What can you do if you’ve lost teeth due to trauma? This is considered a dental emergency. If you get to your Steinbach dentist’s office soon enough, they may be able to save the tooth.
What causes knocked-out teeth?
Knocked-out teeth are commonly the result of an impact on the jaw or face.
If you are dealing with knocked-out teeth, take the following steps:
1. Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (don’t touch the root).
Immediately after you lose your tooth, attempt to retrieve it. Carefully pick the tooth up by the crown (the part exposed above the gum line when it is in your mouth).
2. Gently rinse the tooth with water if it’s dirty.
Use only water to rinse any debris or dirt from the tooth. Avoid using chemicals or soap. Do not scrub or dry the tooth, or wrap it in cloth or tissue, as any of these actions may result in damage.
3. If possible, place the tooth back in the socket.
Try putting the tooth back in its socket right away. You can try to gently push it in (continuing to touch the crown only, not the root). Another option is to try positioning it above the socket.
Close your mouth slowly to push it in. Using a finger, hold the tooth in place. You might also bite down on it.
4. Keep the tooth moist.
If you can't put the tooth back in its socket, keep it moist until you can get to the dentist. Put it in a cup of milk or keep it next to your cheek in your mouth. Avoid storing it in regular tap water for an extended period of time because the root surface cells will not be able to tolerate water.
Using this method of preserving a tooth may increase the likelihood of your dentist being able to replace it.
5. Within 30 minutes of the injury, get to your dentist’s office.
Ideally, you should go to your dentist’s office within 30 minutes of losing any teeth. However, it may still be possible for your dentist to save a tooth if it has been outside the mouth for an hour or more.
How can I prepare for a dental emergency at home?
Dental emergencies can happen any time of the day or night. There are some things you can do at home to prepare in case you experience one.
Keep these things around the house at all times, as they are handy to have in a dental emergency:
- Over-the-counter painkillers (such as ibuprofen)
- Ice pack
- Small container with a lid to preserve a knocked-out tooth
- Gauze
- The phone number of our Steinbach dentist’s office
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