Learn the 5 steps to take after suffering from a knocked-out tooth

A knocked-out tooth can be a traumatic experience, but it’s important to act quickly and calmly to increase the chances of saving the tooth. Teeth can be reimplanted, but timing is critical — ideally, a dentist should reinsert the tooth within 30 minutes to an hour after the incident, but if it’s longer then there’s still a chance of success.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through essential first-aid tips to handle this dental emergency effectively.

1. Take a Deep Breath and Stay Calm

Yes, seeing a tooth on the ground is freaky. But the most important thing you can do right away is stay calm. Panicking won’t help anyone, and you'll need to focus to handle the situation effectively.

Start by making sure there aren’t any other injuries. If someone hits their head or is bleeding heavily, you might need to call 000 or head to the ER first. But if the knocked-out tooth is the main issue, let’s deal with that.

If there’s bleeding from the mouth, grab a clean cloth or some gauze and press it gently over the area to stop the bleeding.

Quick Tip:

If a child has knocked out a baby tooth, don’t try to reinsert it. Take them to the dentist, but let the tooth go — it’s better for the permanent tooth underneath.

2. Find the Tooth and Handle It Carefully

Now, find the tooth. And when you do, handle it with care! This is important: don’t touch the root (the part that was inside the gum). Instead, hold the tooth by the crown, which is the part that sticks out in the mouth.

What to Do:

Rinse the tooth: If it’s dirty, gently rinse it with milk or a saline solution. If you don’t have either, you can use water but do not scrub the tooth or use soap. You want to protect those cells on the root.
Reinsert it if you can: If you're feeling brave, try to put the tooth back into the socket. Make sure the tooth faces the right way (check the other teeth for reference), and gently push it in. Once it’s in, bite down softly on a piece of gauze or cloth to keep it in place. Even if it feels loose, it’s better than leaving the tooth out.

Quick Tip:

Don’t force the tooth back in. If it doesn’t go in easily, that’s okay. We’ll figure out another way to save it.

3. Keep the Tooth Moist

If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, the next best thing you can do is keep it moist. Drying out is bad news for the tooth — it needs to stay hydrated to have any chance of being reattached.

How to Keep It Moist:

Put it in milk: This is probably your best bet if you can’t reinsert it. Milk helps keep the tooth’s root cells alive.
Use a tooth preservation kit: If you’ve got one of these handy, use it! These kits are specifically designed to preserve knocked-out teeth.
Hold it in your mouth: If no other options are available, place the tooth between your cheek and gums. It’s not the best solution, but saliva can help keep it moist.
Saline solution: If you’ve got access to saline (from a first aid kit or even by mixing a little salt with water), use that to store the tooth.

Quick Tip:

Avoid putting the tooth in regular water for too long. Water can actually harm the root cells, making it harder to reattach.

4. Get to the Dentist — Fast!

Time is everything when it comes to saving a knocked-out tooth. You’ve got about 30 minutes to an hour to get it back in place, so call your dentist right away and let them know you’re coming. If your dentist’s office is closed, check if they have an emergency line, or find an urgent dental care clinic nearby.

If there are any other serious injuries, you may need to head to the hospital first but still try to get the tooth to a dentist as quickly as possible.

Quick Tip:

It’s always a good idea to have your dentist’s emergency contact information saved in your phone, just in case something like this happens.

5. Manage the Pain and Swelling

While you’re on your way to the dentist, the person who lost the tooth might be in some pain. Here’s what you can do to help with that:

Cold compress: Hold a cold compress or an ice pack (wrapped in a cloth) to the outside of the cheek to reduce swelling and numb the area a little.
Pain relievers: You can take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, but avoid putting any pain-relief gels directly on the gums or tooth area.

Prevention is Always Better

While knowing what to do in an emergency is super helpful, it’s even better if you can prevent these situations in the first place. If you or your kids play sports, wearing a mouthguard can protect your teeth from these kinds of accidents. And regular dentist visits will help keep your teeth strong and healthy, reducing the risk of them being knocked out in the first place.

Ultimately, dealing with a knocked-out tooth doesn’t have to be a nightmare. If you stay calm, act fast, and follow these steps, you’ve got a good chance of saving the tooth. Just remember: every minute counts!

Emergency Dentist Sydney is available around the clock to provide fast, effective support. Book in or call us today!