Knocked Out Your Tooth? Take These Steps Immediately

There are a multitude of ways people can get injured, and with over 2,600,000 people in 2021 alone, it is extremely common. Frequently this involves sprains, strains, back injuries, falls, slips, and trips. And many injuries lead to losing time at work or school. And if there’s an injury to the mouth, it could lead to getting a tooth cracked, fractured, or knocked out.

If you find yourself dealing with a knocked-out tooth, it may be possible to save it. There are steps you’ll need to take to preserve it to make that possible, however. Let’s look at what you should do if a tooth gets knocked out by exploring some common causes of knocked-out teeth and the steps necessary to preserve them.

If you live in Mamaroneck, New York, or Stamford, Connecticut, and you just lost a tooth, Dr. Gennadiy Kravets and his skilled medical team at All Bright Dental are here to help.

Causes of knocked-out teeth

Tooth loss can be caused by falling over, a blow to the face, a sports injury, or biting down on something hard. Any of these can lead to broken, lost, or knocked-out teeth as well as damaged gums. It can also cause bleeding and swelling in the damaged area, and the full extent of the damage may not be visible immediately after injury. You should go straight to the emergency room if the tooth loss is also accompanied by a very swollen mouth or tongue, a lot of blood being swallowed, or if you’re having trouble breathing.

Steps to preserve it

Here are some steps to preserve your tooth if it gets knocked out: 

Proper handling

Be sure to hold the tooth by the crown (the portion of the tooth visible when you open your mouth) and not the root, and avoid rubbing or scraping the tooth. Examine the crown to see if there is evidence of fracturing or missing pieces.

Cleaning

If there is dirt or foreign material on the tooth, gently rinse it for no more than 10 seconds in a lukewarm bowl of water to clean it. Avoid using running water, as too much water will kill the cells on the root’s surface.

Replacing the tooth

If possible, try to replace the tooth in the socket. If it doesn’t fit completely, you can gently bite down on gauze to keep it in place. Hold the tooth in place until you get to our office. If you can’t replace it, place it between your gum and cheek, in cold milk, or in your own saliva. If you have access to an over-the-counter preservative for knocked-out teeth, you can use that as well.

Emergency care

Seek emergency dental care. Preferably it is at our office, but head to the emergency room if there aren’t any other options.

These steps can help save your tooth. There are other options for tooth loss if it can’t be preserved, but we will make every effort to do so. Make an appointment with Dr. Kravets and All Bright Dental today for emergency assistance.