What to Do When Your Tooth Gets Knocked Out

Getting a tooth knocked out feels catastrophic in the moment, but if you act fast, you might be able to save your tooth with a lot less hassle than you might expect. In fact, of the estimated five million teeth that get knocked out each year, a fair percentage are successfully re-rooted in the person’s jaw with prompt care. 

The difference-maker here is knowing exactly what to do, and doing it quickly. We can help. 

For starters, Dr. Sujay Trivedi, Dr. Michael C. Westcott, and our Family Dental Care team built this step-by-step guide to help you navigate those critical first few minutes after a tooth gets knocked out. On top of that, we also offer emergency dental care right here at our office in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

If a permanent tooth gets knocked out of your mouth or your child’s mouth, take these steps: 

1. Find the tooth

Ideally, you’ll be able to locate the tooth. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation, so ask anyone in the area to help you find it. Ask them to tell you when they locate it, advising them not to pick it up.

You don’t want anyone touching the delicate root of the tooth. Instead, when someone does locate it, gently pick it up yourself by its crown (the chewing surface), being careful to avoid touching or compressing the root. 

Find the nearest sink. Place a towel over the drain or plug it up in some other way. Gently and briefly rinse the tooth in water. Do not use soap or dry it afterward. 

2. Reposition it, if possible

If you lost the tooth, try to carefully reposition it in the socket. This will feel awkward, but it really does give you the best chance at saving the tooth. You can gently bite down on some gauze to keep it in place. 

If a child lost the tooth, evaluate their likelihood of swallowing the tooth if you put it back in their mouth. In some cases — and particularly with young children — it’s best not to take the risk. 

3. If not, get it into saliva or milk

If you can’t get the tooth back into the socket or you think your child might swallow it, put it in a small cup and cover it with either saliva or milk. Avoid using tap water, as it can damage the tooth. 

4. Call your emergency dentist

Call our office so Dr. Westcott or Dr. Trivedi can see you as soon as possible. If you get dental care within an hour of the tooth getting knocked out, you have a pretty good chance of getting it to re-root in the mouth. Past that, your odds decrease significantly. 

Simply put, when a tooth gets knocked out, fast action and proper tooth care can make all the difference. When you need emergency dental care, call 561-556-1698. We stay open late on weeknights and are open Saturdays so we can be as ready and available as possible when a dental emergency strikes.