How To Do First-Aid When a Tooth is Knocked Out

Accidents happen, and if an accident knocks out one of your teeth, you’ll want to act quickly. Teeth treated within 30 minutes of being knocked out have the best chance to be saved.

If you lose a tooth, find it and pick it up by the crown (the top of the tooth), not the root. Gently rinse off any dirt with water and place the tooth back in its socket. Hold the tooth in place with your fingers or by gently biting down. This keeps the tooth moist, protecting its cells.

If it can’t be placed back in its socket, hold it in your mouth next to your cheek or in a glass of milk. Milk contains proteins and sugars that also preserve the tooth’s cells.

See an endodontist or dentist as soon as possible. A tooth can be saved even an hour or more after it has been knocked out, but the odds of replanting it go down greatly as time passes.