If an infant or young child suffers an injury to the gums or teeth that causes bleeding, parents are often advised to run cold water over a piece of gauze and apply pressure gently to the injury site. Sucking on an ice pop may help reduce swelling until the child can see a dentist.

Children who visit a dentist after a tooth injury will have their lips, tongue and gums examined for all tooth fragments that may have broken loose during the injury. A dentist often can determine the severity of the injury based on whether or not the tooth is loose and whether or not the tooth is tender to the touch.

In some – but not all – cases, x-rays may be helpful in determining the extent of the injury. If a primary tooth has been knocked completely loose, a space maintainer may be used to prevent other teeth from moving into any gap created by the loss of the injured tooth. If the injured tooth is still in the mouth, the dentist will determine whether the tooth needs to be realigned or removed.

Injuries to baby teeth do not require replacement of the tooth, because permanent teeth will soon grow in its place. In addition, primary teeth that are displaced should not be replanted. Replanting can damage developing permanent tooth germs and often results in death of the pulp. In some cases a device called a space maintainer is placed where the baby tooth was knocked out. This helps to prevent other teeth from crowding into the area before the permanent tooth has a chance to emerge.

For the next several days following injury and treatment, parents are urged to watch for signs of an abscess, such as fever and swollen or tender gums at the site of the injury.