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If your child falls and hits their mouth, clean the area and see how severe the trauma is to their mouth. If they knock out a baby tooth, make sure they did not aspirate it (breathe it into their lungs), clean the area, apply pressure to their mouth to stop the bleeding, and give them ibuprofen (do not give aspirin). If your child knocks a permanent tooth (the top front teeth are the most common), find the tooth and place it into a container with milk. Do not scrub the tooth clean. Call Dr. Clark immediately so your child can be seen to have the tooth placed back into place. The quicker your child is treated then the better the outcome will be for the permanent tooth.

Preventing Injuries to the Mouth

A properly fitted soft mouth guard can protect your child's teeth, cheeks, lips, gums, and smile. Many experts recommend that a mouth guard be worn for any recreational activity that poses a risk of injury to the mouth. Sports in which a mouth guard should be worn include (but not limited to): basketball, football, baseball, soccer, softball, wrestling, martial arts, hockey, volleyball, skateboarding, lacrosse, boxing, and extreme sports.

There are 3 types of mouth guards:

  1. ready-made, or stock, mouth guard;
  2. mouth-formed 'boil-and-bite' mouth guard;
  3. custom-made mouth guard made by the dentist.

If your child doesn't have all of their permanent teeth then a 'boil-and-bite' mouth guard should be sufficient. The most effective mouth guard should be resilient, tear-resistant, and comfortable. It should fit properly, be easy to clean, and not restrict speech or breathing.

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