A knocked-out permanent tooth needs immediate dental care. Pick it up by the crown, the part normally visible in the mouth, and avoid touching the root. If you are sure it is a permanent tooth and the child is alert and cooperative, put it back gently if you can do so safely. If you cannot, keep it in plain cold milk and go to a dentist immediately. NDCS knocked-out tooth first aid · NDCS dental trauma in children
Leave a knocked-out baby tooth out of its socket. If you are unsure which kind it is, keep the tooth in milk and get urgent dental advice. If the child has a serious head injury, breathing difficulty or another life-threatening injury, call 995 and deal with that emergency first. NDCS dental trauma in children · SCDF emergency medical services
- Permanent tooth → handle by the crown. Replant only if you can do it safely, or carry it in plain cold milk.
- Baby tooth → leave it out and seek urgent dental assessment.
- Serious injury beyond the tooth → get emergency medical help first.
On this page · Handle a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth · If It Is a Baby Tooth or the Tooth Is Missing · Where to Seek Urgent Dental Care · Frequently Asked Questions
Handle a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
If the tooth is dirty, NDCS advises a brief rinse under cold running water for up to 10 seconds. Keep your fingers off the root and avoid scrubbing it. If you can put it back safely, place it gently in the socket. If it will not go back easily, use a container of plain cold milk. Avoid storing the tooth in water or carrying it loose in a child’s mouth. NDCS knocked-out tooth first aid
Why timing matters
NDCS reports better chances of saving a permanent tooth when it is replanted within 30 minutes. Go to a dentist immediately even if more time has passed or if someone already put the tooth back. Tell the dentist when it happened and how the tooth was stored. NDCS knocked-out tooth first aid · NDCS dental trauma in children
If It Is a Baby Tooth or the Tooth Is Missing
A baby tooth should stay out because replanting can harm the developing permanent tooth. Seek urgent dental assessment. If you cannot find the tooth, tell the clinician. A tooth that looks missing may have been pushed into the gum, and other mouth or jaw injuries may need assessment. If the child is struggling to breathe, call 995. NDCS dental trauma in children · SCDF emergency medical services
Where to Seek Urgent Dental Care
Call the dentist while someone else gets the child ready to leave if possible. Say that a permanent tooth has been knocked out. NDCS lists emergency dental arrangements at the SingHealth Outram campus, with different locations during and after clinic hours. Check the current instructions before setting off. NDCS emergency dental services
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I touch the root to clean it?
Hold the tooth by the crown and leave the root surface intact. If dirty, rinse it briefly without scrubbing. NDCS knocked-out tooth first aid
Can we wait until tomorrow if the pain eases?
Seek immediate dental care for a knocked-out permanent tooth, whether or not it still hurts. NDCS knocked-out tooth first aid
What if the child also hit their head?
If there was loss of consciousness, vomiting or another concerning symptom, seek urgent medical assessment. Call 995 for life-threatening signs. NDCS dental trauma in children · SCDF emergency medical services
Continue With the Singapore Emergency Playbook
- Suspected Fracture in a Child in Singapore | First Aid and When to Call 995
- Nosebleed in a Child in Singapore | How to Stop It and When to Go to A&E
- Eye Injury in a Child in Singapore | Chemical Splashes, Foreign Objects and When to Go to A&E
- Child Medical Emergency in Singapore
- Child Head Injury in Singapore
Guidance checked 8 November 2026.