Knocked-Out Tooth? Here’s What You Need to Do Immediately
Having your tooth knocked out is one of those moments that can really catch you off guard. One second, everything’s fine, and the next, you’re holding a tooth in your hand, wondering what on earth to do!
It’s scary, and it’s definitely not something anyone plans for.
When a tooth gets knocked out, it means it’s come completely out of its socket in your gum. It might happen from a fall, a knock to the face, or an accident during sports. No matter how it happens, the important thing to know is that time really matters. If you can get the tooth back in place or safely stored and see your South Perth Dentist quickly — ideally within the first hour — there’s a good chance your tooth can be saved. Even if a bit more time passes, it’s still worth acting fast.
That’s why we’ve created this blog post to help you learn the simple steps you can take right after you or someone you know knocks out a tooth.
Immediate Steps After a Knocked-Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency, and you need to visit your Emergency Dentist Perth asap. Staying calm and knowing what to do can really help save your tooth. Here’s what you need to do in the first few minutes to give your knocked-out tooth the best chance of being saved:
Stay Calm and Check for Injuries
First, try to stay calm. Take a moment to breathe.
Before you worry about your tooth, check if there are any other serious injuries, like heavy bleeding, cuts, or signs of a head injury.
Find the Knocked-Out Tooth
If everything else is okay, look for the tooth and try to find it.
When you find your tooth, pick it up carefully and hold it by the top part (the crown), not the root. Be careful not to touch the roots because it can damage important cells that help your tooth heal later.
Rinse the Tooth Gently (if needed)
If your tooth is dirty, you can gently rinse it.
Use milk if you have some at home. If not, saline or clean water is okay, too.
Don’t scrub the tooth, don’t use soap or chemicals, just rinse it gently to wash away any dirt.
Try to Put the Tooth Back into the Socket
If you can, try to gently put your tooth back into its socket.
Remember, you should hold it by the crown. Check to make sure your tooth is facing the right way, and push it in gently.
Once it’s in, bite down softly on a clean cloth or tissue to hold it there.
If you can’t do it, don’t force it and move to the next step.
Keep the Tooth Moist If You Can’t Reinsert It
If you can’t put your tooth back in, it’s very important to keep it moist.
The best thing is to put it in a glass of milk.
If you don’t have milk, put it in some saline or keep it inside your cheek (if you are conscious, very careful, and old enough not to swallow it).
Don’t store the tooth in plain water, and don’t let it dry out — both can harm the tooth.
When Should You See a Dentist?
If your tooth gets knocked out, seeing a dentist immediately gives you the best chance of saving it. It’s best to visit a dental clinic within 30 minutes. That first hour is a golden hour and really matters because the cells on the root of your tooth start to dry out and die if they’re left too long.
But even if it’s been more than an hour, it’s still worth seeing a dentist as soon as you can. Teeth can sometimes be reattached successfully even after a bit of time has passed. Plus, the dentist can check for any damage to your gums, nearby teeth, or jawbone that might not be obvious at first.
Waiting too long can make it harder to save the tooth and could lead to more complicated treatments later on.
Special Advice for Children
If your child knocks out a tooth, it’s important to figure out if it’s their baby (primary) tooth or an adult tooth. Baby teeth should not usually be put back into the gum because doing that could harm the adult tooth that is growing underneath.
If it’s a baby tooth, still see a dentist as soon as possible. The paediatric dentist will check that no parts of the tooth are left behind and that the other teeth and gums are okay.
If it’s an adult tooth (which can happen in older kids), the steps are the same as with adults: try to put it back in gently, or store it in milk or saliva, and get to a dentist right away.
What Will the Dentist Do?
When you get to the dentist, they’ll first take a close look at your mouth to check the tooth, your gums, and the surrounding areas. They’ll probably take an X-ray to see if there’s any other damage.
If you’ve managed to put the tooth back in yourself, the dentist will check that it is done properly and will clean around the area if needed. If the tooth is still out, they’ll gently place it back into the socket.
To help the tooth stay in place while it heals, the dentist might attach it to the teeth on either side using a small splint.
After that, you’ll need a few follow-up visits to make sure your tooth is healing the way it should. Sometimes, depending on how much the tooth was damaged, you might need a root canal treatment later on to keep the tooth healthy long-term.
How to Prevent Tooth Injuries
Wear a Mouthguard During Sport
If you or your child plays any contact sports, like football, rugby, hockey, or even basketball, wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard can help prevent dental injuries. It protects your teeth from getting knocked out or broken.
Make Your Home as Safe as Possible
If you have younger kids, making small changes around the house can greatly reduce the chances of falls and accidents. Things like using safety gates on stairs, clearing toys from the floor, and adding corner guards to sharp furniture can help prevent dental injuries.
Common Questions About Knocked-Out Teeth
Can every knocked-out tooth be saved?
Not always, but acting quickly gives you the best chance.
If a tooth is knocked out and put back in within about 30 minutes to an hour, there’s a good chance it can reattach and heal. But if the tooth has been out for too long, or if it’s been badly damaged, it might not be possible to save it.
Even then, seeing a dentist as soon as possible is still important because a knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency and requires professional care.
What if the tooth is broken?
If the tooth is broken but still mostly in one piece, it might still be possible to save it.
It’s important to find and bring all the pieces with you to the dentist, even if they’re small.
The dentist will check how badly the tooth is damaged and work out the best way to repair it.
In some cases, they can bond the broken pieces back together or rebuild the tooth with filling material.
If the damage is too severe, they’ll talk you through other options like crowns or replacement teeth.
Either way, getting to a dentist quickly gives you the best chance of saving as much of the natural tooth as possible.
What if the tooth was out for more than an hour?
If the tooth has been out for more than an hour, there’s still a chance it can be saved, but the chances are reduced.
The important thing is to keep the tooth moist and get to the dentist as soon as you can.
Even if it’s been longer, the dentist might still be able to replant the tooth, but it may need extra treatment later to stay healthy.
Is it painful to reinsert the tooth?
Putting the tooth back in can feel uncomfortable, but it’s usually not very painful. There may be some pressure or a bit of soreness when you push the tooth back into place, especially if the area around it is swollen or tender.
If it’s too painful or you’re not sure how to do it safely, it’s better to keep the tooth moist and get to a dentist as soon as you can.
The dentist can numb the area if needed and, reinsert the tooth properly and make it much more comfortable.
What if I swallowed the tooth?
If you accidentally swallow the tooth, try not to panic. In most cases, the tooth will pass through your system naturally without causing any problems. You should still see a dentist as soon as you can.
They’ll check your mouth to make sure there are no other injuries and talk to you about options for replacing the missing tooth if needed.
If there are any concerns about the tooth being stuck somewhere else in your body, your doctor or dentist might recommend an X-ray to be sure.
Will the tooth always survive after reimplantation?
Sometimes, even with the best efforts, some reimplanted teeth may not last the long term. Sometimes, the tooth reattaches well and lasts for many years, but other times, it may need extra treatment later, like a root canal, or it might not heal fully.
Final Thoughts
Having a tooth knocked out is something no one ever expects, but acting quickly is very important. Knowing what to do in those first few minutes can give your tooth the best chance of being saved.
At Acts Dental, we’re always ready to help if you or someone you care about faces a dental emergency. If something like this ever happens, don’t wait — give us a call or come straight in.
Acts Dental Emergency Line: (08) 9474 5083
Open for urgent dental care in Perth — call us straight away if you need help. It’s a good idea to save your emergency dentist’s number in your phone now, just in case. That way, if you ever need them, you’ll know help is only a call away.
Furthermore, we are proud to be a NIB preferred provider, Bupa preferred provider, HBF preferred provider, HCF preferred provider, and Medibank preferred provider dentist in Perth.
Need relief from wisdom tooth discomfort? Our gentle wisdom teeth removal in Perth will have you feeling better in no time.