What to Do If You Knock Out a Tooth
A knocked-out tooth is a serious dental emergency that needs quick action. The faster you respond, the better your chances of saving the tooth.
If you act within 30 minutes of losing a tooth, dentists can often put it back in place successfully.
Knowing what to do right after losing a tooth makes a huge difference. Here are the exact steps to take in those first critical moments.
You’ll learn how to handle the tooth properly and what to avoid doing. We’ll also explain when to seek emergency dental care and how to prevent future tooth injuries.
Understanding these basics helps you stay calm and make smart choices during a dental emergency.
Key Takeaways
- Act fast within 30 minutes for the best chance to save a knocked-out tooth
- Handle the tooth by the crown and keep it moist until you reach a dentist
- Get emergency dental care immediately even if the tooth cannot be saved
Immediate Steps to Take When You Knock Out a Tooth
When a tooth gets knocked out, the first hour is critical for saving it. Quick action and proper handling can make the difference between keeping your natural tooth and needing a replacement.
Stay Calm and Act Quickly
Stay calm to help you think clearly. A knocked-out tooth needs immediate attention.
Time matters most after this dental injury. You have the best chance of saving a tooth within the first 30 minutes.
Act fast because the tooth’s root surface has cells that die quickly when exposed to air. These cells help the tooth reattach to the jawbone.
Call a dentist right away or go to an emergency room if you cannot reach a dentist. Many dental offices provide emergency phone numbers for situations like this.
Handle the Tooth by the Crown
Pick up the tooth carefully to avoid more damage. The crown is the white part of the tooth you see in your mouth.
Never touch the root of the tooth. The root looks like small finger-like projections and was inside the gum.
Touching the root can damage the cells that help the tooth reattach. Even gentle handling of the root can lower your chances of saving the tooth.
Hold the tooth by the crown only, using clean hands or a clean cloth. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it, but do not scrub or rub it.
Gently Rinse the Tooth if Necessary
If the knocked-out tooth has dirt or debris, clean it carefully. Use clean water or milk to rinse the tooth gently.
Hold the tooth by the crown and let water flow over it for no more than 10 seconds. Do not use soap, alcohol, or any cleaning products on the tooth.
Never scrub the tooth or try to remove anything stuck to the root. This can destroy important cells that help the tooth heal.
If possible, use milk instead of water for rinsing. Milk helps keep the tooth’s cells alive longer.
Try to Reinsert the Tooth into the Socket
Try to put the tooth back in its socket if you feel comfortable. This gives the tooth the best chance of surviving.
Make sure the tooth faces the right direction. The curved side should face the tongue, and the flatter side should face outward.
Gently push the tooth into the socket until it sits at the same level as the teeth next to it. Do not force it if it does not go in easily.
Once the tooth is back in place, bite down gently on a clean cloth or gauze to keep it in position. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, keep it moist in milk or saliva until you reach the dentist.
How to Preserve a Knocked-Out Tooth
Keep the tooth moist and use milk or a tooth preservation kit for the best results. Avoid harmful cleaning methods that can damage the tooth root.
Keep the Tooth Moist at All Times
A knocked-out tooth dies quickly when it dries out. Keep it moist from the moment you find it.
The tooth root has tiny fibers that help it reattach to the jaw. These fibers die within 15 minutes if they dry out.
Never let the tooth sit in open air. Pick it up immediately and place it in liquid right away.
If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket right away, store it properly. The tooth must stay wet until you reach a dentist.
Saliva works as emergency storage. You can keep the tooth in your mouth between the cheek and gums if you’re careful not to swallow it.
Use Milk or a Tooth Preservation Kit
Milk is the best common liquid for tooth preservation. It has the right balance of nutrients and pH levels to keep tooth root cells alive.
Use cold milk straight from the refrigerator. Whole milk works better than skim milk because it has more proteins.
Place the tooth in a small cup of milk. Make sure the entire tooth sits under the liquid surface.
Tooth preservation kits work even better than milk. These kits contain special solutions made just for knocked-out teeth.
Save-A-Tooth and EMT Tooth Saver are two common brands. Many schools and sports facilities keep these kits in their first aid supplies.
If you have a preservation kit, follow the instructions exactly. These solutions can keep a tooth alive for up to 24 hours.
Avoid Harmful Cleaning Methods
Never scrub or brush the tooth. This damages the root surface and reduces the chances of successful replantation.
Don’t use soap, bleach, or any cleaning chemicals. These substances kill the cells you need to keep alive.
Avoid touching the tooth root with your fingers. Handle the tooth only by the crown.
If the tooth has dirt on it, rinse it gently with milk or saline solution. Use a very light touch and let the liquid do the cleaning.
Don’t use tap water for rinsing. Tap water can damage root cells because it doesn’t match the body’s natural fluid balance.
Remove only loose debris. Don’t try to remove anything that’s stuck to the tooth root.
Temporary Storage Options if Reinsertion Fails
Sometimes you can’t put the tooth back in the socket right away. Use safe storage options until you reach emergency care.
Saliva storage: Keep the tooth in your mouth if you’re old enough not to swallow it accidentally. This method works for older children and adults.
Contact lens solution can work as emergency storage. Use only saline-based solutions, not cleaning solutions with enzymes.
Coconut water contains natural electrolytes that help preserve tooth cells. Use it if you can’t find milk or preservation kits.
Here is a storage priority list:
- Tooth preservation kit
- Cold milk
- Saliva (mouth storage)
- Saline contact solution
- Coconut water
Never use these liquids:
- Tap water
- Bottled water
- Juice
- Soda
- Alcohol-based mouthwash
Get to a dentist within 30 minutes for the best chance of saving the tooth. Time matters more than perfect storage conditions.
Seeking Professional Help After a Dental Injury
You need immediate professional care when you have a knocked-out tooth or other dental injury. Emergency dentists can often save teeth if you act quickly and get proper treatment within the first hour.
Contact an Emergency Dentist Immediately
Call an emergency dentist right away after a tooth gets knocked out. Most dental offices have emergency phone numbers that connect you to a dentist 24 hours a day.
When you call, explain exactly what happened. Tell them you have a knocked-out tooth and need immediate care.
The dentist will give you specific instructions while you travel to their office. If you cannot reach your regular dentist, go to a hospital emergency room.
Doctors cannot replant teeth, but they can treat other dental injuries like broken jaws or severe bleeding. Time is critical for knocked-out teeth.
The best chance of saving the tooth happens within 30 minutes. After one hour, the chances drop significantly.
Some emergency dental services include:
- Tooth replantation
- Treatment for broken or cracked teeth
- Pain management
- Bleeding control
- Jaw injury assessment
What to Expect During Emergency Dental Treatment
The dentist will examine your mouth and the knocked-out tooth. They will check if the tooth is clean and intact.
X-rays help the dentist see if other teeth or bones are damaged. For a knocked-out permanent tooth, the dentist will try to replant it immediately.
They will clean the socket and gently place the tooth back in position. This process usually takes 15-30 minutes.
The dentist will secure the tooth with a splint. This thin wire connects the knocked-out tooth to nearby healthy teeth and keeps the tooth stable while it heals.
You will receive local anesthesia to numb the area during treatment. The dentist may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.
Emergency treatment costs usually range from $300-$1,500 depending on the complexity of the dental emergency.
Potential Follow-Up Procedures and Outcomes
Most knocked-out teeth need follow-up care for several weeks or months. Dentists typically schedule the first follow-up visit within one week of the emergency treatment.
The dentist will monitor how well the tooth reattaches to your jaw. They may need to adjust the splint or take additional X-rays.
Root canal treatment is often necessary within 2-3 weeks. Success rates depend on several factors:
- How quickly you received treatment
- How the tooth was stored before treatment
- Your age when the injury occurred
- The condition of the tooth root
Children under 12 have better success rates because their teeth are still developing. Adult teeth that are replanted within 30 minutes have an 85-95% success rate.
Some teeth may not survive even with proper treatment. If this happens, dentists can discuss replacement options like dental implants or bridges during follow-up visits.
Preventing Future Dental Emergencies
Most dental injuries happen during sports or everyday activities. Taking the right steps now can save your teeth from serious damage.
Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
Wear a mouthguard for any sport where contact might happen. This includes football, basketball, hockey, and soccer.
Types of mouthguards:
- Store-bought: Basic protection, fits most people
- Boil-and-bite: Better fit, you shape it at home
- Custom-made: Best protection, made by your dentist
Custom mouthguards fit your teeth exactly and stay in place better. They also feel more comfortable.
Get a new mouthguard each season. Old ones can crack or lose their shape and become less effective.
Even non-contact sports can cause dental injuries. Baseball, skateboarding, and bike riding also carry risks. A mouthguard can prevent costly dental emergencies.
Practice Safe Habits to Avoid Injuries
Many dental injuries happen during normal daily activities. You can prevent most of these by being more careful.
Things to avoid:
- Chewing on ice, hard candy, or pens
- Opening packages with your teeth
- Biting fingernails or hard objects
- Running with objects in your mouth
Keep your teeth strong by eating healthy foods. Foods with calcium and vitamin D help build strong teeth.
Avoid too much sugar, which can weaken teeth. Always wear seat belts in cars to prevent dental injuries during accidents.
Fix loose handrails, torn carpets, and other hazards in your home. Falls cause many dental emergencies.
Good lighting in hallways and stairs helps prevent trips.
Teach Children Proper Dental Safety
Children have more dental injuries than adults. Teach them how to protect their teeth early.
Safety rules for kids:
- No running with toys or food in their mouth
- Always wear helmets when biking or skating
- Use playground equipment the right way
- Don’t climb on furniture or dangerous areas
Show children how to brush and floss correctly. Strong, healthy teeth resist injury better than weak ones.
Make dental care fun so kids want to do it. Use child-sized mouthguards for young athletes.
Many kids play sports where dental injuries are common. Getting them used to mouthguards early helps them accept wearing one.
Watch children during meals. Cut hard foods into small pieces and remove pits from fruits and bones from meat. These can crack or chip teeth if bitten wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Act quickly if you knock out a tooth. Keep the tooth moist and clean, and get to a dentist within 30 minutes to 2 hours.
How should you preserve a tooth that has been knocked out until you can see a dentist?
Put the tooth in milk right away. Milk keeps the root cells alive longer than water.
If you don’t have milk, use your own saliva. Spit into a cup and place the tooth inside.
You can also use salt water. Mix a pinch of salt in a cup of water and put the tooth in it.
Never use tap water to store the tooth. Tap water can damage the root cells.
What steps should you take immediately after a permanent tooth is knocked out?
Find the tooth right away and pick it up by the white crown. Avoid touching the root.
Rinse the tooth gently with milk or salt water if it’s dirty. Don’t scrub it or use soap.
Put the tooth in milk, saliva, or salt water immediately. Time is very important.
Call your dentist or go to the emergency room. Tell them you have the tooth with you.
What are the chances of saving a tooth that has been knocked out of place?
If you get help within 30 minutes, dentists can save most knocked-out teeth. After one hour, the success rate drops to about 50%.
After two hours, the chances get much lower. The root cells start to die without blood flow.
Children’s teeth often have better chances than adult teeth. Young roots heal faster and adapt better.
Front teeth usually do better than back teeth. They have simpler roots and are easier to treat.
Is it advisable to attempt reinserting a tooth that has fallen out, and how should it be done?
Dentists don’t recommend putting the tooth back yourself. You could damage the tooth or put it in backwards.
If you must try, rinse the tooth gently and hold it by the crown. Push it gently into the socket, but don’t force it.
Bite down on a clean cloth to hold the tooth in place. Go to a dentist immediately, even if you get it back in.
How long does a dentist have to reimplant a tooth that has been knocked out?
Dentists have the best chance within 30 minutes of the accident. The root cells stay healthiest during this time.
After one hour, the success rate drops a lot. Dentists can still try, but the tooth might not survive long-term.
Two hours is usually the maximum time limit. After this, the root cells die and can’t reconnect to your jawbone.
If you store the tooth in milk, it might last longer. Each case is different depending on the damage and storage.
What kind of medical attention is necessary when a tooth has been knocked out but there is no pain?
You should see a dentist right away, even if you feel no pain. Damaged nerves in the tooth may prevent you from feeling pain.
A dentist needs to check for other injuries to your mouth, gums, and jaw. Sometimes you cannot feel hidden damage.
The dentist will take X-rays to check if other teeth are loose or cracked. Your jawbone may also have small fractures.
Getting quick treatment helps prevent infection and gives the tooth a better chance to survive. Do not wait for pain to start.
📞 Contact Kaufman Dentistry Today
Give us a call at (310) 838-7780 to schedule your appointment and take the first step towards a stunning smile.
You can find us at 10760 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. We look forward to welcoming you to our practice and helping you achieve the smile of your dreams!