🎄 Why Dental Trauma Is More Common During the Festive Season
School holidays, sport, beach trips, and excited celebrations often mean more accidental bumps, falls, and facial injuries. Knowing what to do immediately can make the difference between saving or losing a permanent tooth.
At Northshore Dental & Oral Health, we want our community to feel confident managing dental emergencies — especially when dental clinics may have limited hours over Christmas.
🦷 Baby Teeth vs Adult Teeth: The Rules Are Completely Different
This is the #1 mistake we see:
👉 Parents try to “put the baby tooth back in.”
But this can damage the developing adult tooth underneath.
Here’s the correct ADA protocol.
1️⃣ If a Baby (Deciduous) Tooth Is Knocked Out
❌ DO NOT put the tooth back in.
This can cause harm to the adult tooth forming in the jaw.
What to do instead (ADA-aligned guidance):
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Stay calm — baby teeth are not reimplanted.
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Find the tooth only if safe (for the dentist to assess later).
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Control bleeding by gently biting on gauze or a clean cloth.
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Offer reassurance — some blood is normal.
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See a dentist as soon as possible, especially if:
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A fragment remains in the gums
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The lips/cheeks are cut
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The child is in pain
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There is swelling or the tooth socket looks abnormal
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When to call us
📞 (07) 54487849
📅 Book online: northshoredental.com.au
2️⃣ If an Adult (Permanent) Tooth Is Knocked Out — Time Is Everything
A permanent tooth has the best chance of survival if it is reimplanted within 30 minutes.
Follow these Australian Dental Association (ADA) emergency steps:
ADA Step-by-Step Emergency Protocol for Permanent Teeth
1. Locate the tooth and pick it up by the crown only
This is the white chewing surface.
Do NOT touch the root.
2. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it briefly
Use milk, saline, or the patient’s saliva.
❌ Never scrub, soap, or disinfect it.
3. Reinsert the tooth immediately (if the patient is conscious and cooperative)
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Gently guide it back into the socket
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Ask the patient to bite down on gauze or a soft cloth to stabilise it
If you cannot reinsert it:
Place the tooth in one of these (in order of preference):
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Cold milk
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Saline
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Inside the patient’s cheek (not recommended for young children due to swallowing risk)
4. Go to the dentist IMMEDIATELY
Every minute counts.
Even saved teeth can resorb or fail if delayed.
🧊 What About Chipped, Fractured, or Loose Teeth?
Chipped tooth
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Rinse with water
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Save any fragments in milk
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Book urgent dental care
Loose tooth (adult)
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Avoid touching or wiggling
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Soft diet
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Urgent dental appointment
Tooth pushed out of alignment
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Do NOT try to move it back
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Seek emergency dental care
🦷 When to Seek Emergency Care Immediately
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A tooth is knocked out (adult or baby)
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The tooth is pushed backward or forward
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There is facial swelling
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Bleeding does not stop
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The patient is in pain
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You suspect a jaw fracture
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There is numbness or tingling after impact
📌 Holiday Dental Emergency Tips
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Keep a small first-aid dental kit in your car or beach bag
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Store UHT milk in the pantry (excellent for avulsed teeth)
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Save our number in your phone: (07) 54487849
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If unsure, call — we’ll guide you
📍 Northshore Dental & Oral Health – Emergency Care
📞 (07) 54487849
🌐 www.northshoredental.com.au
📅 Online bookings: northshoredental.com.au/book
We are here to support Sunshine Coast families with calm, compassionate emergency care — especially during the busy festive season.
