What Happens if You Swallow a Tooth?

Seeing one of your child’s baby teeth fall out brings about a major milestone in their development. While in most cases losing a baby tooth goes smoothly, some kids may encounter some issues.

For example, what happens if your child swallows a tooth? What should you do in these cases? Here’s the full answer:

Swallowed Teeth: Are They a Problem? 

In most cases, no. Swallowing a tooth is not a major cause for concern. Since teeth are mostly made up of calcium, they will get digested by the stomach or pass through the digestive system with no issues.

Baby teeth are also small, so the chances of them getting stuck along the way are slim. But if the child swallows one of their adult teeth, they may need an X-ray to confirm everything’s in order since adult teeth are slightly bigger.

Adults can rest assured that the same applies to them too. If one of your teeth gets knocked out and you swallow it, in most cases, you have nothing to worry about.

When Should You Be Concerned? 

While swallowed teeth are usually not a problem, either for kids or adults, it’s still important to look out for the following signs:

• Stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Chest or neck pain
• Difficulty swallowing 
• Stool or vomit with blood traces
• Developing a fever

These could all be signs that the tooth is stuck somewhere in the child’s throat or digestive system. To be on the safe side, you should take your child to their pediatrician for a checkup. And if they display signs of breathing issues or extreme symptoms, call 911 as soon as possible.

How to Keep Your Child from Swallowing Their Tooth 

Sometimes, a swallowed tooth is not exactly avoidable. If the child goes to bed with a very wiggly tooth, they may accidentally swallow it in their sleep.

However, there are some things you can do to prevent this from happening:

• Explain to your child what a wiggly tooth means and why they shouldn’t swallow it.
• Remind them to be careful when eating to avoid swallowing the tooth during a meal.
• Ask them to let you know whenever a tooth is loose so that you can properly monitor them.
• See a pediatric dentist in Alexandria. If a tooth’s been loose for a long time and you’re worried about the child swallowing it

In most cases, however, your child’s tooth will fall out simply because they can’t stop wiggling it with their finger or tongue.

How Kingstowne Dental Specialists Can Help 

Whether it’s a swallowed tooth, a stubborn baby tooth that won’t fall out, or any other kind of issue, Courtney Marzban, DMD, and Robert Marzban, DDS, MDS, would be happy to help your child develop a happy and healthy smile.‍

Request a visit to Kingstowne Dental Specialists online or by calling (703) 493-0622, and bring your child in for an appointment.