, avoid rubbing or rinsing the tooth under water. Doing so would damage its cells, lowering the odds of a successful reattachment.
- Temporarily Reinsert – Try to reinsert the tooth back into your child’s empty socket. To do so, have your youngster bite down gently on gauze or a moist cloth.
- Store the Tooth Safely – If you can’t reinsert the tooth safely, place it in a small plastic container or a glass of cold milk.
The steps above will go a long way toward resolving your issue. That said, you’ll still need a pediatric dentist to help once you’ve performed them.
Why Should You See a Pediatric Dentist?
Permanent or not, a child’s knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency. Only a pediatric dentist can address it effectively enough to prevent further issues.
Knocked-out teeth harm a child’s smile, causing great harm as they go unchecked. That fact applies even when the pearly white in question is a baby tooth. Your kiddo’s untreated smile gap could attract harmful oral bacteria or cause dental crowding, crooked teeth, and eating issues. To ensure your child doesn’t have such problems, you ought to get professional help.
Thankfully enough, a pediatric dentist can treat a child’s knocked-out tooth. If the tooth was permanent, they could potentially reattach it using a splint and wires. In contrast, they could “fix” a knocked-out baby tooth by giving your child a space maintainer. (This device leaves room for a kid’s permanent chomper to emerge correctly.)
You now know how to respond if your child knocks out a tooth. So, remember the steps above for emergencies!
About the Practice
Northwest Family Dental of Huntsville is based in Huntsville, OH. Led by Dr. Kevin Grill, our practice takes modern, comfy, and family-focused dentistry quite seriously. We thus offer a wide range of treatments for all ages, from standard dental checkups to urgent oral procedures. Whatever smile problem you (or your child) have, our team will address the matter! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (937)-843-3932.