Kids will inevitably trip, fall, or collide while playing with friends or participating in sports, and it can result in a tooth being knocked out. It’s important to act quickly; in many cases, the tooth is salvageable if the right steps are taken. Handling the tooth correctly and seeing a kids’ dentist is crucial for keeping your child’s mouth healthy, so stick with the following do’s and don’ts.

Do:

Clean the tooth.

First, clean your child’s tooth. Run clean water over it for no more than 10 seconds. You can then wrap it in a wet paper towel or place it into a glass of milk. This is the best way to prevent contamination or further damage to the tooth.

Push it back into place.

Once clean, the best place to put the tooth is back into your child’s mouth. If possible, have them push it back into the empty socket. It can be unconformable or intimidating, so help them stay calm. Once it’s in, have them bite down on a wet rag or paper towel to hold it in place while you travel to the kids’ dentist.

Don’t:

Dismiss baby teeth.

Baby teeth play an important role in oral development, so if they’re knocked out, still try to save them. They eventually guide adult teeth into place. Without them, crowding, shifting, and other problems can occur. The kids’ dentist can apply a splint to hold the tooth in place while it reattaches to the gums.

Touch the roots.

Touching the tooth’s root can cause serious problems; if you damage it, the tooth could die or be unable to fit back into place. Instead, pick it up by the crown. It’s best to do this for your child, as they may accidentally touch the root.

Whether a tooth is knocked loose or your child is overdue for a dental care checkup, turn to Alaska Dentistry for Kids. This Anchorage-based kids’ dentist provides comprehensive oral health services, ranging from general teeth cleaning to special needs dentistry. Their skilled team takes every step to keep patients comfortable and will work closely with you to keep your child’s mouth healthy. Call (907) 274-2525 to schedule a dental exam, and connect with them on Facebook for more oral health tips. You can learn more about their practice on their website.