|
Posted on 4/20/2019 by Dr. J. Derek Tieken |
![]() What does matter is how you react to it, especially if it's a healthy tooth that you otherwise would not have lost. Here are some important things you need to do if you have a dislodged tooth. Watch How You Pick it Up Never pick up a tooth from the bottom (the root). Instead, carefully handle the crown or top part of the tooth. This is the part of the tooth that you see above the gum and use to chew your teeth. Touching the root can damage it, making it impossible to replant the tooth. Rinse it Off with Water If the tooth is dirty (and it likely will be), gently hold it under water to clean it off. Again, only hold it by the crown. Don't use any soap or other cleaners—use water only! Also, don't scrub the tooth or even dry it. Don't wrap it in anything, either. Put it Back in Your Mouth This may sound odd, especially if the tooth landed in the dirt, but you do need to put it back in your mouth as soon as you can. Place it carefully in the empty socket and hold it with either a finger or by holding your mouth shut. Don't press or bite down too hard, but apply enough pressure to keep it in place. Keep it Moist You never want a dislodged tooth to dry out. Keep your mouth as moist as you can with saliva or water. If you can't put your tooth back in your mouth, don't put it in water. Instead, place it in milk or even hold it in your mouth. There are preservation kits you can also purchase that can be used to hold a knocked-out tooth. Never put your tooth in tap water because that can destroy the root. Call Us ASAPFinally, once you've saved your tooth, call us as soon as you can. Ideally, you'll be able to see us within 30 minutes so we can restore your tooth. |
![]() Beautifully written and very informative View Dr. Tieken's Best-Selling Book:
|