Did you know that on average 1 in 12 children in Ireland will break a permanent tooth before the age of 15?  With children actively partaking in sport and play from an early age, you never know when a dental emergency may occur.

Following these tips will help you to be prepared for the unexpected:

• Displaced teeth: If a tooth is pushed in or out, use light finger pressure to move the tooth back to its normal position.  Do not force the tooth.  Use a moist cloth or gauze to hold the tooth in place.  See a dentist within 30 minutes.
• Toothache: To combat toothache, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it.  Use floss to remove any food that may be trapped between teeth.  You must visit your dentist as soon as possible to find the cause of the toothache.
• Tears and Cuts: For tears, cuts or punctures to the cheeks, lips or tongue clean the wound immediately with warm water and then go to a hospital or emergency centre for treatment.  If there is a cut to the tongue, pull the tongue forward and apply pressure to the area with clean gauze to stop the bleeding.
• Knocked Out Tooth: If a tooth is knocked out, it is vital to get your child to the dentist immediately.  If the dentist replants a knocked out tooth within 30 minutes, it may be possible to save the tooth.

1. Find and pick up the tooth by the enamel or top portion of the tooth to prevent damage to the root.
2. Handle the tooth as little as possible and do no touch the root.
3. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it with cold running water for 10 seconds.
4. If possible, replace the rinsed tooth in the socket and hold it in place with your fingers.  Ask your child to gently bite down on it.
5. If you cannot replace the tooth in the scoket, keep it moist in a container of milk.
6. Transport the tooth to your dentist as soon as possible either in the container of milk or in your child’s mouth.
7. For “baby” teeth, do not try to replace the tooth in the socket.  This could damage the formation of the permanent tooth bud.