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Related Pages » Healthy Smiles for Kids	How to Handle Dental Emergencies . • Knocked Out Tooth • Broken or Cracked Tooth • Bitten Cheek, Tongue or Lip • Object Caught Between Teeth • Toothache or Swollen Face • Possible Broken Jaw • While Traveling Be Prepared! Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving and losing your child's tooth. Here are some tips to help you handle a dental emergency quickly and calmly. [Top] Knocked-Out Tooth Go to the dentist right away. It's best to see a dentist within 30 minutes. Bring the tooth and any tooth pieces you can find. Baby tooth (Primary) It's normal for children to lose baby teeth, but an accident that damages a primary tooth could also harm the permanent tooth underneath. • Take your child to the dentist as soon as you can. • If a tooth is completely out, do not try to put it back into the tooth socket. Adult tooth (Permanent) Unlike a baby tooth that is knocked out, an adult tooth should be put back into the socket. • Hold the tooth by the top and not the by root. • If it looks dirty, rinse the root briefly with water. Do not scrub the tooth or remove any attached bits of tissue. • First, try to gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket with a clean washcloth or gauze pad. If this isn't possible, try these other options in this order: • See if your child can hold the tooth under their tongue or between the cheek and gums. • Put the tooth in a container with milk, saliva, saline (salt) solution, or an emergency tooth preservation kit. • If none of those liquids are available, put the tooth in water. [Top] Broken or Cracked Tooth Go to the dentist right away, and bring the broken tooth piece with you (if possible). • Rinse the mouth with warm water to keep the area clean. • If you can find the broken tooth piece, wrap it in some wet gauze or a wet towel. • Put a cold compress (like an ice pack or a washcloth with ice wrapped inside) on the face to reduce swelling. [Top] Bitten cheek, tongue or lip • Clean the area gently with a cloth and place a cold compress on the area (if possible) to keep swelling down. • If there is a lot of bleeding or if it doesn't stop after 1-2 hours, take your child to a dentist or an urgent care center. [Top] Objects caught between teeth • Do not try to remove the object with a sharp or pointed instrument. • Gently try to remove the object with dental floss. • If floss doesn't work, go to the dentist. [Top] Toothache or swollen face Swelling of the face can be a sign of serious infection. If your child's face is swollen, take your child to your dentist or physician. • Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. • Give your child what you would normally give them for pain, but do not put aspirin directly on the aching tooth or gums. [Top] Possible broken jaw • Apply a cold compress to control swelling. • Take your child to the dentist or an emergency center right away. [Top] Be prepared when you travel • Find a dentist at your destination by visit findadentist.ada.org. • If you are out of the country, contact the U.S. Embassy. Many embassies and consulates keep lists of local medical and dental staff, which may also be available online at www.usembassy.gov. [Top]
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Home » Dental Emergencies

How to Handle Dental Emergencies

• Knocked Out Tooth
• Broken or Cracked Tooth
• Bitten Cheek, Tongue or Lip
• Object Caught Between Teeth
• Toothache or Swollen Face
• Possible Broken Jaw
• While Traveling

Be Prepared!

Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving and losing your child's tooth. Here are some tips to help you handle a dental emergency quickly and calmly.

[Top]

Knocked-Out Tooth

Go to the dentist right away. It's best to see a dentist within 30 minutes. Bring the tooth and any tooth pieces you can find.

Baby tooth (Primary)

It's normal for children to lose baby teeth, but an accident that damages a primary tooth could also harm the permanent tooth underneath.

• Take your child to the dentist as soon as you can.
• If a tooth is completely out, do not try to put it back into the tooth socket.

Adult tooth (Permanent)

Unlike a baby tooth that is knocked out, an adult tooth should be put back into the socket.

• Hold the tooth by the top and not the by root.
• If it looks dirty, rinse the root briefly with water. Do not scrub the tooth or remove any attached bits of tissue.
• First, try to gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket with a clean washcloth or gauze pad. If this isn't possible, try these other options in this order:
   • See if your child can hold the tooth under their tongue or between the cheek and gums.
   • Put the tooth in a container with milk, saliva, saline (salt) solution, or an emergency tooth preservation kit.
   • If none of those liquids are available, put the tooth in water.

[Top]

Broken or Cracked Tooth

Go to the dentist right away, and bring the broken tooth piece with you (if possible).

• Rinse the mouth with warm water to keep the area clean.
• If you can find the broken tooth piece, wrap it in some wet gauze or a wet towel.
• Put a cold compress (like an ice pack or a washcloth with ice wrapped inside) on the face to reduce swelling.

[Top]

Bitten cheek, tongue or lip

• Clean the area gently with a cloth and place a cold compress on the area (if possible) to keep swelling down.
• If there is a lot of bleeding or if it doesn't stop after 1-2 hours, take your child to a dentist or an urgent care center.

[Top]

Objects caught between teeth

• Do not try to remove the object with a sharp or pointed instrument.
• Gently try to remove the object with dental floss.
• If floss doesn't work, go to the dentist.

[Top]

Toothache or swollen face

Swelling of the face can be a sign of serious infection. If your child's face is swollen, take your child to your dentist or physician.

• Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out.
• Give your child what you would normally give them for pain, but do not put aspirin directly on the aching tooth or gums.

[Top]

Possible broken jaw

• Apply a cold compress to control swelling.
• Take your child to the dentist or an emergency center right away.

[Top]

Be prepared when you travel

• Find a dentist at your destination by visit findadentist.ada.org.
• If you are out of the country, contact the U.S. Embassy. Many embassies and consulates keep lists of local medical and dental staff, which may also be available online at www.usembassy.gov.

[Top]