What to do if your child knocks out a tooth: Emergency dental guide for parents - Children's National

Accidents happen quickly, and sometimes they involve your child's teeth or mouth. Knowing what to do in the moment can help save a tooth and protect your child's smile. Here's a guide to handling dental trauma and tips to prevent it in the future.

Stay calm and assess the situation

Don't panic. Start by gently cleaning your child's face so you can see the injury clearly. If your child has also hit their head or briefly lost consciousness, they should be evaluated by a physician immediately.

If a tooth has been knocked out

• Find the tooth if possible.
  • If it's a permanent tooth, place it in milk or a tooth-preserving solution like Save-A-Tooth (often available from school nurses or sports trainers). Call your dentist right away - this is a time-sensitive emergency. The sooner the tooth is replaced, the better the outcome.
  • Once reinserted, the dentist will "splint" it with a wire to stabilize healing. They may also prescribe antibiotics or rinses, so share any allergies and confirm tetanus status. Continued brushing is important to support healing, and your child may eventually need a root canal, so follow-up visits are critical.
• If it's a baby tooth, celebrate with the tooth fairy! Do not reinsert baby teeth into the socket.
• If the tooth can't be found, your dentist may order an X-ray of your child's stomach and chest to ensure it wasn't swallowed.

Other dental injuries

Broken or displaced teeth should be evaluated promptly by your dentist. If you suspect a jaw fracture, seek emergency care.

At Children's National Hospital, our pediatric dental team is available 24/7 to manage dental trauma. During business hours, visit our dental clinic; after hours and weekends, emergency care is provided in the emergency department by the on-call dentists.

Preventing dental injuries

Mouthguards are the best protection against dental injuries during sports. While they're required for some high school athletes (football, lacrosse, field hockey, wrestling with braces), other sports like basketball cause a high number of dental injuries too.

Types of mouthguards:

• Stock mouthguards (often attached to helmets) offer minimal protection.
• Boil-and-bite mouthguards are affordable, widely available and provide good protection - though uneven biting during fitting can create thin spots.
• Custom mouthguards from a dentist offer the best protection and comfort, but they are more expensive.

Check your child's mouthguard regularly for wear, clean it often and encourage coaches to require them at both games and practices.

Everyday oral health habits

Healthy teeth are more resilient against injury. Remind your child to:

• Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste
• Floss every day
• Limit sugary drinks like soda, sports drinks and juice
• Visit the dentist every six months for check-ups