My Child Knocked Out a Tooth — What Do I Do?

Tiny Trips Pediatric Dentistry | Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Cleanings for Children and Pediatric Dental Emergencies

A knocked-out tooth is one of the scariest moments for any parent. Your child is crying, there may be blood, and you don't know whether to go to the ER or call a dentist. Take a breath. You've come to the right place.

At Tiny Trips Pediatric Dentistry in Frederick, MD, Dr. Jian is a pediatric specialist trained to handle exactly this situation — gently, quickly, and in a way that gives your child the best chance of a healthy outcome.

Here is everything you need to know, step by step.

Step 1: Stay calm and act fast

Time is critical. If the knocked-out tooth is a permanent (adult) tooth, you have a window of about 30 to 60 minutes to get your child to a dentist for the best chance of saving it. The faster you act, the better.

If it is a baby tooth, the situation is different — do not try to put it back in. We will explain why below.

Step 2: Find the tooth

Locate the tooth as quickly as you can. Pick it up by the crown — the white part you can see in the mouth — not by the root. Touching the root can damage the cells needed to reattach it.

Step 3: Handle it correctly

If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with clean water for no more than 10 seconds. Do not scrub it, dry it, or wrap it in a tissue.

Step 4: Store it properly until you reach us

The best options, in order of preference:

Place it back in the socket gently (permanent teeth only — push softly and have your child bite down on gauze to hold it)
Keep it in your child's mouth between the cheek and gum (only if your child is old enough not to swallow it)
Store it in a small container of whole milk
As a last resort, use clean water — but milk is much better

Step 5: Call us immediately and come in

Call Tiny Trips at (301) 631-5970 right now. Tell us your child knocked out a tooth. We will prepare for your arrival and see your child as quickly as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a knocked-out baby tooth a dental emergency?

It depends. A knocked-out baby tooth is not replanted the way a permanent tooth is — reinserting it could actually damage the permanent tooth developing underneath.

However, you should still call us, because we need to check for other injuries, bone damage, and ensure the surrounding teeth are unaffected. We may also recommend a space maintainer to prevent shifting.

What if I can't find the tooth?

Come in anyway. Your child's mouth and gums still need to be examined for injury.

If the tooth cannot be found and the area is significantly injured, we want to make sure the tooth was not pushed up into the gum rather than truly lost.

Will my child's tooth grow back?

Baby teeth do not grow back — but the permanent tooth beneath will still come in on its normal timeline.

If a permanent tooth was knocked out and we cannot save it, Dr. Jian will discuss long-term tooth replacement options appropriate for your child's age.

What if this happened on a Saturday?

You are in luck. Tiny Trips Pediatric Dentistry is open Saturdays from 9am to 4pm specifically to help families when emergencies happen on weekends.

Call us at (301) 631-5970 — do not wait until Monday.

Should I go to the emergency room instead?

If your child has serious head injuries, a broken jaw, or is unconscious, go to the ER first.

For a dental injury only — knocked-out, loosened, or broken tooth — call us directly. Emergency rooms are not equipped to replant or treat teeth, and the delay could cost your child the tooth.