If your child knocks a tooth, whether it’s a baby tooth or a fully formed adult tooth, it can be stressful for the whole family. That’s why Ipswich Family Dental, a leading kids dentist, recommends you always call a family-friendly local dentist right away, to give you the right advice and take any necessary measures. This blog post will explain what exactly to do if your child knocks or chips their tooth and when to do it. If you’re a Queensland local and you’re looking for a new reliable, professional dental practice that is suitable for the whole family, feel free to contact us here at Ipswich Family Dental today.
Is the Tooth Chipped or Knocked Out Completely?
If your child has chipped or knocked out a baby tooth, the panic you may feel can revert to peace. Baby teeth are not as important, but if it is an adult tooth that has been knocked out or chipped, it may be a dental emergency. Permanent teeth can only be reimplanted within 15 minutes, so it’s important to act fast.
If your young child has knocked a baby tooth:
- If the tooth or gums are bleeding, apply pressure to the area with a piece of cold, wet gauze. If your child is old enough to follow directions, ask them to bite down on the gauze.
- Offer an icey pole or ice cube to suck on to reduce swelling. Alternatively, use an ice-pack wrapped in a washcloth.
- Give them ibuprofen for pain, as needed.
- Call a dentist!
- Watch for swelling of the gums, continued pain, fever or a change in the color of the tooth.
How Quickly Should You Contact Your Dentist?
If your child has knocked or chipped a permanent tooth:
- Collect all pieces of the tooth
- Rinse the mouth with warm water
- Call a dentist right away to schedule a visit or head to the emergency room of the dental practice
- Hold the tooth by the crown
- Do not hold the knocked out tooth or pieces of the tooth in water! Place the tooth in a saline solution, a container of milk or your child’s saliva.
Why Ipswich Family Dental?
Here at Ipswich Family Dental, we are industry leaders in family dentistry and pride ourselves on being a local kids dentist that you and your children can trust. We focus on the comfort and the wellbeing of the child and intend to always make them feel safe. As a family dentist here in Queensland, we are practiced in making your child feel calm, because we know that visiting the dentist can be a scary time, especially in an emergency.
Contact us to organise a callback or book an appointent in family dentistry with Ipswich Family Dental online now.