Knocking out a tooth is something that can happen during contact sports, automobile accidents or a trip and fall. If you knock out one of your teeth, do not panic. Follow these steps, and it might be possible for an emergency dentist to save the tooth.
1. Pick Up the Tooth By The Crown
Touching the root of a knocked-out tooth increases the chance that the tooth will die. Pick it up by taking hold of the crown — the top part that is usually visible above the gum. Try to touch the tooth as lightly as possible.
2. Clean the Tooth
If there is visible dirt on the tooth, use clean water to rinse it away. You do not need to use soap or any chemicals, and definitely do not use alcohol in an attempt to sterilise the tooth. Avoid scrubbing the tooth, as this abrasive motion is likely to damage the root. Do not rub the tooth to dry it; you can leave it wet for the next step.
3. Place the Tooth Back in the Socket
If possible, the best place to store the tooth is in the socket that it came out of. Carefully press the tooth, root first, into the socket. Gently close your mouth to keep it in place. Try to avoid moving your mouth too much until you can get to an emergency dentist.
4. Store the Tooth Safely
It is not always possible to put a knocked-out tooth back in its socket. Perhaps your mouth is too painful, or the tooth has broken and has a jagged edge. If you can't replant the tooth, then the best thing to do is to keep it wet until you can see an emergency dentist. The best way to moisten the tooth is to place it in a container of milk.
If you don't have any milk, put the tooth in your mouth and hold it against your cheek, outside of your teeth, to keep it moist. Be careful not to swallow the tooth.
5. See an Emergency Dentist
It is important to act quickly to save a knocked-out tooth. Go to the nearest emergency dentist so that they can replant the tooth before it has been out of the gum for so long that the root has started to die. You might need a root canal procedure to make the replanting a success. After the procedure, be sure to follow all of the dentist's instructions for recovery.
