What to Do If Your Child Knocks Out a Tooth — Act Fast with This Guide from Our Dentists

A knocked-out tooth is one of the most alarming dental emergencies a parent can face. In the shock of the moment, most parents are unsure what to do and lose precious time. The good news is that with the right actions taken in the first few minutes, a permanent tooth can often be saved.

At By The Lake Dental Kids, our dentists and dental team are experienced in managing dental emergencies for children and families across our dental offices in Ajax and Scarborough. Our kids dental team knows that what happens before you reach us matters as much as the treatment we provide.

Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRy4hMcuh_M

Why the first few minutes are critical

Research published on PubMed on the time sensitivity of tooth replantation confirms that the success rate of reattaching a knocked out permanent tooth drops significantly after 30 to 60 minutes outside the mouth. The longer the tooth remains dry and unprotected, the lower the chance of successful replantation. Most parents are not aware that this window exists, which is why knowing what to do before an emergency happens is so important.

What to do immediately, step by step

The Canadian Dental Association’s guide to dental emergencies and The British National Healthcare Service (NHS) guidance on dental injuries both outline the same essential steps. Pick the tooth up by the crown, the white part, and never touch the root. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline solution. Do not use tap water, do not scrub it, and do not wrap it in tissue. If you can, gently reinsert the tooth into the socket and hold it in place while you call our dental office. If reinsertion is not possible, place the tooth in a small container of milk or between the cheek and gum to keep it moist. Then call us immediately. Time is the deciding factor.

Baby tooth or permanent tooth — does it change what you do?

Yes, and this distinction is critical. According to the Ontario Dental Association’s guidance on emergency dental care, a knocked-out baby tooth should never be reinserted. Attempting to reinsert a primary tooth can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath, causing far greater harm than the original injury. If your young child knocks out a baby tooth, keep them calm, control any bleeding with gentle pressure and a clean cloth, and contact our kids dental team as soon as possible so we can assess the socket and monitor the impact on the permanent tooth below.

How to prevent dental injuries in the first place

The Ontario Dental Association recommends custom-fitted mouthguards for any child or teenager participating in sport, including recreational activities that carry a risk of falls or contact. A custom mouthguard fitted by our dentists and dental team provides significantly better protection than a store-bought model and you can order yours at By The Lake Dental Kids.

Childproofing the home environment for toddlers and supervising play around hard surfaces also reduces the risk of the falls and collisions that cause most dental injuries in young children.

In a dental emergency, every second counts. Contact By The Lake Dental Kids, your favourite dental office in Ajax and Scarborough, and book your appointment today.

Why choose By The Lake Dental:

✅ +15 years caring for our community’s oral health needs

✅ A Platinum+ Invisalign dental office

✅ Direct billing to benefit provider

✅ Cutting-edge technology

✅ Full service family care

✅ Concierge experience

𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦

Call us today: Ajax 905-428-2111, Highland Creek 416-284-8282.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

By The Lake Dental is your family’s one-stop dental office for everything your smile needs, including children’s dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, tooth extractions, oral hygiene, dental implants, orthodontics and Invisalign, mouthguards, root canal therapy, tooth restoration, temporomandibular disorder treatment, and more!