The good news is that in many cases a tooth that’s been knocked out can be saved. Here we look at what to do if either an adult or a baby has lost a tooth.
If it’s an adult tooth that’s been knocked out, there are three easy to remember steps:
Pick it
- Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white, top part). Don’t touch the root (bottom part).
- Rinse your mouth with water and clean away any blood
Lick it
- If you see that the tooth is dirty, lick it clean or pour water over it. Don’t scrub the tooth
Stick it
- Gently stick the tooth back into the hole in your gum and bite down on a hanky to hold it in place
It’s important to then make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible and not drink or eat anything in the meantime – this might dislodge the tooth or introduce bacteria into the hole.
What if it won’t go back in?
If the tooth doesn’t go back easily, put it in a container submerged in milk or your own saliva. This will protect it until you can see your dentist.
If it’s a baby tooth
Do not put a baby tooth back into the child’s mouth, this could damage the tooth that’s growing underneath.
If you’re unsure whether it’s an adult or baby tooth it’s best to err on the side of caution. Put the tooth in a container of milk (or have your child spit into a container) and take it to your dentist.
Here at Coppice View, we keep appointments free every day to cater for any emergencies, toothaches etc, but if you require advice outside of normal working hours, we have an on-call rota with other practices in Harrogate that can be contacted on 07790 780512.
