• A severe impact in the head area or directly on a tooth during a fall or other incident.

A broken tooth requires you to go to a dentist’s office as soon as possible. The shorter the time between the incident and treatment, the better the chances of saving the affected tooth. Immediately after the incident, you can perform a few actions that will make the dentist’s work easier:

• First, see if your child is in pain and reassure him or her;
• Check that no pieces of tooth are embedded in the gum and gently rinse the child’s mouth with warm water;
• If possible, collect the broken piece of tooth and immerse it in a saline solution (dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water), in a dental first aid box, sold in a pharmacy, or in milk;
• Go to your dentist as soon as possible so that your dentist can act quickly.

During the emergency visit, the dentist will check if the germ of the adult tooth, located below the milk tooth, is affected, which could hinder its future growth.

Only the dentist is competent to decide on the appropriate care for a broken milk tooth. Treatment will depend on the severity of the fracture.

• If the tooth has only a small fracture in the enamel and the nerve is not affected, a simple polishing can easily solve the problem;
• If a larger piece of tooth has been broken, the dentist may try to glue it back together, if the piece is in good condition. Otherwise, a restoration with a suitable material may be performed.

If your child has received a major impact on his teeth, it is essential to consult a dentist as soon as possible because internal injuries may have been caused, especially to the root and pulp of the teeth. These lesions could lead to complications such as the formation of an abscess if not treated by an oral health professional.

It is difficult to prevent a fall or accident. However, a few precautionary measures can be put in place to minimize the risk of a baby tooth fracture:

• Have your child wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or scooter. The helmet will significantly reduce the impact of a fall;
• Adapt parts of the house to make them safer. For example, place the coffee table in the living room near a wall and not in the centre of the room to avoid bad falls. If your child is used to being turbulent in the bathroom, place a towel on the rim of the bathtub to cushion the impact if it falls nearby;
• Finally, to ensure the health of your child’s teeth, watch brushing carefully and encourage them to take care of their teeth from an early age. Regular dental check-ups, once or twice a year, will also help prevent many problems.