Losing a tooth is an exciting milestone – for a child. When we lose adult teeth, we don’t have a rewarding visit from the tooth fairy to look forward to but a trip to the dentist. More than five million teeth are knocked out of adult’s and children’s mouths every year. Whether the result of a sports-related injury or any other trauma, it’s best to act fast if you want to keep that tooth and your former smile!
What Do You Do?
- Collect the tooth if you can find it. Make certain to not touch the root of the tooth as it contains periodontal ligaments needed for healing your tooth.
- Rinse, don’t scrub, the tooth with water and place it back in the socket. Biting on a gauze pad can help keep your tooth in place while you get to the dentist. If this is done within five minutes of when it was knocked out, it is likely the tooth can survive.
- If it’s not possible to place the tooth back in the socket as you head to the dentist, place the tooth in your mouth next to your cheek or in a small container of milk, not tap water, so the root stays moist. Try to get to the dentist or emergency medical care within 60 minutes as your tooth has a greater chance of survival of being successfully implanted before the one hour mark.
Although losing a tooth can be a stressful experience, if you keep calm and act fast you have a very good chance of getting your tooth right back where it belongs!
Note: Information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified dental and medical health providers with questions you may have regarding your specific dental or medical conditions.
