What to Do If Your Child Breaks a Tooth

4 minutes

When children fall down or bump into something, they run the risk of breaking a tooth. If this happens to your child, there's no need for alarm. You can find the solution by following the steps in today's article.

Last update: 14 October, 2018

Children are naturally restless and rambunctious. They love to run, play and move around whenever they have the chance. However, these moments don’t always end well. If your child breaks a tooth, the following tips may come in handy.

Accidents can cause your child’s teeth to break, whether it be a baby tooth or an adult tooth. Whatever the case may be, a visit to the dentist will be in order. Generally, dentists take emergency appointments.

Baby teeth and their function

In general, broken teeth occur in children under the age of 12. A number of factors come together to make this true. First, baby teeth are more fragile than adult teeth and, therefore, are more likely to suffer damage.

Second, children in this age range are in the stage of motor development. They’re still improving basic skills and incorporating more complex abilities. Both can lead children to fall or suffer painful bumps. This is simply part of growing up.

When baby teeth break, this can pose a problem for children’s oral health. This is because baby teeth allow small children to chew their food until their adult teeth come in.

It’s also important that these teeth stay in their spots until the time comes for permanent teeth to replace them. If a baby tooth breaks, it increases the possibility of permanent teeth coming in the wrong spot or direction.

What should I do if my child breaks a tooth?

As state above, it’s very important that you take your child to the dentist right away if he or she breaks a tooth. This is even true if the tooth remains intact after impact, as there can be other consequences:

Affectation of the nerves, which can cause pain and discomfort.
Necrosis: This refers to nerve death leading to loss of the entire tooth.
Gum problems that can lead to issues in the future.
A tooth may become loose after a considerable blow.

Broken tooth

However, if your child’s tooth is in fact broken, whether completely or partially, you should follow the steps below:

Find the lost tooth.
Don’t wash or rub the tooth. Save it in saline solution or milk. If that’s not possible, then store it in a bit of your child’s own saliva as a last resort. This will keep the tooth from dehydrating and being ruined.
Take your child to a trusted dentist within 2 hours of the impact that broke the tooth. Be sure to take the broken piece along.

If the broken tooth is minor, then the dentist will simply smooth what is left of it. This is true whether you’re dealing with a broken baby tooth or a permanent one.

If the tooth is considerably damaged and the broken tooth is permanent, there are special adhesives that provide a solution. Of course, gluing a broken tooth back together should only occur in a professional environment.

“It’s very important you take your child to the dentist right away in the case of a broken tooth. This is even true if the tooth remains intact after impact, as there can be other consequences”

After seeking professional attention

Once you’ve taken your child to see a dentist, you should follow whatever indications the professional has given. In the meantime, as a mother, you should stay on alert for two possible signs of alarm.

First, make sure that everything is okay with his or her gums. This means watching out for any swelling or bruising.

At the same time, you should carefully observe the tooth’s progress. If the tooth becomes gray or brown, you should go back to see the dentist. This may be a sign of necrosis in the affected tooth.

What to do in the case of major impact

Besides whatever may happen to a child’s tooth, bumps and falls can have other consequences as well. This is especially true when it comes to impact to the head .

After suffering a bump to the head, you should make sure your child doesn’t experience dizziness or vomiting. If this occurs, specialists agree that you should seek immediate medical attention.

As you’ve observed over the course of this article, the most important thing to do when your child breaks a tooth is to see a dentist. After treatment, you should be observant of any symptoms that may appear.

Finally, remember that you shouldn’t feel guilty if your child breaks a tooth in an accident. Children are children and these things tend to happen. Instead of feeling guilty, concentrate on taking care of your little one so that he or she will feel better soon.