Patient education: Mouth and dental injuries in children (The Basics)

What are mouth and dental injuries? — 

These are when the lips, tongue, throat, or teeth get hurt during an accident or a fight (figure 1). Teeth can break, fall out, become loose, and cause pain.

How common are mouth and dental injuries in children? — 

Very common. Close to half of all children hurt their mouths or teeth at some point.

In most cases, children get better without problems. But mouth and tooth injuries can be serious. It's important to know when to see the doctor.

What causes mouth and dental injuries in children? — 

The most common ways children get mouth injuries are:

●Falling

●Playing sports

●Fighting

●Tripping or getting pushed with something in their mouth

Should I take my child to see a doctor or dentist? — 

Call your child's doctor or dentist if:

●Your child is in a lot of pain, or the area hurts when touched.

●The injured area is bothered by heat or cold.

●A tooth is broken, loose, or missing after the injury.

●Your child has a large cut in their mouth or on their face, or the area bleeds for more than 10 minutes, even with pressure on it.

●Your child's jaw hurts when they open or close their mouth.

●Your child has trouble swallowing or breathing.

●An object is stuck on your child's tongue, cheek, or roof of the mouth, or in their throat.

●Something might have pierced the back of your child's throat.

●Your child is weak or numb, is slurring their words, or has vision problems.

●There are signs of infection, such as fever, redness, or pain that gets worse over time.

What can I do on my own to help my child after a mouth or dental injury? — 

You can:

●Press on the area with a clean cloth or gauze, if there is bleeding. Hold the pressure for 10 minutes.

●Give your child pain medicine, such as ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol).

What tests should my child have? — 

The doctor or dentist will decide which tests your child should have based on their symptoms and individual situation.

Often, the doctor or dentist will only need to examine the child and ask about the injury. In some cases, an X-ray or other imaging test might be needed to check for broken bones, tooth damage, or swallowed teeth.

Will my child need treatment for a tooth injury? — 

It depends on where the injury is, how severe it is, and how old your child is. For tooth injuries, treatment depends on whether the injury is in a baby tooth or an adult tooth.

Adult teeth usually start to come in after age 6 or 7. They look different than baby teeth. If an adult tooth is knocked out, it is important to replace it as soon as possible (ideally within 15 minutes), as described below.

If a baby tooth is injured, your child might not need any treatment. If you and your child's doctor are not sure which type of tooth is hurt, an X-ray can help.

How are injuries to baby teeth treated? — 

It depends on the type of injury. The dentist might repair the tooth, remove it, or do nothing. If a baby tooth is removed or falls out, the adult tooth usually grows in just fine.

How are injuries to adult teeth treated in children? — 

It depends on the type of injury:

●If 1 of your child's adult teeth falls out, act fast. Gently wash the tooth off Put it back in its socket (the hole in the gums) as soon as possible. The tooth is most likely to survive if it goes back in within 15 minutes.

Some tips for putting a tooth back in its socket:

•Hold it on the end that normally sticks out.

•Gently rinse the tooth socket with milk, salt water, or your child's saliva. Do not use tap water.

•Put the tooth back in its socket with your fingers.

•Have your child bite on a towel to hold the tooth in place.

•Get to a dentist right away.

●If 1 of your child's adult teeth is loose, the dentist might push it back in place. To hold it there while it heals, they might use stitches or a splint.

●If 1 of your child's adult teeth breaks, the dentist might:

•Put broken pieces back on (if you find any pieces, you can put them in tap water to keep them from drying out)

•Fix the tooth with a material that looks like teeth

●If you have to wait to put the tooth back in, you can put it in cold milk. If available, you can also put it in a special liquid for knocked-out teeth (sample brand names: ViaSpan, Hank's Balanced Salt Solution). Otherwise, the tooth can be stored in the child's saliva. Then, get the tooth in its socket within an hour.

How are injuries to other parts of the mouth treated in children? — 

It depends on where the injury is, the kind of injury, and how bad it is. Your child might not need any treatment.

In some cases, your child might need:

●Stitches to fix a cut on their tongue or lips

●Surgery, if an object pierced the back of their throat and is still stuck in their throat – This can happen if your child falls with something in their mouth, such as a pencil, toothbrush, lollipop, or straw.

●Antibiotics to prevent or treat some infections

●A tetanus shot to prevent serious disease

Can mouth and dental injuries be prevented in children? — 

Your child can reduce their chances of getting mouth or dental injuries if they:

●Wear a mouth guard during sports. The best type of mouth guard is made by a dentist just for your child.

●Sit while eating. This is most important when eating something on a stick or with a straw.

●Put only food and drinks in their mouth.

●Do not eat in the car.

More on this topic

Patient education: Head injury in children and teens (The Basics)
Patient education: Mouth and dental injuries in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Full liquid diet (The Basics)

Patient education: Mouth and dental injuries in children (Beyond the Basics)