Not sure what to do after your tooth is knocked loose? We put together a guide of what you should do if this happens!

You’re roughhousing with your sibling when all of a sudden, their elbow flies backwards and smacks you right in the mouth. You let out a silent prayer that everything is okay only to taste the familiar coppery taste of disappointment.

Your tooth has been completely knocked loose. While this may feel like the end of the world, there is hope if you act fast enough. It’s all about preserving the tooth and getting yourself to a dentist as soon as possible.

To help keep your smile (all teeth included), here is a complete guide on what to do when you get your tooth knocked loose.

You’re Bleeding

As you can imagine, bleeding when your tooth is knocked out or lose isn’t that uncommon. Depending on the situation it could be quite a bit of blood, but don’t freak out. Grab a clean cloth and bite down on it.

Doing this will stop the bleeding or at least control it. Getting your tooth knocked loose hurts but resist the urge to pop a few aspirins. While they can stop the pain, they will make the bleeding worse.

Can You Save the Tooth?

If your tooth gets knocked loose or even out you may be able to save it if you go through the proper procedures and act quickly enough. Above all, you need to handle the tooth with care, keep it moist, try and place it back where it came from, and see a dentist.

Handle it Carefully

When holding the tooth do not grab it by the root. This is the most fragile part of the tooth and if you chip or break it, your dentist won’t be able to help you. Hold it by the crown.

If it’s dirty you’ll need to clean it. To do so, carefully rinse it with milk or water. Allow for it to air dry. If you try and wipe it with a cloth you’ll break it.

Keep it Moist

Keeping the tooth moist is probably the most important part of the process. You can do this by gently dropping it in a glass of milk. If you don’t have any milk then you can spit in a cup and place the tooth in that.

The ideal way to keep the tooth moist is by placing it back in your mouth. place it against the inside of your cheek or put it back into place.

Place it Back into its Socket 

Most of the time when you try and put the tooth back into its socket it will slip in without any sort of fuss. If your tooth is an exception to that, don’t try and force it in because you’ll damage your gum and the tooth.

If you can’t get it to go back into its place without considerable force than stick with the milk/saliva in a cup method.

See a Dentist ASAP! 

When your tooth is knocked loose or out you’ll need to seek out an emergency dentist if you want to save it. Phone your regular dentist if you have to.

Even if it’s after business hours they may still be able to help you by performing the procedure themselves or telling you where you can go for emergency assistance.

What will the Dentist Do? 

The simplicity of the procedure all depends on if you broke the bone or your tooth. For the most part, your doctor will use an instrument to wash out debris and blood from the socket.

Once everything is clear, they will splint the tooth using a wire that will hold it in place by attaching to the surrounding teeth. As long as the bone was undamaged, your tooth will reattach itself in a matter of weeks.

About 6 months after the splint is removed, you’ll go back to the dentist so they can check for any signs of infection. If there is none, you won’t see the dentist again until your yearly checkup. During this time they will examine the area to be sure that the tooth was able to completely reattach itself to the bone.

What if it is Part or None of the Tooth? 

If you’ve only got part of the tooth it’s a bad idea to try and place it back in its socket. It could cause infection or damage the area.

If you don’t have your tooth then you should probably get an X-ray to make sure you didn’t swallow it.

If you want to place something in the empty socket then you can talk to your dentist about a denture replacement.

What if it’s a Baby Tooth?

If your child gets their tooth knocked out (or your reading this and you don’t have all your adult teeth) then sadly, not much can be done. If the tooth is placed back into the area then it may cause infection to the adult tooth waiting to make its way in.

You will need to talk to your dentist about clearing any debris from the area but that’s about the extent of what can be done. The best course of action is to wait for the adult tooth to grow.

What Should You Do if You Get Your Tooth Knocked Loose 

Getting your tooth knocked loose doesn’t have to be the end of your smile as you know it. If you act quickly enough then your dentist may be able to save it. Use these tips for saving a tooth to follow the right procedures and get it back where it belongs.

Even a simple procedure like having your tooth put back in place can be expensive. Here are a few tips for affording your dental work.