When your child is active and loves playing sports, you need to keep an eye on any injuries that occur. Football, basketball and any other sport can become a contact sport in the blink of an eye and even while coaches are nearby. It takes only a little force for a child to lose a tooth. Whether you are there when the injury happens or don't find out until later, there are some specific steps you should take immediately to maximize the chances of saving the tooth.
Find and Save the Tooth
If your child loses a permanent tooth, there is a chance that the dentist can save it. Timing in these situations is critical for successful reimplantation. Once you find the tooth, you need to take immediate steps to preserve it until you can get to the dentist. Most drugstores sell emergency dental kits that keep the tooth away from air and any contaminants, but if you can't make it to the drugstore, you can use any type of small container with milk or saliva to keep the tooth viable until you get to a dentist. Be sure not to wipe or clean the tooth, as this could damage essential tissue, leave that to your dentist.
Clean the Gums
Check your child's mouth carefully for any bleeding or tissue damage. Depending on the severity of the impact, the gum socket may bleed for some time after the tooth falls out. Apply a small amount of pressure with a clean gauze or cloth until the bleeding stops. If possible, have your child perform a gentle mouth rinse with salt-water to remove any minor loose debris and help disinfect the area.
Use Ice to Reduce Inflammation
Though you can give your child ibuprofen or a product designed to dampen the pain that children may feel, ice can work just as effectively for immediate relief. Fill a simple plastic bag with a handful of ice, wrap the bag in a pillowcase or towel and apply the wrapped bag directly to your child's face over the injured area. This will not only numb his/her mouth and reduce the pain, but will also reduce any swelling and inflammation that causes additional discomfort and complicates treatment.
Making an emergency appointment with your dentist is the most important thing you can do after your child loses a tooth. The sooner you can get in to see the dentist, the greater the chance is that the dentist can save your child's tooth through reimplantation techniques. In the case of a baby tooth, the dentist can check the socket for any debris that might keep it from healing properly, recommend appropriate pain management strategies, and send you off with detailed instructions for what to do to care for your child at home. Taking all these immediate steps and seeing a dentist within the first hour are the best things to do after your child loses a tooth in a sports injury.
Lewis Estates Dental offers Emergency dental treatment in West Edmonton, book an appointment with us today to get your child treated promptly by dental professionals trained in pediatric emergencies.
Key Takeaways about What to Do When a Child Loses a Tooth in Sports
- Timing plays a critical role when a child loses a permanent tooth, as dentists may be able to save the tooth if proper steps are taken quickly.
- Parents should find and preserve the knocked-out tooth without wiping or cleaning it, using either a drugstore preservation kit or a small container until reaching the dentist.
- Children with bleeding gums need gentle care through applied pressure until bleeding stops, followed by a salt-water rinse to remove any loose debris.
- Ice wrapped in a towel or pillowcase applied directly to the child's face reduces both pain and inflammation after a tooth loss injury.
- Lewis Estates Dental offers emergency dental treatment services in West Edmonton for children who experience tooth loss during sports activities.
- Making a dental appointment as soon as possible after tooth loss increases the chances of saving the tooth, with dentists being able to check for debris and provide home care instructions.
- Baby teeth require different treatment than permanent teeth, with dentists focusing on checking the socket for debris that might prevent proper healing.