First Aid - Tooth - Knocked Out To save the tooth, it must be put back in the socket (reimplanted) as soon as possible. Two hours is the outer limit for survival. Right away is best.
Here are the steps for putting the tooth back in the socket:
- Step 1: Rinse off the tooth with saliva or water. Do not scrub the tooth.
- Step 2: Replace it in the socket facing the correct way. Press down on the tooth with your thumb until the crown is level with the adjacent tooth.
- Step 3: Lastly, bite down on a wad of cloth to stabilize the tooth until the injured person can be seen by a dentist. If your dentist is not immediately available, then go to the emergency department.
If the tooth cannot be put back in its socket: Place the tooth in either milk or saliva to keep it from drying out, and go right away to the dentist. Again, If your dentist is not immediately available, then go to the emergency department.
Special Notes:
- Even if you get the tooth back in the socket right away, only time will tell whether the tooth will live. It may not.
- Baby teeth can't be re-implanted. (Give it to the Tooth Fairy!)
First Aid - Tooth - Transport in Milk It is very important to keep the knocked out (avulsed) tooth moist. Do not let it dry out. Transport the tooth in milk or saliva. These images show how to transport the tooth in milk.
- Milk Transport - Method 1 (best): Place tooth in a small plastic bag with some milk. Put plastic bag in a cup of ice.
- Milk Transport - Method 2: Place tooth in a cup of cool milk.
First Aid - Tooth - Transport in Saliva It is very important to keep the tooth moist. Do not let it dry out. Transport the tooth in milk or saliva. These images show how to transport the tooth in saliva.
- Saliva Transport Method 1: Put the tooth in the mouth inside the cheek. (Only fully alert adults should use this method.)
- Saliva Transport Method 2: Put the tooth in a cup and keep tooth moist with saliva (spit).