What You Should Never Do If You Knock Out a Tooth

You knocked out one of your teeth—now what? Your first instinct might be to grab your tooth, submerge it in water, and head to youremergency dentist in Jacksonville, NC. But wait! That’s the last thing you should do. Here’s why and what you should do instead.

If you knock out a tooth, you should first try to put it back into its socket. Make sure that you only handle your tooth by its crown. You don’t want to damage the roots. Then, you will need to get to the emergency dentist immediately. If your tooth can’t be put back into its socket, the next best thing is to put it into some milk. Never put it in water!

Why You Should Never Put a Knocked-Out Tooth in Water

Putting a knocked-out tooth in water could cause your tooth’s roots to burst. And it will kill the tooth’s cells within minutes. Milk has sugars, enzymes, antibacterial agents, and proteins that will maintain the right balance of acids. These will help protect your tooth.

How Long Can a Knocked-Out Tooth Survive?

The longer your tooth is out of its socket, the less likely it is to be saved. However, if you put your tooth in milk within five minutes of being knocked out, the roots of your tooth can survive for about 30-60 minutes. That’s why it’s so important that you get to yourdentist in Jacksonville, NC immediately after knocking out a tooth.

Do You Need an Emergency Dentist in Jacksonville, NC?

Time is of the essence when you have a knocked-out tooth. If you have a dental emergency, like a knocked-out tooth,Contact ABS Family & Cosmetic Dentistry immediately! Put your tooth in milk (not water) and get to us right away. If you wait too long, we might not be able to save your tooth.