Child Knocked A Tooth Out While Playing
Rough and tumble games and sports activities can be fun and healthy for children. However, sometimes, these may result in a knocked-out tooth. That's why a reasonable playground design is essential for children's safety, as it avoids accidents like teeth dislocation, falls, slips, and other untoward incidents. Also, parents need to know what to do if a child loses a baby tooth or a permanent tooth during playtime.
Learn some helpful tips on how to handle a situation wherein your child's tooth has been knocked out while playing by reading below.
Comfort Your Child
Your child may feel shocked after the incident and burst into tears due to pain and frustration, that's why the first thing you have to do is to comfort your child. Reassure your child that you know what to do next.
Consulting a trusted dentist who can handle such an emergency is important. While losing a temporary tooth might not look serious, you still need to set an appointment with a dentist. They can reattach a permanent tooth or perform a dental procedure to resolve the gap caused by the lost tooth. You may educate yourself on how to handle a knocked-out tooth at alligatordentist.com to have an idea what procedures your child might need to undergo in case the said incident happens.
Control Any Bleeding
The next thing you need to do after comforting your child is to control the bleeding. You can use a sterile gauze by placing it over the socket. Ask your child to hold it in place or bite down on it. Position your child so that bleeding will not cause choking. Keep your child’s head higher than the shoulder or turn them on their side.
Find and Reinsert the Knocked-out Tooth
Next, find and reinsert the knocked-out tooth. By doing so, it will increase the chances of the tooth being rescued and placed back into the socket. Always bear in mind that you can only reattach a permanent tooth, not a baby tooth.
Here are the important things to remember when handling a knocked-out tooth:
- Don't touch the root of the tooth.
- Rinse the knocked-out tooth in milk if it looks dirty. Make sure to plug the sink first so the tooth will not disappear down the drain.
- Bring your child to a dental clinic as soon as possible, and don't forget to bring the knocked-out tooth with you. It's possible that the tooth might be stuck inside the mouth of your child, so a dentist will always perform an oral x-ray to confirm and to check other injuries.
Tips on How to Properly Transport a Knocked-out Tooth
If your child's tooth has been knocked out because of rough play or a trip, slip, or fall accident, it's important to find the missing tooth and put it back into the socket. However, if it's impossible to reattach it, you need to be able to transport the knocked-out tooth properly.
Never scrub the tooth. Don't remove any tissue pieces. Gently place the knocked-out tooth back into its socket. If it is not possible, place it in a clean container (glass or plastic container) of milk, saliva, or saltwater. Never wrap the tooth in a dry cloth or napkin as it will cause dryness, which reduces the chance of the tooth being reattached.
There are many options you can choose from when transporting a knocked-out tooth, including the following:
- Milk Transport: It is the best option because milk is rich in calcium that can preserve the tooth. Place the knocked-out tooth in a clean plastic bag almost filled with milk. Place the plastic bag with a tooth in a glass and a cup of ice.
- Saliva Transport: This option should be used only if the child is over 12 years old. Ask your child to keep the knocked-out tooth inside the mouth, but be careful not to swallow it. Another way to do it is to place the knocked-out tooth in a cup with your child's saliva to preserve the tooth while waiting for emergency dental care.
- Wet Cloth Transport: If saliva and milk are not available, you can wrap the knocked-out tooth in a wet cloth.
Conclusion
It's possible for a tooth to be knocked-out during play, that's why keeping yourself abreast of the next actionable steps is essential to increase the chances of preserving the knocked-out tooth. Knowing the transport options will ensure that the tooth will still remain viable until it is reattached to the socket. Of course, whether your child has a knocked-out baby or permanent tooth, it's advisable to see a dentist immediately.