One bad bounce on the trampoline, a collision on the soccer field, a trip on the stairs — and suddenly your child is holding a tooth in their hand. If you’re searching “child knocked out tooth what to do,” take a breath. What you do in the next 30 to 60 minutes matters most, and the steps are simpler than you think.
Step 1: Figure Out If It’s a Baby Tooth or a Permanent Tooth
This changes everything:
- Baby tooth: Do not try to put it back in. Reinserting a baby tooth can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Control the bleeding and call your pediatric dentist.
- Permanent (adult) tooth: This is a true dental emergency. The faster the tooth gets back in the socket, the better the chance it can be saved.
Most kids start losing baby teeth and getting permanent front teeth around ages 6 to 7. If you’re not sure which kind it is, treat it like a permanent tooth and call us right away.
Step 2: If It’s a Permanent Tooth, Act Fast
Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association boils down to these steps:
- Pick it up by the crown (the white chewing part), never by the root.
- If it’s dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or saline. Don’t scrub it, dry it, or wrap it in a tissue — the root surface needs to stay intact.
- Try to put it back in the socket, facing the right way, if your child is calm enough. Have them gently bite on a clean cloth or gauze to hold it in place.
- If you can’t reinsert it, keep it moist. Place it in a small container of cold milk, or have an older child hold it inside their cheek (not for young kids who might swallow it). Avoid plain water.
- Get to a dentist immediately — ideally within 30 to 60 minutes.
Step 3: Manage Bleeding and Pain
- Press a clean, damp gauze or cloth on the area for 10 minutes to slow bleeding.
- Use a cold compress on the outside of the face to reduce swelling.
- Ask your pediatrician or dentist about an appropriate children’s pain reliever and dose.
When to Go to the ER Instead
Head to the emergency room first if your child has a possible head injury (confusion, vomiting, loss of consciousness), bleeding that won’t stop, trouble breathing or swallowing, or a suspected broken jaw. Once those are ruled out, call your pediatric dentist.
What Happens at the Dentist
For a permanent tooth, the dentist will clean the area, reposition the tooth if needed, and usually place a flexible splint to hold it steady while it heals. Follow-up visits and sometimes X-rays help us watch the tooth’s nerve over the following weeks. For a baby tooth, we’ll check the gums and the permanent tooth underneath and make sure nothing else was injured.
How to Prevent Knocked-Out Teeth
- Use a well-fitted mouthguard for contact sports, skating, and biking.
- Childproof sharp furniture corners for toddlers who are just learning to walk.
- Save our numbers in your phone now, so you’re not searching in the moment.
Need Help Right Now? Call Pediatric Dental Partners
Our emergency pediatric dentist Shreveport and Bossier City team sees urgent injuries as quickly as possible. Call our Shreveport office at (318) 865-2250 or our Bossier City office at (318) 747-7020.
For urgent care, see our pediatric dental emergencies page. Ready to book? Visit our pediatric dentist office in Shreveport or our pediatric dentist office in Bossier City.