What to Do in a Kids' Dental Emergency: A Parent's Quick Guide

Kids fall off bikes, run into coffee tables and take elbows on the soccer field. When a tooth gets knocked out or broken, the first few minutes matter, and knowing what to do keeps you calm when your child needs you to be.

Here's a quick guide to the most common children's dental emergencies. Save our numbers in your phone now: Middletown (302) 376-3750 and West Dover (302) 734-0330.

First: does your child need the ER?

Go to the emergency room or call 911 first if your child:

• May have hit their head hard, lost consciousness, or seems confused or drowsy

• Has a possible broken jaw, or can't open or close their mouth

• Has bleeding that won't stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm pressure

• Has a deep cut, or a cut longer than about half an inch, on the lip, tongue or face

• Has swelling that's spreading toward the eye or neck, or trouble breathing or swallowing

The ER will stabilize your child. Then call us: ER teams usually refer dental injuries back to a pediatric dentist for treatment.

For everything else, call us first. We'll walk you through what to do and see your child the same day whenever we can.

Knocked-out permanent (adult) tooth

This is the most urgent dental emergency. Act quickly.

1. Find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown (the white top), never by the root.

2. If it's dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline. Don't scrub it or wrap it in tissue.

3. Try to put it back in the socket if your child is calm enough, then have them bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place.

4. If you can't put it back, keep it in milk, not water.

5. Call us right away. The first 30 to 60 minutes give the tooth its best chance.

Knocked-out baby tooth

• Don't put a baby tooth back in. Replanting it can damage the permanent tooth growing underneath.

• Press gently with gauze if there's bleeding.

• Call us so we can check for any broken root left behind and look at the area.

Chipped, cracked or broken tooth

1. Rinse your child's mouth with warm water.

2. Save any pieces of tooth you can find and bring them to the visit.

3. Hold a cold compress on the outside of the cheek to reduce swelling.

4. Call us. Even a small chip can expose the sensitive inner layer of the tooth.

Toothache

1. Rinse with warm water, and floss gently to remove anything stuck between the teeth.

2. Give an age-appropriate dose of children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen, following the package directions.

3. A cold compress on the outside of the cheek can help.

4. Never put aspirin or any pain medicine directly on the gum. It can burn the tissue.

5. Call us. A toothache that doesn't go away usually means a cavity or infection that needs treatment.

Swelling of the face or gums, especially with a fever, is a sign of infection. Call us the same day.

Cut lip, tongue or cheek

1. Rinse with warm water.

2. Press firmly with clean gauze for 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Use a cold compress on the outside.

4. If the bleeding won't stop, or the cut is deep or long, go to the ER first. Some cuts need stitches before a dental follow-up.

Something stuck between the teeth

Try gently flossing it out. Never use a sharp object like a pin or toothpick to dig at it. If it won't come free, call us and we'll remove it without damaging the tooth or gum.

Preventing dental injuries

• Mouthguards for contact sports, and for activities like skateboarding and gymnastics

• Car seats and seat belts, every ride

• Baby gates and padded corners for toddlers learning to walk

• No running with toothbrushes, cups or toys in the mouth

We're here when it happens

If your child has a dental injury, call us right away. Don't wait to see whether it gets better. Learn more on our emergency care page, or call Middletown (302) 376-3750 or West Dover (302) 734-0330.