Kids love to play rough. Unfortunately, rough-and-tumble play can lead to accidents. If your child's romping around has led to a tooth being knocked out, you'll need to act fast. The dentist may be able to prevent permanent loss, especially if you get there before the tooth has been permanently damaged. Here's the steps you should take as soon as your child loses a permanent tooth.

Stop the Bleeding

If there is a significant amount of bleeding, you'll need to get that stopped. Have your child bite down on a clean piece of medical gauze until the bleeding stops. Next, offer your child a frozen treat, such as a juice pop. The cold will help reduce the swelling and pain. It will also stop any residual bleeding at the wound site.

Find the Tooth

The first thing you need to do is find the tooth. If it's broken into several pieces, be sure you locate all the pieces. There are two reasons why finding the tooth is important. First, it will ensure that your child has not accidentally swallowed all or part of the tooth. Second, if the tooth is intact, you may be able to re-insert it and prevent a permanent tooth loss.

Preserve the Tooth

If the entire tooth was knocked out, you'll want to preserve the tooth until you can get to the dentist. There are a couple of ways to do this.

In the Mouth

If your child is old enough, place the missing tooth in their mouth between the cheek and the gums. The saliva inside your child's mouth will protect the tooth and prevent the root from drying out.

In Milk

If your child is not old enough to safely place the tooth in their mouth, a small amount of milk is the next best way to protect the tooth. Pour a small amount of milk–-enough to cover the tooth--in a resealable plastic bag and place the tooth inside. Seal the bag and take it with you to the dentist.

Go For Help

Now that you've found and preserved the tooth, you'll need to get to a dentist, perhaps someone like Russell Pollina, DDS. Be sure to call ahead so that the dentist knows you're bringing a tooth with you. This will cut down the amount of time you have to wait before being seen by the dentist.

Accidents happen, especially when kids play rough. If you're child has lost a tooth, these instructions will help reduce the chances of a permanent loss.