What to do if You Knock Out or Chip a Tooth

Chipped and knocked out teeth are one of the most common dental emergencies we see. Keeping calm and knowing what to do can help save your smile and minimize the risk of tooth loss. Although there are ways to avoid losing a tooth (like wearing an athletic mouthguard) accidents still happen. Here’s what you need to know:

First: Control any Bleeding (if applicable)
Our mouths are highly vascular. A bump to your lips or gums can cause short term heavy bleeding. Use a clean cloth, tissues, or paper towel. Apply firm pressure so that the blood flow is controlled. Oral bleeding is unlikely to be severe or painful, but it can be quite scary!

Second: Find Your Tooth
Take care not to touch the root or try to scrub it clean. If there’s visible debris, you can run your tooth under a gentle stream of running water.

Third: Store Your Tooth in Liquid
Your tooth needs to stay moist. If it dries out, it may not be possible to reattach or reinsert it. For best results, store your tooth completely submerged in liquid. Milk, contact solution, or saline works best. Saliva is even better! If all else fails, you can use tap water with a pinch of salt.

Fourth: Get to Our Office
Sapphire Creek Dental provides emergency care to new and existing patients alike. The sooner you give us a call, the quicker we can plan for your arrival. For best results, it’s important to see a dentist within the next 1-2 hours after breaking or losing a tooth.

Call Sapphire Creek Dental today!