From roller-skate spills to playground collisions, kids’ teeth can take sudden knocks. Acting quickly makes a big difference. A Basel dental expert explains the first steps parents should take when dental accidents happen — before you reach the dentist.
Playground falls, sports bumps, or even biting into something hard can leave a child clutching their mouth in pain. Basel-based dentists from Dienotfallzahnärzte.ch explain how parents can tell what needs urgent care — and what can safely wait until morning.
Not every toothache means your child needs to rush to the dentist right away, but some problems can’t wait because they might cause permanent damage or spread dangerous infections through the body.
These Problems Need Help Right Now:
Regular tooth sensitivity or mild soreness usually isn’t an emergency, especially if pain medicine helps and your child can still go about their day.
The first few minutes after a dental injury make a huge difference, especially with knocked-out teeth, where you only have about an hour to save the tooth.
When a Tooth Falls Out
Pick up the tooth by the white top (the crown), never the root. Rinse off dirt with water, but don’t scrub away pink tissue that’s still attached. If possible, gently place the tooth back into the socket. If not, put it in a cup of milk (never water, which damages the root) while you get emergency help.
When Pain Won’t Stop
Have your child swish warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water) to reduce germs and ease infection. Floss carefully to remove any stuck food. Place an ice pack wrapped in a towel on the cheek for 15 minutes to numb pain and reduce swelling. Never put pain pills directly on gums — they can burn the tissue.
When a Tooth Breaks
Find any broken pieces and rinse your child’s mouth with warm water. Press gauze on bleeding spots until they stop. Protect the tongue and cheeks from sharp edges by covering them with sugar-free gum or dental wax on the tooth while you head for treatment.
These tricks can help kids feel better temporarily, but they don’t fix the real problem — only a dentist can.
Give ibuprofen or acetaminophen according to the label or your pediatrician’s guidance. Dabbing a tiny bit of clove oil on the sore spot with a cotton swab may help. Propping your child up with extra pillows can ease throbbing, and sticking to soft, room-temperature foods keeps teeth comfortable.
Natural Ways to Ease the Hurt:
Some mouth injuries are too serious for a dentist’s office and need hospital care.
Go straight to the ER if you think your child’s jaw is broken, if they can’t breathe or swallow because of swelling, or if they have a fever with facial swelling (a sign infection is spreading). These situations can be dangerous if you wait too long.
Most dental emergencies happen because small problems get ignored until they turn into big ones.
Schedule check-ups twice a year so cavities can be caught early. Make sure kids brush and floss daily to stop germs from causing trouble. Use a mouth guard during sports, don’t let them open bottles or packages with their teeth, and get minor pains checked before they become major issues.
Dental accidents love to happen on weekends or holidays when regular clinics are closed. Knowing where to go ahead of time saves precious minutes when your child is in pain.
Some dentists give families a special emergency phone number. Walk-in emergency clinics are also open to everyone. Keep insurance details, a list of medicines, and any allergies written down in advance so you don’t have to scramble in the middle of a crisis.
Bad tooth problems never pick convenient times to happen, but knowing what to do and acting fast often saves teeth and prevents bigger troubles down the road. These home treatments help for a little while, but you still need professional emergency dental care in your area to fix what's really wrong and stop it from happening again.
