Whether the consequence of an accident, contact sports or biting on hard foods and candies, mouth injuries may cause your teeth to become broken or knocked out. A knocked-out tooth, also referred to as an avulsed tooth in dental terms, is a very serious dental emergency and may turn your world upside down until you get dental help from a dentist. Nevertheless, the good news is that there's a good chance that the knocked-out tooth can be saved and successfully re-implanted if you act quickly. Read on.
Emergency measures
1. Handle the avulsed tooth carefully
Remember, poor handling of the knocked-out tooth may negatively impact successful re-implantation. When picking up the tooth, touch only the upper section of the tooth, also known as the crown. Avoid touching the root or the section of the tooth that was underneath the gum.
If the tooth is dirty, you will need to rinse off the dirt. You can use either milk or lukewarm water for rinsing purposes, and the process should be limited to just 10 seconds. Do not scrape, scrub or wipe the tooth with any fabric, as this may cause damage.
2. Keep the tooth wet
You don't want the knocked-out tooth to become dry before you reach the dental office. There are a few options for keeping the tooth moist. The first option is to re-insert the tooth back into its socket. First, rinse your mouth with lukewarm water, then re-insert the tooth back into its correct socket and bite on a gauze pad. It should slot right in. However, don't apply too much pressure trying to force it into the socket.
If the tooth fails to slot into place, you can decide to drop it into a glass of whole milk or water. Alternatively, you can store the tooth between your gum and cheek until you get to the dentist office.
3. Treat symptoms
A knocked-out tooth often results in bleeding. You can control the bleeding by using sterile gauze. Applying a cool compress may come in handy to deal with intense pain and swelling. You can also take painkillers like ibuprofen to deal with the pain.
Seek Help
The above-mentioned measures are meant to help you save your tooth before reaching the dental office. Remember, they are not a substitute for a dental appointment. Even if you successfully re-insert the tooth, you should see a dentist immediately for assistance.
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