If your child has lost consciousness, is vomiting, seems confused, or has a serious head or facial injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room first. Teeth can wait; a head injury can’t.
First, figure out: baby tooth or permanent tooth?
The rules differ. A general guide by age:
| Baby (primary) tooth | Permanent tooth | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical age | Up to about 6 to 7 (front teeth loosen earlier) | About 6 and older |
| Re-insert? | No. It can damage the developing tooth underneath. | Yes, if you can do so gently, right away |
| Urgency | Call the dentist the same day | Call immediately. Minutes count. |
If you’re not sure which tooth it is, treat it as permanent and call us.
If it’s a permanent tooth: step by step
- Stay calm and find the tooth. Your calm helps your child stay calm.
- Handle only the crown. Pick it up by the white chewing part, not the root.
- Rinse gently if dirty. Use milk or water for a few seconds. Don’t scrub or use soap, and don’t wipe or remove attached tissue.
- Try to place it back. Gently ease it into the socket, facing the right way, and have your child bite softly on a clean cloth to hold it. Skip this step if your child is very young, very upset, or could swallow the tooth.
- If you can’t re-insert it, keep it wet. Place it in a cup of milk or saline, or hold it between your child’s cheek and gum if they’re old enough and alert. Don’t store it in plain tap water.
- Call us right away. Call (503) 822-0096. We’ll tell you what to do next and tell you what to do next and do our best to see your child promptly.
If it’s a baby tooth
- Do not try to put it back in.
- Gently control bleeding with clean gauze or a cloth, and have your child bite on it.
- Use a cold compress on the lip or cheek for swelling.
- Call us the same day. We’ll check the area, make sure no piece of tooth remains, and monitor the permanent tooth underneath.
- Keep your child comfortable. Soft foods for a day or two can help.
Other dental injuries: chipped, loosened, or pushed-in teeth
Chipped tooth
Save the piece if you can and keep it moist in milk. Call us the same day. Sharp edges can cut lips and tongue.
Loose or shifted tooth
Don’t force it back. Call us promptly and stick to soft foods.
Tooth pushed into the gum
Call immediately. This needs prompt evaluation, whether or not it hurts.
Cut lip, tongue, or cheek
Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze. If bleeding doesn’t stop in about 10 minutes, seek emergency care.
Our pediatric emergency dentist page and general emergency dentist page outline how we handle urgent visits for kids and adults in Beaverton, Aloha, and Hillsboro.
A grab-and-go plan for your home and car
You don’t need a fancy kit. Preparing ahead means less scrambling when it counts:
- Save Bien Dental’s number, (503) 822-0096, and your child’s pediatrician’s number in your phone.
- Keep a small container with a tight lid in your first-aid kit, ready for a tooth.
- Tuck clean gauze into your bag or car for bleeding lips and gums.
- Teach older kids the basics: “Pick it up by the top, keep it wet, tell a grown-up.”
- Ask coaches and caregivers to keep the same information on hand.
If you’re at a park or field around Beaverton, Aloha, or Hillsboro and the injury happens away from home, a cup of milk from a nearby store or a cafe is perfectly good tooth storage in a pinch. Ask any staff member. Most are happy to help, and the tooth’s survival matters more than any awkwardness.
What NOT to do
- Don’t re-insert a baby tooth.
- Don’t scrub the root or remove tissue clinging to it.
- Don’t let the tooth dry out.
- Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or soap on a knocked-out tooth.
- If our office is closed, do not wait until morning: go to an emergency room.
Prevention: the mouthguard conversation
Many mouth injuries happen on playgrounds, bikes, scooters, and ball fields, all common around Beaverton’s parks and neighborhoods. A well-fitting mouthguard is one of the best protections for active kids in contact and collision sports. Read more on our mouthguards and sports dentistry page, and see our back-to-school checklist for mouthguard timing.
After the emergency
Follow-up matters even when things look fine. A tooth that has been injured can change color, become loose, or develop problems weeks or months later. We’ll schedule check-ins and let you know what to watch for. If your child is shaken, be kind to yourself and to them. Accidents happen to well-supervised, well-loved kids every day.
Save our number in your phone now: (503) 822-0096. And if you need a routine visit, request an appointment.
This article is general education, not a diagnosis or a substitute for an exam. If your child has swelling, fever or serious pain, call us right away; in a life-threatening emergency, call 911.