If it comes to that point, being scared or very young doesn't have to make it hard. For children who are frightened of the dentist, or simply too little to sit still for treatment, we offer laughing gas or can carry out the whole thing under sleep dentistry for kids under general anaesthesia, so your child stays asleep through it and remembers none of it.A boy not quite two came in recently after a fall that hurt two of his upper front baby teeth. One had been pushed up into the gum, and the other was loose, with a small chip off the edge. Since there was no infection, we decided to leave the loose tooth alone and keep a close eye on it, rather than taking it out. As Dr Ellie Nadian explains, pulling a baby tooth can damage the adult tooth still forming underneath. But that is not the right call for every loose baby tooth after a fall. So let's look at when we leave a loose tooth to settle on its own, and when we decide to take it out.
Why We Chose to Leave the Loose Tooth Alone
With this little boy, the deciding factor was simple. Our Brisbane paediatric dentist explains that there was no sign of infection. The tooth had been knocked loose and had a small chip, but it was only moderately wobbly, not hanging by a thread, and he was still very young. In a situation like that, pulling the tooth can do more harm than good, because the adult tooth is developing right beneath the roots and taking the baby tooth out can disturb it. So rather than remove it, we kept things simple. An antiseptic gel to the area twice a day for a week, soft food for a while longer, gentle brushing, and a review about a month later. The one thing that would change the plan is infection. If that turns up, the tooth may need to come out to protect the adult tooth underneath.
If it comes to that point, being scared or very young doesn't have to make it hard. For children who are frightened of the dentist, or simply too little to sit still for treatment, we offer laughing gas or can carry out the whole thing under sleep dentistry for kids under general anaesthesia, so your child stays asleep through it and remembers none of it.The Signs That Would Change Our Plan and Lead Us to Remove the Tooth
Watching the tooth only works while it stays settled. A few things would tip us back toward taking it out, and each one is something you can notice at home.
- A gum boil: A small pimple or blister on your child’s gum above the tooth means infection is collecting underneath. This is the most common reason a monitored tooth ends up coming out, since the infection sits right next to the developing adult tooth.
- Spreading swelling: Puffiness of the gum, lip, or cheek, especially if it keeps growing or the child also runs a fever, points to an infection that should be seen the same day.
- Pain that does not settle: A little tenderness in the first few days is normal. Pain that lingers, wakes your child at night, or puts them off eating suggests the tooth is not healing.
- A tooth that stays loose or gets looser: A knocked tooth should slowly firm up again. One that stays very loose, or works its way loose enough to fall out on its own, may need to come out so it cannot be swallowed or breathed in.
- A darkening tooth with other signs: A baby tooth often goes grey after a knock, and on its own that is usually just watched. It is the darkening together with swelling, a gum boil, or pain that tells us to act.
If you spot any of these, give us a call for the review (07) 3343 4880. The sooner we see it, the more we can do to protect the adult tooth underneath.
Caring for Your Child’s Mouth in the First Week
The first week is mostly about keeping things calm and clean. Stick to soft food for a week or so. Think yoghurt, scrambled egg, pasta, mashed potato, soft fruit, nothing hard or crunchy, and try to keep your child from biting into things with the front teeth while the area settles. Keep brushing, but gently. A soft toothbrush around the tooth twice a day, along with the antiseptic gel we recommended, keeps the gum clean and lowers the chance of an infection taking hold. Let the tooth rest, too. Little ones love to wiggle a loose tooth with a tongue or a finger, and a dummy or bottle pressed against it does not help either, so gently steer them away. Some tenderness in the first few days is normal and usually settles on its own. If your child seems sore, simple pain relief can help, though check with us on what suits their age. Mostly, just watch, keep it clean, and let it heal.
When a Bumped Baby Tooth Turns Grey
When a baby tooth takes a knock, tiny blood vessels inside it can bleed, and the colour shows through as a grey or brownish tinge. Think of it as a bruise inside the tooth. It often shows up a week or two later. Sometimes longer. Here is the part most parents do not expect: a colour change by itself does not tell us the tooth is dead or needs pulling. Some grey teeth settle and even lighten again over the following months. Others stay discoloured but sit there quite happily until they fall out on their own. What we watch for is a colour change plus something else, a gum boil, swelling, or pain, because that points to infection rather than a simple bruise. So if your child's tooth turns grey, book a check, but do not panic. We look at the colour at the review and treat the tooth, not the shade.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for personal dental or medical advice. Every child and every injury is different. If your child has hurt a tooth or their mouth, please see a dentist for an assessment. In an emergency, call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
Get Your Child’s Tooth Checked By Our Paediatric Team
If your child has loosened or bumped a tooth, book a review, and we will check it properly and talk you through what happens next. You can call us at: (07) 3343 4880.Page Navigation
