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4 Things To Do When Your Tooth Is Knocked Out

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If, heaven forbid, you happen to knock out one of your teeth, it is very important that you don't panic. Just because your tooth is knocked out doesn't meant that it is beyond repair. Thankfully, there are some things that you can do with your knocked out tooth to try your best to save it, before you head into the dentist. This article will discuss 4 things to do when your tooth is knocked out.

Pick It Up By The Crown

When your tooth is knocked out, it is very important that you don't cause it more damage when you are handling it. In order to avoid harming the most important part for re-attachment, the root, it is best that you pick it up by the crown.

Only Wash It With Water

While you may be tempted to wash the knocked out tooth with some kind of cleaner in order to get all of the germs off of it, you should instead only use water on it. Water is the safest way to clean it off, without causing any unnecessary damage to the tooth, or even killing the roots.

Keep The Tooth Moist

If the tooth dries out, the roots are going to die, and you will not be able to save it. The best possible solution for this is to stick the tooth back into the socket that it was knocked out of. However, if this is not possible for you, there are a couple other options for keeping it moist. You can place the tooth in your cheek so that it is kept moist by your saliva, just be sure not to swallow it on accident. You can also place the tooth in milk in order to keep it moist. If you happen to have a kit on hand created specifically for saving a knocked out tooth, then this is an excellent option as well.

Get To The Dentist As Soon As Possible

Time is of the essence when you knock out one of your teeth because it can only last for so long. It is important that you contact your dentist right away, and if they can't get you in, then you need to contact an emergency dentist in your area. They will quickly clean the socket where the tooth was knocked out of, and will assess the level of damage. If it all possible, they will place your tooth back into place and will use a splint to keep it there for several days. If the tooth roots re-attach, then your tooth is saved, if not, you will need a root canal.


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