When a child has a knocked out tooth, first check for a head or neck injury, then work out whether the tooth was a baby tooth or a permanent tooth. A permanent tooth should be held by the crown, rinsed briefly if dirty, and placed back in its socket if possible. If it cannot go back in, keep it moist in milk and get to a dentist immediately. A baby tooth should not be pushed back in. Call a pediatric dentist as soon as you can.
Dentists call a tooth that has come completely out of its socket an avulsed tooth. Time matters most with permanent teeth, so this guide moves step by step. OWL Pediatric Dentistry treats dental injuries through its emergency dentistry services.
Knocked Out Tooth: What to Do Right Now
Use this order while you are on the way to the dentist:
- Check your child first. Loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, confusion, or a severe headache after a fall or collision means calling 911 or going to the emergency room before anything else.
- Control the bleeding. Press clean, damp gauze or a washcloth against the gum for several minutes.
- Find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown, the white part you normally see. Avoid touching the root.
- Decide if it is a baby tooth or a permanent tooth. The next section explains how.
- Permanent tooth: rinse briefly if it is dirty, try to place it back in the socket, and have your child bite gently on gauze. If that is not possible, store it in cold milk.
- Baby tooth: do not put it back. Keep it moist and bring it along.
- Call the dentist right away and say the tooth has been knocked out.
Is It a Baby Tooth or a Permanent Tooth?
Children usually begin losing baby teeth around age 6. A tooth knocked out of a toddler or preschooler is a baby tooth. In school-age children, both kinds are present, and permanent teeth often look larger, with a slightly bumpy biting edge.
When you cannot tell, keep the tooth moist and call the dentist immediately. Let the dentist make the call on replanting.
Normal Baby Tooth Loss vs an Injury
A tooth that fell out on its own after wiggling for days is part of normal development. A tooth that came out after a fall, a sports collision, or a blow to the mouth is an injury, and the surrounding gum, lip, and neighboring teeth need to be checked.
How to Handle a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry tells bystanders to replant an avulsed permanent tooth if possible. The faster this happens, the better the outcome tends to be, so do not wait to see whether the tooth settles on its own.
- Hold the tooth by the crown. Do not touch the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it gently and briefly with milk, saline, or cold water. Do not scrub it, wipe it with a cloth, or use soap.
- Place the tooth back into the socket, facing the right direction, and ask your child to bite on gauze to hold it in place. Only try this if your child is awake, calm, and cooperating.
- If you cannot place it, store it in a safe liquid (see below).
- Get emergency dental care immediately. If your usual dentist is closed, contact an emergency dental service. Go to an emergency department for serious head or facial injuries, breathing problems, uncontrolled bleeding, or when urgent dental care cannot be accessed.
Even a tooth that looks perfectly in place needs an exam, since the root, nerve, and bone around it may be injured.
Where to Keep a Knocked-Out Tooth Until You Reach the Dentist
A tooth tolerates being out of the mouth only when it stays wet. Dry air damages the cells on the root surface that help it reattach.
| Option | Notes |
| Cold milk | Easy to find at home or school. A good default. |
| Tooth saver kit or tooth preservation product | Made for this purpose. The ADA suggests products carrying its Seal of Acceptance. |
| Saline solution | Another accepted storage liquid. |
| Inside the cheek | Saliva keeps the tooth wet, but only for an older child who can hold it safely. Do not use this method with a young child because of the choking risk. |
| Dry tissue, napkin, or plain water | Avoid dry storage. Plain water keeps a tooth wet but may damage root cells and is not recommended for storage. Choose milk, a tooth-preservation solution, or saline when available; seek immediate dental advice if none is accessible. |
What to Do If a Baby Tooth Is Knocked Out
Do not try to push a knocked-out baby tooth back into the socket. Baby teeth sit directly above the permanent teeth that are developing in the jaw, and forcing a tooth back in can injure them.
Control bleeding with gauze, keep the tooth moist, and call your pediatric dentist the same day. Bringing the tooth lets the dentist confirm that the whole tooth came out and that no piece remains in the gum.
The dentist will check the gum, the neighboring teeth, and the area for signs of damage that could affect the permanent tooth underneath. If a damaged baby tooth cannot be saved, our guide to baby tooth extraction explains what to expect.
When a Knocked Out Tooth Is a Medical Emergency
Some injuries need a hospital, not a dental office. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if your child:
- Lost consciousness, even briefly.
- Has repeated vomiting, confusion, or unusual sleepiness.
- Has bleeding that does not slow with steady pressure.
- Has a jaw that looks out of place or cannot close normally.
- Is struggling to breathe or may have swallowed or inhaled a tooth piece.
If urgent dental care cannot be reached, an emergency department can assess the injury and help arrange further care. Call 911 for breathing difficulty or other life-threatening symptoms.
What Happens at the Pediatric Emergency Dentist
The dentist examines the mouth, checks nearby teeth, and usually takes X-rays. For a permanent tooth, the dentist replants it if that has not been done, then may hold it steady with a flexible splint so it can reattach.
Follow-up visits matter. They allow the team to check for infection, changes in tooth color, and whether the nerve in the tooth is surviving. Some replanted teeth later need a root canal. Outcomes vary, and no dentist can promise that a replanted tooth will last, which is why speed counts.
The dentist or your pediatrician may also ask about tetanus vaccination if the injury involved dirt.
Tell the dental team when the injury happened, whether the tooth is baby or permanent, and whether it was replanted. Explain how it was stored and bring the tooth or any fragments. If the tooth cannot be found, mention this, especially if your child is coughing or having trouble breathing. These details help clinicians assess the injury.
Caring for Your Child After the Visit
- Offer soft foods for the first several days.
- Brush gently around the area, and follow any rinse instructions from the dentist.
- Skip contact sports until the dentist clears your child.
- Watch for swelling, a pimple-like bump on the gum, fever, or a tooth that darkens, and call the office if any appear.
- Ask for written follow-up instructions before leaving. Depending on the injury, the dentist may recommend repeat examinations or X-rays to monitor healing and the developing permanent teeth. Keep those appointments even if pain fades, since some complications do not appear immediately. If symptoms worsen between visits, call the treating dentist promptly rather than waiting for the next scheduled check.
Emergency Dental Care at OWL Pediatric Dentistry
OWL Pediatric Dentistry cares for children in Bloomingdale and surrounding Chicagoland communities, including after dental injuries. Contact the office as soon as the injury happens so the team can advise on the next step. If the office is closed, seek an emergency dentist right away. Use an emergency department for serious medical injuries or when urgent dental care is unavailable.
Parents who want to know who will be treating their child can meet the team on the Meet Our Doctors page.
School-age children are included in the practice’s children’s dentistry care, which covers regular exams that help catch problems before an injury makes them worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a tooth be out of the mouth before it can be saved?
There is no safe waiting period. Every minute counts, and replanting a permanent tooth as soon as possible gives it the best chance. If you cannot replant it, keep it in milk and head to a dentist immediately.
What is an avulsed tooth?
An avulsed tooth is a tooth that has been completely knocked out of its socket by injury.
Can a baby tooth be put back in?
No. Do not try to reinsert it. The dentist will evaluate the injury and decide what is needed.
Should I rinse a knocked-out tooth?
Only if it is dirty, and only briefly. Use milk, saline, or cold water, and avoid scrubbing, wiping, or soap.
What is a tooth saver kit?
A tooth saver kit is a small container with a preservation liquid designed to keep a knocked-out tooth alive until you reach a dentist. Milk works if you do not have one.
Will a permanent tooth grow in after a baby tooth is knocked out?
Usually, yes, but the timing can change if the injury affected the developing tooth. The dentist will monitor the area.
My child’s tooth fell out without any injury. Is that an emergency?
Not if it is a loose baby tooth at the expected age. If you are unsure, or the gum is swollen or bleeding heavily, call the dentist.
Call Right Away if Your Child’s Tooth Is Knocked Out
A knocked-out tooth is stressful, and quick action makes a real difference. If your child has had a mouth injury, contact OWL Pediatric Dentistry so the team can guide you on what to do next.