One of the most frightening things a parent can experience is hearing their child cry for help. Panic sets in immediately because you know something must be wrong. It gets even worse when you see that your child is injured—not just a scraped knee—but standing in front of you, holding something small and white, with blood streaming down their face. That little white object is their tooth.

Since they are a bit older, it’s one of their permanent teeth, which won’t grow back. This thought terrifies you even more because you fear it’s lost for good. While you’re concerned about the pain they are in, you’re also thinking about their future, knowing how important a healthy set of teeth is. But let me reassure you: there’s hope. If you act quickly and follow the correct steps, their tooth can be saved.

Here’s what you need to do:

First, you need to put the tooth back into its socket, but there are a few things to consider. Do not try this if your child is unconscious, as they could swallow the tooth. Hold the tooth by the crown (the top part), avoiding the root. Make sure you’re inserting it the right way and then hold it in place. Your child might not want you to hold it with your hand until you get to the dentist, so you can put a handkerchief in their mouth and have them bite down gently on it. If the tooth has dirt on it, rinse it off with milk or a saline solution to prevent infection.

If you can’t put the tooth back in, don’t worry. Wrap it in plastic cling wrap to protect it. You can also keep it in milk or saline solution until you get to the dentist, who can reinsert it for you.

There are some key things to avoid:

– Clean the tooth with only milk or a saline solution. Don’t use soap or scrub it.
– Never let the tooth dry out, as it will die more quickly.
– Avoid holding the tooth by the root; handle it by the crown instead.

Don’t stress over a baby tooth:

If it’s a baby tooth that’s been knocked out, you don’t need to worry as much. Do not try to reinsert it. Doing so can cause complications, such as damaging the permanent tooth underneath or fusing to the socket, which can create problems later on when the adult tooth grows in.