First of all, handle the tooth by the crown (smooth white part) not the root.
Gently rinse the tooth in milk or normal saline solution if it has dirt or blood on it. Rinse for a few seconds only.
Replace the tooth in its socket if the child is conscious – make sure the tooth is facing the right way around.
Hold the tooth in place with some foil or by asking the child to gently bite on a handkerchief.
Contact your dentist immediately.
IF YOU CANT RE PLACE THE TOOTH:
Wrap it in plastic cling wrap or store it in milk or normal saline solution.
Contact your dentist.
YOU SHOULD NOT:
try and clean the tooth with vigorous scrubbing or cleaning agents
handle the tooth by the root
allow the tooth to dry out
YOU SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO PUT A BABY TOOTH BACK INTO THE SOCKET BECAUSE:
It may fuse to the socket, which leads to difficulties when it is time for the tooth to fall out
It may damage the permanent tooth underneath.
Ian, the Mosman dentist. Dentist Mosman.
Image:Pixabay
