Help! My Child Fell And Lost a Permanent Tooth!

Question: My child fell and lost a permanent tooth! What should I do?

A child’s permanent teeth begin to come in at around age 6. However, as most parents know, children are still fairly hapless and carefree at this age, making it a delicate time for injuries to the mouth. If a child falls and knocks out a permanent tooth, the most important thing you can do is act quickly while remaining calm.

According to the American Association of Endodontists, more than 5 million teeth are knocked out every year in children and adults. By acting quickly and getting your child to a dentist, the knocked out too can be successfully replanted in its socket.

First, find the tooth. Hold the tooth by the crown (not by the root), rinse the tooth off with water if dirty, and try to reinsert the tooth into the socket in the socket. If you are able to put the tooth back into the socket, have your child bite down gently to hold the tooth in place. If unable to do so, put the tooth in a glass of milk and then take your child (and the glass of milk with tooth) immediately to your pediatric dentist. It’s recommended that you get to the dentist within the first 30 minutes of losing the tooth for best odds.