My child fell and hurt her tooth! What can I do?
Ring-a-ring o' roses, A pocket full of posies, A-tishoo! A-tishoo! We all fall down
Children are prone to falls from the time they start walking and exploring their surroundings. One of the common dental emergencies we see in our dental clinics is traumatic injuries of teeth in kids. Let’s talk about prevention and tips on how to best handle these stressful scenarios.
Prevention -
If your child is playing contact sports, they should wear a mouth guard to prevent dental injuries. These can be custom-made by the dentist or bought over the counter at a store.
Remind kids to not run with items in their mouths.
If the front teeth are sticking out farther than the other teeth (for example, “buck teeth”), braces are recommended to correct the position of the teeth as a way to prevent repeated trauma.
What to do in case of an injury?
If the tooth or teeth were bumped, depending on the extent of the fracture (if any), treatment would vary. The most important thing is to make sure the child is conscious and has been evaluated by a doctor if necessary.
Bring your child in for a dental check even if you cannot see an obvious injury. Remember, if a baby tooth was traumatized, it could result in injury to the permanent tooth that is growing in the bone.
What if the whole tooth was knocked out?
If the child is under 6 years of age, chances are it was a baby tooth. If you are certain it was a baby tooth, do not put it back in the socket!
However, if it’s a permanent tooth, you should attempt to put it back in the socket if possible.
Otherwise, transport it in milk/saliva and see a dentist as soon as possible. Time is the critical factor when a permanent tooth is involved and the longer the tooth stays “dry” outside the mouth, the less likely it will survive the insult. Studies show that if the tooth was out for longer than an hour, the chances of survival are slim to none.
Here’s an educational poster made by the International Association of Dental Traumatology (yes, it’s a global concern! ) -
Has your child ever hurt their teeth? Share your stories via email or by leaving a comment :)