The Best Ways to Save a Smile

Here's the scenario: it's a clear, crisp fall day and your five-year-old son is at the playground hanging from the monkey bars. He's swinging and playing and laughing. You marvel at his perfect grin. He has almost all his baby teeth, including the necessary gummy gaps that will be filled in by his permanent, adult teeth. You're thankful your little one no longer sucks his thumb or a pacifier, so you're pretty sure there are no braces in his future.

However, besides the regular orthodontic visits and the going rate for a tooth left under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy, there's a lot more to worry about when it comes to your child's teeth. Because next thing you know, your little guy's crying and running over to you. He accidentally slipped, hit his open mouth on one of the monkey bars, and knocked out one of his baby teeth. What do you do?