Dental injuries are not exactly uncommon, particularly for those who play rough sports. Still, it’s alarming to realize that you or a loved one has just lost a tooth. Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, it’s crucial to remain calm. The first 30 – 60 minutes are especially important, so keep reading to learn what you need to do.
#1: Don’t Panic
When dealing with an emergency, it’s easy to let instincts take over and throw caution to the wind. After 30 – 60 minutes of losing a tooth, the odds of your dentist being able to salvage it rapidly decline. This urgent deadline, however, makes it more important to slow down. Remember to breathe and staunch any bleeding in your mouth with a tissue or paper towel. Alright – now you can take stock of the situation.
#2: Find Your Tooth
The next thing you need to do is find the tooth if you can. A soccer field or busy hallway might make this impossible, but you could be able to save it, so a quick survey is worth it. If you manage to locate the tooth, do not touch the root. Dental roots are very sensitive. Instead, gently grab it by the crown – the part that you use for chewing.
#3: Give Your Tooth a Gentle Rinse
You are going to want to rinse off any dirt or debris, but once again, this needs to be done carefully. Only use temperate tap water or milk – ideally milk. Do not use disinfectants, soap, or chemicals. Do not scrub or scrape the tooth. Do not wrap the tooth or otherwise put it away until you read step #4.
#4: Pop Your Tooth Back in Your Mouth or Soak It
The best thing you can do is put the tooth back into place. Gently ease it into the socket with your fingers, or slowly close your mouth while keeping the tooth in place. Either way, make sure you’re not touching the roots.
If the thought of even attempting this makes you want to vomit, you can instead soak the tooth in milk or a small pool of saliva. Your roaming pearly white must stay moist until your dentist can help you, otherwise the root might not reattach to your jawbone. Just do not put your tooth in tap water. Even though you can safely rinse with tap water, the liquid will damage your roots over longer periods of time.
#5: Make an Appointment with Your Emergency Dentist
You might feel tough and proud of yourself if you’ve managed to push your tooth back into place. However, you still need to call your emergency dentist right away. There could be damages or underlying complications present that you can’t see. Once you explain that your tooth came out, they’ll want to see you as soon as possible.
You can also call your emergency dentist during any of these steps. They can walk you through the process, so that even if you’re panicking, you can salvage your precious pearly white. Thanks to some quick work and these five steps, your dentist will have the odds on their side when they’re placing your tooth back where it belongs.
About the Author
Dr. Ramsay will make sure that you feel safe and comfortable during your dental emergency as well as confident and well-informed after your treatment. If you just lost a tooth and need an emergency appointment, call 503-472-1403. Dr. Ramsay will see you as soon as possible. To learn more about her practice and available services, visit her website.