Children, Teen Athletes, and Dental Protection
(PART 3)
What NOT to Do After Dental Trauma
Mistakes made in the first minutes after a dental injury can turn a salvageable situation into a permanent loss.
One of the most common errors is storing a knocked-out tooth in water.
Plain water damages the delicate cells on the root surface that are essential for reimplantation.
Milk, saline, or saliva are far better options. If none are available, having the patient hold the tooth inside their cheek is preferable to water.
Another frequent mistake is scrubbing the tooth to clean it. The root surface has a thin layer of living cells called the periodontal ligament. Scrubbing destroys these cells and dramatically reduces the chance of successful reimplantation. A gentle rinse is all that is needed.
Many people also assume that if a tooth does not hurt, it must be fine. This is not reliable.
Teeth can sustain internal damage or root fractures that are not immediately painful but worsen over time.
A tooth that looks intact and feels okay after an impact should still be evaluated.
Waiting until the next day, or worse, waiting to see if symptoms develop, can allow damage to progress. Infection, root resorption, or nerve death may occur silently. When it comes to dental trauma, prompt evaluation is always the safer choice.
Being Prepared
Athletes, parents, and coaches benefit from having an emergency plan in place. Save the dentist’s contact information in your phone. Know the location of the nearest emergency dental clinic. Consider keeping a small emergency kit with a clean container and saline solution. Being prepared reduces panic and improves the chances of a positive outcome when an injury occurs.