A knock to the mouth can happen at any time: playing in the park, in a football or basketball match, falling off a bike or in an accident at home. Dental trauma is especially common in children and teenagers. Dr Lorena Rosado explains what to do to improve the chances of saving the tooth.
First aid after a knock to the teeth
- Stay calm and reassure the child.
- Check for other injuries: if there's been loss of consciousness, vomiting, a severe headache or a very hard blow to the face, go to a medical emergency service first.
- Clean the area with water and see what's happened: is the tooth broken, loose, displaced or completely knocked out?
- Control bleeding by biting on a clean gauze for a few minutes.
- Apply cold to the outside of the lip or cheek to reduce swelling.
If the whole tooth has come out (avulsion)
If it's a permanent tooth, acting quickly is key:
- Pick it up by the crown (the white part), never by the root.
- If it's dirty, rinse it for a few seconds with milk or saline, without rubbing.
- Keep it moist: ideally carry it in a glass of milk or saline. If you don't have any, inside the mouth, between cheek and teeth (making sure a small child doesn't swallow it).
- Never keep it dry or wrapped in paper.
- See the dentist immediately: time is of the essence. The sooner it's put back, the better the chances it will stay.
If it's a baby tooth, it isn't put back, as it could damage the permanent tooth forming underneath. Even so, the area should be checked.
Other types of trauma
- Broken tooth: keep the fragment in milk or saliva; sometimes it can be bonded back.
- Loose or displaced tooth: don't try to force it back; bite gently on a gauze and come to the clinic.
- Tooth pushed in (intrusion): common in baby teeth and always needs checking.
- Knock with no visible damage: even if nothing seems to have happened, the nerve may be damaged. If the tooth changes colour in the following weeks, book a check-up.
Possible treatments
Depending on severity, treatment ranges from a simple cosmetic composite repair to:
- Splinting: joining a loose or repositioned tooth to its neighbours for a few weeks so it stabilises.
- Root canal treatment, if the nerve is damaged.
- Internal whitening, if the tooth darkens over time.
- In severe cases, replacing the tooth once the patient has finished growing.
What matters is follow-up check-ups over the following months, because some complications appear a while after the knock.
How to prevent dental trauma
- Wear a mouthguard for contact sports (football, basketball, hockey, martial arts) or activities with a risk of falling (skating, cycling).
- Custom mouthguards fit better, protect more and are more comfortable than one-size-fits-all ones.
- If your child's upper teeth stick out a lot, ask us: correcting it lowers the risk of fractures.
Emergencies at Somriures Dental
We see dental emergencies for patients from Gavà, Viladecans and Castelldefels during our clinic opening hours. Message us on WhatsApp or call and we'll fit you in as soon as possible. Out of hours, if it's serious, go to a medical emergency service or call 112.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to put back a knocked-out tooth?
As soon as possible. The best chances are within the first hour, keeping the tooth in milk.
Why has the tooth turned grey weeks after the knock?
It usually means the nerve has been damaged. It needs checking, as it may need a root canal.
Should a knocked baby tooth be checked?
Yes, to make sure the knock hasn't affected the permanent tooth that's forming.
