help! think my baby's cracked a tooth...

[roosmum]

ds is nearly 15 months & i'm concerned that he's cracked a tooth - no idea of exactly how or when (well, yesterday i think). there was some blood on his gum yesterday evening, which i put down to some sort of little cut, from biting something sharp etc, but today it looks like one of his bottom front teeth is cracked. only managed to get a look at bathtime tonight - thought at first he had something stuck between his teeth, but as far as i can see it seems as though one tooth is cracked! has this happened to anyone, what did you do about it?? i don't think it's bothering him, but i'm horrified all the same...
any help much appreciated!

my ds cracked his tooth at that age (his front top one) - I just took him to the dentist and asked them to have a quick look to make sure it wasn't going to hurt him (I wasn't sure how much it had damaged the tooth).

Hi Roosmum - no experience really although I thought dd had broken her front teeth when she fell in the bath last week (she hadn't) and got me thinking - what WOULD you do ? If not bothering him, I would phone a dentist for advice tomorrow ? Or keep this bumped and hope a dentist comes along soon ..... I think Chicagomum might be one....

thanks both, yes i spose visiting dentist would be the thing to do, problem is neither dh nor i have one atm! wonder whether they'd see him anyway, being so little. hmmm, any MNer dentists, please help!

we didn't have a dentist at the time and I called my nearest one (a private dentist) and they agreed to take a look at him just to make sure it was ok (they did it for free but I did register at the same time!)

thanks fox...i know i really should have a dentist, but - so far! - haven't needed one...
will call one tomorrow i think, just to be sure!

It is v. common for little ones to crack teeth (what with falling, tripping, head-butting things). I would recommend it is checked out (and get him registered anyway). Most of the time nothing needs to be done (no point in subjecting them to a repair as that is purely cosmetic). The things you will probably be told to look out for are any signs that the tooth is dying - darkening, pain, sensitvity and a swelling on the gum. This may not occur for over a year after the initial injury.

ooh, thanks so much CM! i love MN!!
will sort it out tomorrow to get him checked, but that's put my mind at rest more or less.
thanks again!

One of DS's teeth has 2 halves. Not because he hit it and caused it to crack, its just the way it grew. I thought it was really strange but the dentist assured me it isn't unheard of!