What to Do When You Knock Out a Tooth

A knocked-out tooth is something that many people think they’ll never have to deal with, but it happens more frequently than you might think. More than five million teeth are lost in accidents every year in both children and adults. In many cases, it’s actually possible to save a lost tooth, but this can only be done if you act quickly and follow the right steps. If you end up suffering from a knocked-out tooth in Ghana, remember these 5 steps that could end up saving you from having to live with a gap in your grin.

Step 1: Locate the Tooth Immediately and Pick It Up

The first thing you need to do is find the tooth. If there’s any chance that it can be saved, the last thing you want to do is leave it behind at the site of the accident. When picking up a lost tooth, make sure that you only touch the crown (the part of the tooth that is used for chewing food). Never make direct contact with the root, as this could end up killing the cells that are needed for reattachment.

Step 2: Gently Rinse the Tooth with Water

There might be some dirt or debris on the tooth, so before you do anything else with it, rinse it off under some water. Do not scrub the tooth or use soap; doing so could end up damaging the roots and ruining any chances of replantation. For similar reasons, after you’re done rinsing, do not wrap the tooth in a tissue or a cloth.

Step 3: Try to Put the Tooth Back in Its Socket

Once you’ve made sure the tooth is clean, the best place to keep it is in its original socket. You can do this by pushing it in with your fingers, carefully handling the crown, or slowly closing your mouth while the tooth is being held above the socket.

Step 4: Make Sure the Tooth Stays Moist

A lost tooth should not be allowed to dry out under any circumstances. If you can’t put it back in its socket, you can still preserve it by storing it in your mouth next to your cheek or putting it in a container of milk. Do not soak it in water; the cells on the surface of the roots won’t be able to tolerate it for long.

Step 5: See Your Emergency Dentist as Soon as Possible

You need to bring your knocked-out tooth to an emergency dentist immediately if you want to have any chance of saving it. Ideally, you should get to their office in less than 30 minutes. It is still possible to save a tooth that has been out of the mouth for an hour or more, but the chances of success keep falling as time passes.

By taking control of the situation immediately and following the proper steps, you can often preserve your natural tooth and keep it in your mouth for many more years to come. Of course, if a tooth is beyond saving, you can ask about your options for replacing it. Whatever the case, you can count on your emergency dentist to help you keep your smile whole.

About Bethel Dental

Here at Bethel Dental, our doctors use their clinical expertise and the latest technology to make sure our patients have access to high quality dental care when they need it most. We offer same-day emergency appointments and will do everything we can to save knocked-out teeth; we also offer dental implants and other options for filling in empty space in your mouth. To schedule an appointment with our Bethel Dental team, visit our website.