Whether it’s stacking it off a BMX, slipping on wet tiles, or face-planting off the monkey bars, childhood is filled with high-energy adventures—and the occasional dental disaster. One moment your child is grinning ear to ear, the next they’re holding their mouth with a tooth missing and blood showing up. As a parent or caregiver, it’s a heart-stopping moment. What just happened? Is it serious? And what should you do next?
Understanding the most common dental injuries in children—and how to react—can help turn panic into calm action. More importantly, it can mean the difference between saving a tooth and long-term damage.
1. Knocked-out tooth
One of the most dramatic dental injuries is when a tooth gets completely knocked out. Also known as an avulsed tooth, this often occurs during contact sports, falls, or playground accidents.
Baby teeth: If a baby tooth is knocked out, don’t try to put it back. Doing so can damage the developing adult tooth underneath. Instead, comfort your child, apply a cold compress to reduce swelling, and see a dentist to check for any remaining tooth fragments or hidden injuries.
Permanent teeth: Time matters. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, gently rinse off any dirt with milk or saline — but avoid scrubbing. If the tooth is clean, try to reinsert it into the socket. If that’s not possible, or the tooth is too dirty, place it in milk or your child’s saliva and get to a dentist within 30 minutes.
2. Chipped or fractured tooth
Small chips are common and may not cause pain, but deeper fractures that expose the nerve can be painful and increase infection risk. Both types of injuries need attention — but the more serious the damage, the more urgent the response.
What to do: Rinse your child’s mouth with warm water, and check for bleeding or fragments. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and collect any broken pieces in milk or saline. A dentist can usually smooth minor chips or bond them back. More serious fractures may require a filling, crown, or even root canal therapy.
3. Tooth pushed out of position
Sometimes a tooth isn’t knocked out but instead is moved from its normal position—either pushed deeper into the gums or displaced sideways. This is called luxation or subluxation.
Signs to look for: The tooth looks shorter or longer, appears crooked, or feels loose. Your child may complain of discomfort or trouble biting down.
What to do: Avoid touching or wiggling the tooth. Offer soft foods and pain relief if necessary. Seek dental attention promptly, especially for permanent teeth, as repositioning may be needed. Baby teeth may naturally adjust or fall out, but still need to be checked for underlying trauma.
4. Injuries to the lips, tongue, and cheeks
Biting the tongue or getting a lip caught in between teeth during a fall is a surprisingly common way for kids to sustain soft tissue injuries.
How to handle it: Rinse the area gently with warm saltwater. Apply a clean cloth or gauze with gentle pressure to control bleeding. Cold compresses help reduce swelling and ease pain. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of pressure, or if the wound is deep, seek medical or dental attention. Stitches might be required.
5. Tooth pushed up into the gums
More common in toddlers who fall face-first, a tooth can be forcibly pushed up into the gum — this is called an intruded tooth. In some cases, it’s driven partway into the jawbone.
Why it’s serious: The force can damage the developing adult tooth underneath and may cause long-term issues if not managed properly. Sometimes the tooth will re-emerge naturally; other times it may require intervention.
What to do: Don’t try to pull the tooth out. Visit a dentist promptly for X-rays and a treatment plan.
6. Fractured jaw or facial bones
A hard blow to the face from a fall, sports injury, or car accident can result in a jaw fracture. Signs include difficulty opening the mouth, swelling, bruising, or misaligned teeth.
Emergency care needed: This is a medical emergency. Stabilise your child, apply a cold compress, and go to the emergency department or call an ambulance. Once stabilised, a dentist or oral surgeon will assist with dental recovery.
7. Bumped tooth, but still in place
Not all dental injuries are obvious. A tooth concussion happens when a tooth takes a hit but doesn’t move out of position or break. It might feel sore to touch or bite, even though it looks completely normal.
Observation is key: Watch for colour changes, increasing pain, or sensitivity — these can be signs of nerve damage. It’s best to schedule a dental checkup to make sure the tooth is healthy and the root hasn’t been affected.
Can you dodge a dental drama?
You can’t stop every tumble, but you can lower the odds of injury. A mouthguard is a must for footy, netball, scooters — anything fast and full-on. The best protection comes from a custom one made by your dentist, but even a basic version from the chemist is better than nothing.
Teach kids how to fall safely — hands out, and turn their face away from the ground. Keep an eye on monkey bars and slippery playgrounds, especially after rain. Speak up when you spot risk-taking with an outsized downside — big consequences, not much to learn. And don’t skip the regular checkups. A good dentist can spot trouble before it turns into a tooth fairy emergency.
Stay calm, act fast, and see the dentist
When a dental injury happens, your first move should be to check in with a dentist. Many injuries that look dramatic — with blood, swelling or a missing tooth — only turn out to be manageable because a professional steps in early. The sooner you act, the better the outcome.
Whether it’s a chipped baby tooth or a serious knock to a permanent one, your dentist is your best ally in protecting your child’s long-term oral health. If you’re unsure about something, don’t wait. Reach out to your dentist — better to check early than to worry later. Being prepared means you can stay calm, act fast and get your child smiling again sooner.
