My Baby's Tooth Was Knocked Out or Loosened by a Fall
The short answer
If a baby tooth is knocked out, do NOT try to replant it (unlike permanent teeth). Apply gentle pressure with gauze to stop bleeding. If a tooth is loosened or displaced, see a dentist within 24 hours. If a tooth is pushed up into the gum (intruded), see a dentist promptly as this can affect the permanent tooth developing underneath. Save any tooth fragments for the dentist to examine.
Parents everywhere have the same worry. You are doing the right thing by looking into it.
By Age
What to expect by age
Dental trauma is extremely rare before teeth erupt. If your young baby has gum bleeding from a fall or impact to the mouth, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth. If bleeding does not stop within 10 minutes or the gum is significantly cut, seek medical attention.
Newly erupting teeth can be damaged by falls. If a newly erupted tooth is loosened, see a dentist within 24 hours. The dentist may recommend monitoring the tooth. Watch for changes in tooth color (pink, gray, or dark) over the following weeks, which may indicate nerve damage.
As babies learn to stand and walk, falls affecting the front teeth become common. Upper front teeth are most frequently injured. After any mouth injury: control bleeding with gentle pressure, check all teeth for looseness or displacement, and look inside the mouth for cuts. An intruded tooth (pushed up into the gum) needs dental evaluation to protect the permanent tooth bud.
Toddlers fall frequently while learning to walk and run. If a baby tooth is completely knocked out, do not replant it as this can damage the permanent tooth underneath. Control bleeding and see a dentist. If a tooth is pushed sideways, your dentist may reposition it. Keep the tooth or fragments to show the dentist.
Active play increases dental trauma risk. If a tooth is chipped, save the fragment and see the dentist. A broken tooth exposing pink tissue (pulp) needs urgent dental care. After any dental trauma, monitor the affected tooth for weeks to months for color changes, which may indicate the tooth nerve has died. Your dentist will guide follow-up.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Minor gum bleeding after a bump that stops within 10 minutes with gentle pressure
- A slightly loose tooth that tightens back up on its own within a few weeks
- A small chip on a tooth that does not expose pink pulp tissue
- A tooth is noticeably loose after a fall
- You notice a tooth changing color in the weeks after an injury
- A small chip on a tooth and you want to know if it needs repair
- A tooth is pushed up into the gum (intruded), pushed significantly out of alignment, or knocked out completely - see a dentist as soon as possible
- A tooth is broken with pink tissue visible, there is heavy bleeding that will not stop, or your child has jaw pain or cannot close their mouth normally after a fall
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 Medical Concerns
Baby Chipped or Knocked Out a Tooth
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.
Could My Baby Have a Dental Abscess?
A dental abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection, usually from an untreated cavity. Signs include a visible bump or boil on the gum near a tooth, swelling of the face or cheek, pain (especially when chewing), fever, and foul taste in the mouth. A dental abscess needs prompt treatment by a dentist because the infection can spread. Treatment may include antibiotics, drainage, and addressing the underlying tooth problem.
My Baby Has a Split or Cut Lip
Split lips from falls are very common in babies and toddlers. The lip area bleeds heavily because of its rich blood supply, so injuries often look worse than they are. Apply firm pressure with a clean cloth for 15 minutes. Small cuts that do not cross the border between the lip skin and facial skin (the vermilion border) usually heal well on their own. Cuts that cross this border, are deep, gaping, or very long may need stitches for the best cosmetic result.
My Baby Bit or Cut Their Tongue
Tongue injuries are common in babies and toddlers and often look worse than they are because the tongue has an excellent blood supply. Most tongue lacerations heal well without stitches. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth for 15 minutes. Small cuts (less than half an inch) on the tip or surface usually heal quickly on their own. Cuts that are deep, gaping, or on the edge of the tongue may need medical evaluation for possible sutures.
My Baby's Head Shape Looks Abnormal
Many babies develop temporary head shape irregularities that are completely normal. A cone-shaped head from vaginal delivery reshapes within days. Mild positional flattening (plagiocephaly) from sleeping on the back is very common and usually improves with repositioning and tummy time. However, head shape changes involving ridges, a persistently bulging fontanelle, or rapid head growth changes should be evaluated to rule out craniosynostosis.
Achondroplasia (Dwarfism) in Babies
Achondroplasia is the most common form of short-limbed dwarfism, affecting about 1 in 15,000 to 40,000 births. It is caused by a mutation in the FGFR3 gene and is usually apparent at birth with characteristic features including short limbs, a larger head, and a prominent forehead. Intelligence is normal. With monitoring for specific complications and supportive care, children with achondroplasia lead full, active, and independent lives.