A Parent’s Guide to Dental Injuries in Children

Falls, sports knocks, playground accidents — dental injuries in children are common, and most look more alarming than they turn out to be. Find your situation below for the exact steps to follow.

What happened?

If there’s also a head injury, loss of consciousness, or breathing difficulty, treat it as more serious — see dentist, NHS 111, A&E or 999.

Why baby and permanent teeth need different thinking

A baby tooth should never be pushed or put back in; a permanent tooth often should be, if possible. Between roughly ages 6 and 12, children have both types at once, which is exactly when this matters most. If you’re not sure which type you’re dealing with, see how to tell a baby tooth from a permanent tooth.

Staying calm helps your child

Children often take their cue from the adult in the room. A calm, matter-of-fact response — even if you don’t feel calm — tends to help a child stay still and cooperative, which makes first aid easier for everyone.

What’s usually not an emergency

• A baby tooth knocked out is rarely urgent the way a permanent tooth is, but still needs a dentist to check it
• A small chip with no pain and no visible pink centre can usually wait for a routine appointment
• Mild gum bleeding that settles with gentle pressure isn’t on its own a reason to go to A&E

The specific guide for the injury will tell you how urgent it actually is — you don’t need to guess.

Three things to remember

1. Don’t panic. Most dental injuries in children recover well when assessed promptly.
2. Don’t guess whether it’s serious. Use the table above to find the right guide.
3. Follow the specific guide, not general instinct — baby and permanent teeth, and different types of injury, are treated differently.

Being prepared before it happens

• Save your dentist’s number, including any out-of-hours line, somewhere you can find it quickly
• Know your nearest NHS 111 option or emergency dental service
• Keep a small dental trauma kit at home, so you’re not searching for milk or a clean container in the moment

Most dental injuries in children recover well when they’re assessed promptly. You don’t need to remember every detail — just recognise the type of injury and follow the right guide.

Print this before you need it

Download the free Knocked-Out Tooth Poster to keep on the fridge or in a first-aid drawer at home. Download free

Being prepared also means having what you need on hand. Learn about the ToothRevive Kit

Frequently Asked Questions

How common are dental injuries in children?

Very common — dental trauma is one of the most frequent childhood injuries, with falls, play, and sport being the leading causes, especially between ages 7 and 12.

What should I do if my child’s tooth is knocked out?

Stay calm, find the tooth, and if it’s an adult tooth, store it in milk or a proper storage solution and get to a dentist within the hour. If it’s a baby tooth, don’t try to reinsert it, but still see a dentist to check for other damage.

Does it matter if it’s a baby tooth or adult tooth?

Yes — adult teeth can sometimes be saved and re-implanted if you act fast, while baby teeth are not put back in, since this can harm the developing adult tooth underneath.

When should I take my child to the dentist after an injury?

As soon as possible. A knocked-out permanent tooth needs emergency dental care — NHS guidance says this should be within 1 hour, or as soon as possible. A badly displaced tooth also needs urgent assessment, though not necessarily within a specific time window. Even a minor-looking chip or bump is worth a non-urgent dental appointment, as damage isn’t always visible.

Can I prevent dental injuries in active children?

You can reduce the risk with a properly fitted mouthguard for sports, close supervision during play, and keeping a dental trauma kit on hand at home, school, or in the sports bag.

Related guides

• What to do if a permanent tooth is knocked out
• What to do if a baby tooth is knocked out
• How to tell a baby tooth from a permanent tooth
• What to do if a tooth is chipped or broken
• What to do if a tooth becomes loose after an injury
• What to do if a tooth is pushed in, out or sideways
• Dentist, NHS 111, A&E or 999: where to get help for a dental injury

References

• International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT), Guidelines for the Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries, 2020 (current as of August 2026)
• NHS, Knocked-out tooth, nhs.uk

This guide does not replace assessment by a dentist or emergency service. It reflects current international and UK guidance, reviewed by Dr Yousuf Ibrahim, BDS.