“Accidents happen” is one of those phrases we casually throw around without thinking. But the reality is that accidents can have quite serious consequences for our teeth. Teeth can be cracked, chipped or become loose from accidents in ways not visible to the naked eye, and failure to get them checked out quickly by your dentist may mean sustaining otherwise-avoidable long-term damage. You only need to be around babies or toddlers for a second to realise that bumps, knocks and spills are a standard part of growing up. If your child knocks out a tooth the good news is, there’s also quite a bit you can do before you reach the dentist by following these few steps:
- Find the tooth, make sure it’s clean and hold it by the crown only, not the root.
- If the tooth is dirty, rinse it in milk but don’t scrub or soak it.
- Place the tooth back in position, making sure it’s facing the right way around (if it’s a baby tooth, don’t place it back in.)
- Get to your dentist straight away, and if you can’t replant the tooth, transport it in milk or saliva.
Dental trauma can also take other forms.
If your child develops a toothache, book an appointment with your dentist straight away; in the meantime, rinse your child’s mouth with salt water, use paracetamol to alleviate pain and if there’s swelling present, use a cold compress. Please keep in mind that this doesn’t apply to babies who are teething.