Knocked-Out Tooth: What to Do in the First Hour

A fall on the playground, a basketball elbow or a slip on a wet floor can knock a tooth right out. It’s alarming, but a permanent tooth can sometimes be saved if you act quickly and handle it correctly. The first hour matters most. Here’s what to do if it happens to you or someone in your family in Doral.

Step 1: Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown

Hold the tooth by the crown, the white part you normally see in the mouth. Avoid touching the root. The root surface has delicate cells that help the tooth reattach.

Step 2: Rinse briefly if it’s dirty

If the tooth has dirt on it, rinse it for a few seconds with milk or clean water. Don’t scrub it, use soap or wrap it in a tissue.

Step 3: Try to put it back, if you can

If the person is alert and cooperative, gently push the tooth back into its socket facing the right way, then have them bite softly on a clean cloth to hold it in place. Don’t force it. If it won’t go in easily, move to step 4.

Step 4: Keep it moist

A tooth that dries out is much less likely to survive. If you can’t put it back, store it in:

• A small container of cold milk
• A tooth-preservation solution, if you have one in a first-aid kit
• The person’s own saliva, such as inside the cheek, only if they’re old enough not to swallow it

Avoid storing the tooth in plain tap water for long, and never let it dry out.

Step 5: Get to a dentist right away

Call immediately. The sooner a dentist sees the tooth, the better its chances. Bring the tooth with you in its milk or solution.

What about baby teeth?

Don’t try to put a knocked-out baby tooth back in. It can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Still call a dentist so they can check for other injuries and make sure no pieces are left in the gum.

When to go to the ER instead

If the injury also involves a hard blow to the head, loss of consciousness, a possible broken jaw or bleeding that won’t stop, go to the emergency room first. Our article on deciding between the ER and an emergency dentist covers this in more detail.

Injuries that often come with a knocked-out tooth

The same accident can chip or crack nearby teeth or push them out of position. Even if a tooth looks only slightly damaged, have it checked. Our guide on handling a cracked or broken tooth explains what to watch for, and you can manage soreness afterward with the tips in easing a toothache at home.

What happens at the dentist

If the tooth has been put back or brought in properly stored, the dentist will clean the area, reposition the tooth if needed and usually splint it to the neighboring teeth for a short time so it can stabilize. X-rays help check the root and surrounding bone. Because the nerve inside a knocked-out adult tooth often doesn’t survive, many teeth need a root canal in the following weeks, and follow-up visits are important to watch how the tooth heals.

Even when a tooth can’t be saved, getting seen quickly protects the socket and surrounding teeth and gives you more options for replacing it later.

Preventing sports injuries

A properly fitted mouthguard is one of the best ways to protect teeth during contact sports, skateboarding and other high-risk activities. Ask a dentist about a custom-fitted guard, or use a boil-and-bite guard from a sporting goods store.

Help finding a dentist fast

With a knocked-out tooth, there’s no time to call around. Call our line and we’ll connect you with a participating dentist. Learn more about urgent dental care in Doral.