Can smartphone use really cause dental injuries in kids?

Yes. When children hold phones directly above their faces while lying down, a dropped phone can strike the mouth and cause chipped or injured teeth. Several dental practices have reported seeing this type of injury as phone use among young children has increased.

Which age group is most at risk for phone-related dental injuries?

Children between 2 and 5 years old are most vulnerable because their facial bones and teeth are still developing and less able to absorb impact. Older children ages 6 to 12 are also at risk since many continue using phones for videos and games in the same position.

How can I reduce the risk of my child injuring a tooth with a phone?

Limiting screen time, avoiding letting kids hold phones directly over their face while lying down, and choosing a smaller, lighter device can all reduce the chance of injury. Supervising how and where your child uses a phone matters as much as how long they use it.

What should I do if my child chips a tooth on a dropped phone?

Call our office so we can evaluate the tooth for visible chips as well as any internal injury or cracks below the gumline. Visible chips on baby teeth can often be repaired with dental bonding, while less obvious damage may need further monitoring.

Is smartphone usage linked to children’s teeth injuries?

Using smartphones might be fun for children. It is useful to some extent as they get used to technology and become proficient at a very young age. There are several drawbacks noticed, especially when asked to put their phone down and do homework, or have dinner, etc. But there’s another noticeable risk that is tooth injuries.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Michelle Haghpanah, DDS, MPH

Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Michelle Haghpanah is a board-certified pediatric dentist dedicated to providing preventive, evidence-based dental care for infants, children, and adolescents. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University, a Master of Public Health from Yale University, and completed her pediatric dental residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center, where she served as Chief Resident. A former Associate Professor at the University of the Pacific with hospital privileges at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford and Kaiser Santa Clara, Dr. Michelle reviews clinical content to ensure it reflects current pediatric dental guidelines, evidence-based practices, and clear, family-friendly information that helps parents make informed decisions about their child’s oral health.

DDS — New York University MPH — Yale University Residency — Mount Sinai · Chief Resident Hospital Privileges — Lucile Packard · Kaiser

Using Phones while Lying Down Leads to Risk

Research conducted claims that children who use phones while lying on their backs might end up having certain dental injuries. Children mostly use smartphones to watch videos, play games, or to take selfies. All these activities are done by placing the phone directly above and ahead of their face, and if they drop it, then it can cause facial and dental injuries. A number of such cases were reported in several dental practices.

Age and Injury Risk

Children aged 2-5 are the ones at high risk, as they have softer facial structure. These children might end up losing their front teeth and also get their teeth shifted because of the trauma. Older children aged between 6-12 might use phones for lots of purposes and can continue this practice through their teenage as well.

Preventing Injuries

There are several strategies that the researchers want us to keep in mind, to reduce the risk of injuries related to phone, that include:

Limit their time spent on using cell phones
Do not let kids use their phones held over them
Better to get smaller phones for kids

Did your child injure a tooth?

If your child got his/her tooth injured by dropping the phone or other causes, then our dentist can help you out. If there are any visible chips on the primary tooth, then it can be repaired with the help of dental bonding. If there is no visible damage, then the dentist will check and ensure the tooth for internal injuries or any cracks below the gum line.

Call us at (650) 322-9837 or fill out the form below to schedule an appointment with Dr. Haghpanah or Dr. Grover for a consultation at our office in Palo Alto, CA.

Is smartphone usage linked to children’s teeth injuries?

Contents

Using Phones while Lying Down Leads to Risk

Age and Injury Risk

Preventing Injuries

Did your child injure a tooth?

Frequently Asked Questions About Smartphone Use and Children’s Teeth

Get in Touch

Little Bytes

Is smartphone usage linked to children’s teeth injuries?

Contents

Using Phones while Lying Down Leads to Risk

Age and Injury Risk

Preventing Injuries

Did your child injure a tooth?

Frequently Asked Questions About Smartphone Use and Children’s Teeth

Can smartphone use really cause dental injuries in kids? +

Which age group is most at risk for phone-related dental injuries? +

How can I reduce the risk of my child injuring a tooth with a phone? +

What should I do if my child chips a tooth on a dropped phone? +

Get in Touch

Little Bytes