What to do if your tooth was knocked out

Dental avulsion refers to the knocking out of one or multiple teeth via trauma to the mouth. And although losing baby teeth is not an emergency matter, having a permanent tooth knocked out of your mouth is an entirely different story. Having a tooth knocked out and not taking measures to have it saved can put you at risk of developing a host of other dental problems such as crooked teeth as they move to fill in the gap, bone loss in your jaw and so on.

Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to help save your tooth and not have to resort to getting a dental implant. Here are three steps to take when you experience dental avulsion.

Step 1: Locate the tooth and handle it correctly

The misassumption some people make about having a tooth knocked out is that it can never be reconnected. But the reality is what you do immediately after the tooth is out is what influences the success of a re-implantation. For starters, you should secure the area by having everyone stop what they are doing so that you can search for the tooth. When you locate the tooth, you should pick up the tooth by the chewing surface so that you do not damage the root. If the tooth is covered in dirt, you should rinse it off with warm milk while being careful not to exert any pressure on the root.

Step 2: Try to place the tooth back into its socket

Depending on the extent of damage to your gum, you could possibly place the tooth directly back into its socket. Having the tooth in the socket goes a long way in preventing undue damage to it as you make your way to your closest dental clinic. To ensure that the tooth remains in place, you should desist from talking or eating anything but instead keep your mouth shut so the tooth remains undisturbed.

Step 3: Ensure the tooth remains moist in the right medium

If you cannot put the tooth back in your mouth, you should ensure that it remains moist for the trip to the general dentistry office. The best way of keeping it moist is by placing putting it in a cup of warm milk. Ensure the entire tooth is submerged in the liquid so no parts of it can become dry. Cold water or leaving the tooth to dry out will damage the cells in the roots and reduce the chances of successful implantation.

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