Children’s Dental Emergencies — A Parent’s Guide

A dental emergency with a child can feel stressful, especially when there is blood, swelling, or a frightened little face involved. At Sandgate Family Dental we set aside urgent appointment slots each day so we can see children quickly and calmly. This page explains what to do in the most common situations, and when it is worth coming straight in.

If your child is in pain, has had a knock to the mouth, or has lost a tooth that should not be loose, please phone the practice or book an urgent appointment online.

Common children’s dental emergencies

Most children’s dental emergencies fall into a handful of categories. The right first step depends on which type you are dealing with.

Toothache, especially if it has woken your child at night
A knocked-out adult tooth
A knocked-out baby tooth
A chipped or broken tooth
A tooth pushed into the gum or sideways
Swelling of the gum, cheek, or jaw
A cut to the lip, tongue, or cheek
An object stuck between teeth that won’t come out
Pain or swelling from an emerging tooth

How children’s emergencies differ from adult ones

Children’s mouths are still developing, so the response to a dental injury is sometimes quite different from what you would do for an adult. The most important differences:

Do not replant a baby tooth. Pushing a knocked-out baby tooth back in can damage the adult tooth developing underneath.
Adult teeth in older children should be replanted quickly — in the first 30 to 60 minutes, ideally. Store in cold milk if you cannot replant it.
Children’s toothaches can move quickly from mild to severe, so it is worth being seen the same day if pain is significant.
Swelling in children can spread fast. Facial swelling that involves the eye or under the jaw needs same-day attention.
What looks minor on the outside — a small chip, a slightly loose tooth — can sometimes hide injury to the nerve or developing adult tooth. A short visit is worthwhile.

Quick decision tree

Use this as a guide, not a substitute for speaking to us.

Knocked-out adult tooth

Hold by the white crown only. If you can, gently place it back in the socket and have your child bite on clean cloth. If not, store in cold milk. Head to the practice within an hour. Do not replant a baby tooth — go straight to the dentist.

Significant facial swelling

If your child has a noticeably swollen cheek, lip, or eye, especially with a fever, contact the practice straight away. Out of hours, head to your nearest hospital emergency department.

Severe ongoing toothache

Pain that wakes your child at night or stops them eating needs same-day assessment. Paracetamol or ibuprofen at the correct dose for their weight can help in the meantime.

Chipped or broken tooth, no pain

Rinse the mouth with warm water. Save any fragments in milk. Book to be seen within a day or two, sooner if there is sharp tooth left behind that is bothering your child.

Tooth pushed in or out of position

Do not try to move it. Phone the practice for advice — same-day assessment is usually best.

Cut to lip, tongue, or cheek

Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze or a cloth. Most small cuts settle within 10 minutes. Cold packs help with swelling. If bleeding does not stop or the wound looks deep, head to a GP or emergency department.

Bumped tooth that now looks discoloured

This can happen days or weeks after a knock. The tooth is not always lost — book a routine appointment so we can check what is going on.

How to ease pain while you wait

A few simple things can help your child stay comfortable until they can be seen:

Use children’s paracetamol or ibuprofen at the correct dose for their weight — avoid placing pain tablets on the gum
Offer cool water and soft foods, avoiding very hot, cold, or sweet items
A cold pack wrapped in a cloth on the outside of the cheek for 10 minutes at a time can ease swelling
Rinse gently with warm salt water if your child is old enough to spit it out
Encourage them to chew on the other side

What to expect at the urgent visit

An urgent appointment is calm and focused on settling the immediate problem.

1. A friendly check-in

We will ask how the injury happened, how long ago, and how your child has been since. We will check for any other injuries to the mouth, face, or head.

2. Examination and X-rays if needed

Small digital X-rays may be used where they will change the treatment plan. We use the lowest exposure suitable for children.

3. Immediate care

Where appropriate, we relieve pain, splint a loose tooth, smooth a sharp edge, or drain a swelling on the day. We will only do what is necessary in the moment — longer follow-up treatment is planned for another visit.

4. A plan for what comes next

We will explain what we have found, what to look out for at home, and any follow-up needed.

Out-of-hours care

If your child has a dental emergency outside our opening hours:

For severe facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or significant trauma, go to the nearest hospital emergency department
For a knocked-out adult tooth, follow the milk-storage steps above and contact a dentist as soon as possible — see also our adult guidance on knocked-out teeth
For toothache, use age-appropriate pain relief and book first thing the next morning

Our after-hours dental care page has more guidance for the adult and family situations that can come up overnight.

Children’s emergency FAQs

My child has knocked out a front tooth. Is it a baby or adult tooth?

Children usually start losing baby teeth from around age 6 and finish around age 12. If you are unsure, store the tooth in cold milk and head to the dentist — we will sort out the rest.

Should I try to put a knocked-out tooth back in?

Only if you are confident it is an adult tooth and your child is old enough to cooperate. Never replant a baby tooth.

Will my child need stitches?

Most small cuts inside the mouth heal without stitches. Larger or gaping cuts may need them, in which case we will arrange the right care.

Can I give my child ibuprofen?

Yes, ibuprofen and paracetamol are both suitable for children at the correct dose for their weight. Follow the packaging carefully and avoid combining at the same time without advice.

My child’s tooth has gone dark after a knock. What does that mean?

It can mean the nerve has been bruised or damaged. The tooth is not always lost, but we should check it.

Is a wobbly baby tooth from a knock an emergency?

Not always, but a check is worthwhile. Sometimes a knock can affect the developing adult tooth even if the baby tooth looks fine.

How quickly can my child be seen?

We hold urgent appointment slots each day. Call the practice or book online and tell us it is urgent — we will do our best to see your child the same day.

Related information

Phone us if you are not sure

If something has happened and you are not sure how urgent it is, please phone the practice — we would rather hear from you than have you guess. Book online or phone during business hours.