My 4-year-old tripped yesterday playing tag and chipped one of his front teeth. It doesn't seem too bad but he's complaining it's sensitive. Kinda worried about it getting worse. Has anyone dealt with something similar? What did you do?
Went through something pretty similar with my granddaughter last summer when she fell off her scooter. First thing I'd suggest is keeping an eye on the sensitivity—kids' teeth can be surprisingly resilient, but sensitivity might mean the chip exposed some of the inner tooth layers. If it's mild, it could settle down in a day or two, but if he's still complaining after that, it's probably worth a quick dentist visit.
When we took her in, the dentist did a simple check-up and applied a fluoride varnish to protect the tooth and ease sensitivity. They might also smooth out any rough edges to prevent further irritation or accidental cuts inside the mouth. Usually, for minor chips, there's no need for anything more extensive, especially since it's a baby tooth and eventually will fall out anyway.
Bottom line, keep watch for any color changes (grayish or darkening could signal nerve damage) and ongoing pain. But don't stress too much—kids bounce back fast, and dentists see this stuff all the time.
"Usually, for minor chips, there's no need for anything more extensive, especially since it's a baby tooth and eventually will fall out anyway."
That's mostly true, but I'd still be cautious about dismissing it too quickly. My grandson chipped a baby tooth a couple years back, and we figured it'd be fine since it wasn't bothering him much. But later on, it did darken slightly and ended up needing a bit more attention. Nothing major, but just saying... even baby teeth can surprise you sometimes. Better safe than sorry, right?
I agree with being cautious here. When my daughter chipped her tooth a while back, I initially thought it wasn't a big deal either. It was just a tiny chip, barely noticeable, and she didn't complain about any pain or sensitivity. But after a couple of months, I noticed the tooth started looking a bit grayish. Took her to the dentist just to be safe, and turns out the nerve had been slightly damaged. Nothing major, but they did recommend keeping an eye on it regularly.
"even baby teeth can surprise you sometimes."
Exactly this. You never know what's going on beneath the surface, even if it seems minor at first glance. It's probably fine, but getting it checked out wouldn't hurt. Plus, it'll give you peace of mind—always worth it when it comes to kids and teeth.
It's probably fine, but getting it checked out wouldn't hurt. Plus, it'll give you peace of mind—always worth it when it comes to kids and teeth.
Yeah, definitely worth getting it checked out. My son chipped his tooth at around the same age—fell off a scooter, nothing dramatic, just a small chip. He complained about sensitivity too, but I figured it'd pass. Dentist said the enamel was compromised and recommended a fluoride treatment to strengthen it. It helped a lot with the sensitivity. Better safe than sorry, especially if he's already feeling discomfort.
