What happens if you knock a tooth loose

If the tooth is still straight and only slightly loose, they still need to be seen by their dentist within an hour of the accident. If your dentist prescribes a liquid or soft food diet be sure your child sticks with it. This will help the tooth heal and reattach properly. Your child needs to be rushed to the dentist. If possible, find the tooth that was knocked out. Avoid damaging the sensitive nerve endings at the root area of the tooth when handling.

If the tooth needs to be rinsed, use saliva or milk. Water will not help when preserving the tooth. If your child is old enough not to swallow the tooth, carefully reinsert it into the socket and use a paper compact to hold it there until you can get to the dentist.

Otherwise, put the tooth in a cup with either milk or saliva. Dental implants are involved surgical procedures, so you want to avoid them if at all possible. Children lose teeth all the time, so it is good to be prepared. Sometimes losing a tooth is just a visit from the tooth fairy.

This trauma can cause a number of issues, the most common being a chipped tooth. Less commonly, but more seriously, you can encounter knocked out or avulsed teeth, dislodged or impacted teeth, or even root fractures. These injuries are all variations of the same impact type injuries where the tooth or surrounding structure is damaged or knocked out.

If left untreated, the tooth and surrounding structures can become permanently damaged or even die. In these cases, it is almost always crucial to get to an emergency dentist or endodontist as soon as possible, hopefully within the hour of the injury. Having a tooth knocked out is a very serious condition. The most important thing to do is to go to a dental professional as soon as possible.

Proper emergency action can save the tooth so that it can be replanted successfully and last for years to come. Review and remember these tooth-saving steps that take you and your tooth from the time it falls out until you reach medical support:. Locate the tooth immediately; don't leave it at the site of the accident. Handle the tooth carefully when you pick it up, and never touch the root of the tooth, only the crown chewing surface.

Use only water to gently rinse off any dirt. If your tooth or teeth have been knocked out completely, there still may be a chance to save your original tooth. Stop any bleeding with consistent pressure. If you are unable to stop the bleeding within 30 minutes using constant and firm pressure, or if you have a bleeding disorder, you may need to seek emergency medical attention.

Carefully pick up the tooth by the crown and rinse it gently with saliva, milk or saline. DO NOT touch, rub or scrub the root of the tooth. Place the tooth in a container with the fluid you used to rinse it. Make sure you do not shake or otherwise cause further trauma to the tooth during transport.