Baby Chipped or Knocked Out a Tooth
The short answer
Dental injuries are common in toddlers who are learning to walk and run. A chipped baby tooth usually just needs smoothing by a dentist. A knocked-out baby tooth should NOT be reimplanted (unlike permanent teeth), as reimplanting can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. A tooth that has been pushed up into the gum (intruded) needs dental evaluation but often re-erupts on its own. The most important step is controlling bleeding and watching for infection.
Parents everywhere have the same worry. You are doing the right thing by looking into it.
By Age
What to expect by age
6-12 months
As babies learn to pull up and cruise, falls are common and front teeth may take the impact. Because babies have so few teeth at this age, damage to the developing tooth buds below the gum is the main concern. If a tooth is chipped, save the fragment if possible. If a tooth is pushed into the gum after impact, see a pediatric dentist within 24 hours for evaluation.
1-3 years
This is the most common age for dental injuries. Toddlers fall frequently, and the front teeth are most vulnerable. For a chipped tooth: rinse with water, apply cold compress for swelling, and see a dentist within 1-2 days. For a completely knocked-out baby tooth: do NOT try to put it back in. Control bleeding with gauze, apply a cold compress, and call your dentist. For a very loose tooth: soft foods only and dental evaluation within 24 hours. For a tooth pushed into the gum: see a dentist within 24 hours - most intruded baby teeth re-erupt on their own within 2-6 months.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- A small chip on the edge of a tooth from a minor bump
- Mild bleeding from the gum area around a bumped tooth that stops within 10 minutes
- A tooth that seems slightly loose after a bump but firms up within a few days
- The lip or gum swelling after a fall that improves over a few days
- A tooth is visibly chipped and you want it smoothed or assessed
- A tooth seems loose after a fall but your child can still eat comfortably
- You see a crack line in a tooth after trauma
- The gum around an injured tooth changes color over the following weeks
- A tooth has been completely knocked out or is hanging by a thread
- A tooth has been pushed up into the gum (intruded) after a fall
- There is significant bleeding that does not stop with 10 minutes of firm pressure
- Your child has a broken jaw - visible deformity, inability to open or close mouth, or severe pain
- An injured tooth develops swelling, pus, or a bump on the gum above it (abscess)
Sources
Related Resources
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
Worrying about your baby means you care. That is a good thing.
Related Physical Concerns
Baby Fell Off the Bed or Couch
Falls from beds, couches, and changing tables are one of the most common accidents in infancy. Most falls from furniture height (2-3 feet) do not cause serious injury, but every fall involving the head deserves careful monitoring. If your baby cried immediately after the fall and is now acting normally - alert, feeding, and moving all limbs - serious injury is unlikely. However, certain warning signs require immediate medical evaluation.
Baby Tooth Turning Gray or Dark
A baby tooth turning gray or dark usually happens after a bump or fall that damages the blood supply inside the tooth. This can happen within days of the injury or weeks later. A darkened tooth does not always mean it is "dead" or infected - many gray teeth remain healthy and eventually fall out normally when the permanent tooth is ready. However, a darkened tooth should be evaluated by a dentist to check for signs of infection.
Baby Hit Their Head - When to Worry
Head bumps are extremely common in babies and toddlers. The vast majority do not cause serious injury. The PECARN guidelines, used by emergency physicians, help identify which children need imaging after head trauma. The most important things to watch for are loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, abnormal behavior, and a worsening headache. A "goose egg" bump, brief crying, and mild fussiness are normal responses to a head bump and do not indicate brain injury.
My Baby Seems to Use One Side More Than the Other
Babies should use both sides of their body fairly equally during the first 18 months of life. While slight preferences can be normal, a consistent pattern of favoring one side - using one arm much more than the other, crawling with one leg dragging, or turning the head predominantly one way - should always be discussed with your pediatrician. Early identification of asymmetry leads to the best outcomes.
My Baby Only Army Crawls
Army crawling (also called commando crawling) is a completely valid and normal way for babies to move. Many babies army crawl for weeks or even months before transitioning to hands-and-knees crawling, and some skip hands-and-knees crawling entirely. What matters is that your baby is independently mobile and exploring their environment.
One Side of My Baby's Body Moves Differently
Babies should generally use both sides of their body equally. If one side consistently moves differently, is weaker, stiffer, or less coordinated, this warrants evaluation. Asymmetric movement can indicate hemiplegia (cerebral palsy affecting one side), brachial plexus injury, or other neurological conditions that benefit from early therapy.