Knocked-Out Tooth
A well-fitting custom-made mouthguard made by a dentist will prevent your teeth against painful and potentially expensive dental traumas.
However, if an accident does occur remain calm and act swiftly. If a tooth gets knocked out the following steps should be taken instantly:
- Always handle a knocked-out tooth by its crown only. A tooth crown is the white part that is normally visible in the mouth.
- If the root of the tooth is dirty, and the patient is calm and conscious, ask them to gently suck the tooth clean. Alternatively, rinse the entire tooth in milk or very briefly, in water.
- Replace the tooth back in the socket immediately ensuring that it is facing the right direction. Ideally immediate replacement of a knocked-out tooth should occur within the first 5-10 minutes.
- The displaced tooth can be held in place by biting gently into a soft cloth. Alternately, the tooth can be stabilised with an aluminium foil placed like a trough around the affected tooth and extending to the adjacent teeth on either side.
- If it is not possible to replant the tooth back in the socket, it can be kept moist by placing it in a cup of milk, sealing it in plastic wrap or by placing it in the conscious patient’s mouth, next to the cheek.
- Seek Dental Treatment immediately! – Time is critical to prevent permanent damage.
Avoid:
- Handling the root of the tooth.
- Scraping or rubbing the surface of the tooth.
- Drying the tooth – always keep it moist.
- Placing the tooth in hot water or ice.
- Rinsing or storing the tooth in water for more than one or two seconds.
- Removing any soft tissue fragments from the tooth.
Broken or Fractured Teeth
Teeth can chip, crack (fracture) or break due to biting on something hard, trauma from falls and contact sports or from having cavities that weaken the tooth. If you have a broken tooth, see your dentist as soon as possible.
Until you get to one of our practices:
- Save the pieces of broken teeth. In some instances, our dentists may prefer to cement the tooth back together.
- Rinse your mouth well with warm saltwater. If you saved the pieces of the tooth, rinse them too.
- Apply pressure on any bleeding areas with gauze for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops.
- Applying a cold pack to the cheek or lips over the broken tooth will help reduce swelling and relieve pain.
- If you cannot see us immediately take an over-the-counter pain reliever or see your GP.