Dental Problems and Mouth Injuries: When to Seek Care
An independent educational resource prepared by Mark M. Simonian, MD, FAAP
Sources checked: August 6, 2026 | Medical review completed: August 6, 2026
This page is for general education only and does not replace individualized medical advice. This resource does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. For questions about your own child, contact your child's current healthcare professional.
Magnolia Pediatrics, Valley Children's Healthcare
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Dental problems can be painful, but most are best handled promptly by a dentist. The priorities after an injury are keeping the child safe, controlling bleeding, protecting a permanent tooth, and knowing when emergency medical care is needed.
Urgent Warning Signs - Check This First
Call 911 for problems with breathing, swallowing, severe bleeding, or unresponsiveness. For a knocked-out permanent tooth, contact a dentist immediately and go without delay.
CALL 911 NOW
Trouble breathing or swallowing, inability to handle saliva, blue or gray color, severe facial swelling affecting the airway, or a child who is limp or unresponsive
Bleeding from the mouth that is severe or does not stop after steady direct pressure
A serious injury to the face or jaw with loss of consciousness, confusion, seizure, severe neck pain, or another immediate danger
GET EMERGENCY MEDICAL OR DENTAL CARE NOW
A permanent (adult) tooth is knocked out, very loose, or pushed far out of position
A cut of the lip or tongue is deep, crosses the lip border, is gaping, or may need stitches
A possible broken jaw, inability to open or close the mouth normally, a tooth embedded in the lip or tongue, or a serious facial injury
Facial swelling with fever, worsening pain, trouble opening the mouth, or a child who appears significantly ill
CONTACT A DENTIST OR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL TODAY
A toothache that persists, interferes with sleep, eating, or usual activity, or comes with swelling, fever, drainage, or a bad taste in the mouth
A chipped, cracked, discolored, loose, or displaced tooth; a tooth that hurts with cold or biting; or a gum injury after a fall or blow
A baby tooth is knocked out by injury. Do not try to put it back in; a dentist should assess the injury
Mouth pain, sores, or swelling that does not improve as expected, or any concern in an infant or a child with complex medical needs
If a Permanent Tooth Is Knocked Out
A knocked-out permanent tooth is a dental emergency. Quick action may improve the chance of saving the tooth. A baby tooth should not be put back in the socket.
Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown, the chewing surface. Do not touch or scrub the root
If the child is old enough to cooperate and it is safe to do so, gently rinse visible dirt with milk or clean water and place the permanent tooth back in its socket facing the correct way. Have the child gently bite on clean gauze or cloth
If you cannot safely put it back, keep the tooth moist in milk or a tooth-preservation product and go immediately to a dentist or emergency department if dental care is not available
Do not put a knocked-out baby tooth back in the socket. Rinse the mouth, use a cold compress, and contact a dentist promptly
Toothache and Possible Dental Infection
Rinse the mouth gently with warm water. Carefully floss between teeth if food may be caught there
Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek for swelling or pain. Do not put aspirin, numbing gels, heat, or other medicines directly on the tooth or gums
Arrange dental evaluation promptly. Pain medicine may help comfort but does not treat a dental infection
Seek urgent care for rapidly increasing facial swelling, fever with swelling, trouble swallowing, trouble breathing, or a child who looks ill
Chipped, Cracked, Loose, or Displaced Teeth
Rinse the mouth with water and apply a cold compress to the cheek for swelling
Save any broken tooth fragment in milk or saline and bring it to the dentist
Offer a soft diet and avoid biting with the injured tooth until the child has been assessed
Do not try to straighten, pull, or force a loose or displaced tooth back into place
Cuts of the Lip, Tongue, or Inside of the Mouth
Rinse gently with clean water. Apply steady direct pressure with clean gauze or cloth if there is bleeding
Use a cold cloth, wrapped ice pack, popsicle, or small ice chip when safe for the child's age and swallowing ability
Do not use sharp tools to remove an object from between teeth or from a mouth wound
Get urgent evaluation for a deep, gaping, or through-and-through cut, a cut crossing the lip border, persistent bleeding, a suspected foreign object, or difficulty opening or closing the mouth
Preventing Dental Injuries
Use a properly fitted mouthguard for sports and activities with a risk of falls or contact
Use car seats, booster seats, helmets, and other safety equipment as appropriate for the activity
Do not let children run with objects in their mouths or use teeth to cut, open, or carry objects
Keep regular dental visits and ask the dentist for individualized prevention advice
Call Preparation
The child's age, whether the tooth is a baby tooth or permanent tooth, what happened, and when it happened
Whether there was loss of consciousness, vomiting, severe headache, neck pain, facial swelling, fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing
Photos of the injury if safely obtained, what first aid was given, and whether the tooth or tooth fragment was found
Related Guides
Sources and Medical Review
HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), Tooth Injury: Read source
HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), First Aid for Bites or Cuts to a Child's Tongue or Lip: Read source
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Frequently Asked Questions: Read source
American Dental Association MouthHealthy, Dental Emergencies: Read source
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries: Read source