Urgent assessment
The priority is checking tooth position, gum injury, pain and whether medical care is also needed.
Knocked baby tooth
A knocked, moved or injured baby tooth after a fall should be assessed carefully because it can affect comfort, gums and developing adult teeth.
Last updated 2026-07-29
My child knocked a baby tooth. What should I do?
Falls and knocks to baby teeth are common, but they should still be taken seriously. The tooth may move, loosen, fracture or injure the gum, and decisions are different from adult tooth trauma.
What you may be worried about
- The baby tooth may have moved or damaged the gum.
- The adult tooth underneath may be affected.
- You may not know whether to put the tooth back or leave it.
Common patterns people notice
- knocked baby tooth
- moved tooth
- mouth injury
Possible causes
- A fall, trip, playground injury or sport accident.
- A direct knock to the mouth or tooth.
- A baby tooth being pushed, loosened or fractured.
When to treat this as urgent
Urgency level: urgent
- The tooth has moved position, become very loose or gone missing.
- There is bleeding, swelling, severe pain or the child cannot bite normally.
- There was a head injury, vomiting, drowsiness or broader medical concern.
What to do now
- Do not put a knocked-out baby tooth back into the socket.
- Use the emergency dental page if a baby tooth has moved, loosened, broken or gone missing after trauma.
- Seek medical care first for head injury symptoms, vomiting, drowsiness or broader concerns.
What to avoid
- Do not force a baby tooth back into position.
- Do not ignore bite changes, swelling, severe pain or a tooth that has moved.
When to arrange a dental assessment
- Arrange prompt assessment after a baby tooth is knocked, moved, loosened, broken or lost in a fall.
What a dentist may need to assess
- Tooth position, looseness, gum injury, pain, bite, whether the tooth is baby or adult, and whether follow-up is needed.
Options that may be considered
Monitoring
Some baby tooth injuries are monitored after assessment for colour change, infection or discomfort.
Treatment when needed
If a baby tooth is badly displaced, fractured or causing risk, treatment may be discussed.
What we would consider before recommending treatment
- Whether the tooth is baby or adult.
- Tooth position, looseness, bleeding and pain.
- Age, cooperation and medical concerns from the fall.
If it were our own teeth
If it were our child, we would seek advice early and avoid trying to force a baby tooth back into position.
A sensible next step
Use the emergency dental page if a child has knocked, moved, loosened or broken a baby tooth after a fall or accident.
Possible next steps
- Monitoring, comfort care, X-rays, removal of a risky baby tooth, trauma review or medical referral may be discussed.
- Review the urgent warning signs and decide whether the concern can wait for normal booking.
- Call the clinic if you need help deciding what to do next.
- Use normal booking when the concern is stable or planned.
- If symptoms are medically serious or worsening quickly, seek urgent medical help where appropriate.
Common questions
Should I put a knocked-out baby tooth back in?
No. A knocked-out baby tooth should not be replanted. Seek urgent dental advice.
Can a baby tooth injury affect the adult tooth?
Sometimes. This depends on the injury, age and tooth position, which is why assessment and follow-up may be recommended.
Need this reviewed urgently?
Use the emergency pathway for urgent dental problems. For planned care, book a normal appointment.