What to Do When Your Child Knocks Out a Tooth: Emergency Steps

A knocked-out tooth is scary, but the right moves in the first few minutes can make all the difference — especially for a permanent tooth. At Kids Choice Dental in Denver, our kid-focused team wants every parent to know these steps before they ever need them.

First: Permanent Tooth or Baby Tooth?

The right response depends on which tooth it is. A knocked-out permanent tooth can often be saved if you act within an hour. A knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back — reinserting it can harm the developing permanent tooth underneath.

Permanent Tooth: Step by Step

• Stay calm and find the tooth.
• Pick it up by the crown (the chewing part) — never touch the root.
• If it’s dirty, rinse gently with milk or water for a few seconds. Don’t scrub or remove tissue.
• If you can, place it back in the socket and have your child bite gently on clean gauze to hold it.
• If you can’t reinsert it, store it in milk (or have your child hold it in their cheek if old enough).
• Get to a dentist immediately — ideally within an hour.

Baby Tooth: What to Do

• Do NOT try to put it back in — this can damage the permanent tooth forming underneath.
• Control bleeding with gentle pressure from clean gauze.
• Use a cold compress for swelling.
• Call your dentist to check the area and make sure no fragments remain.

Why Speed Matters

For a permanent tooth, the cells on the root start to die once it’s out of the mouth. Keeping it moist in milk and getting to a dentist within about an hour gives the best chance the tooth can be saved and reattach. Water is not ideal for long-term storage — milk protects the root cells better.

Be Ready Before It Happens

Save our number in your phone and keep a small dental kit (clean gauze, a container, a way to keep a tooth in milk) in your car or bag. A mouthguard during sports is the best way to prevent knocked-out teeth in the first place.

Visit Kids Choice Dental in Denver

If your child has a dental emergency, call us right away — our kid-focused team in Denver, Aurora, and Wheat Ridge is here to help. We accept Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and most plans, and we can talk you through what to do on the phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my child knocks out a permanent tooth?

Pick it up by the crown (not the root), rinse gently with milk or water if dirty, place it back in the socket or store it in milk, and get to a dentist within an hour for the best chance of saving it.

Should I put a knocked-out baby tooth back in?

No. Reinserting a baby tooth can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Control bleeding, use a cold compress, and call your dentist to check the area.

How should I store a knocked-out tooth?

In milk, which protects the root cells. An older child can hold it in their cheek. Avoid storing it in water for long, and never let it dry out.

How fast do I need to see a dentist?

As fast as possible — ideally within an hour for a permanent tooth. The sooner it’s reinserted, the better the chance it can be saved.

How can I prevent knocked-out teeth?

A properly fitted mouthguard during sports and active play is the best prevention, along with supervising risky activities.