It happens. Someone around us falls or is hit by a solid object or something and a tooth is knocked out or broken. When considering injuries requiring emergency treatment, dental injuries are normally at the bottom of the list in importance, but that does not mean it can just be ignored. Knowing first aid for knocked out teeth can minimize further damage.

When someone around you looses a tooth or teeth, the first step is to make sure there is not more serious damage or injury. If the injured person is unconscious, bleeding, or unresponsive, addressing those issues are paramount.

Once you have assured yourself that the injury is simply a knocked out tooth, take the tooth, gripping it by the crown rather than the exposed root, and rinse it off. This step is to minimize contamination from foreign particles. If possible, replace the tooth into the socket.

Of course, putting a tooth back into the socket may not be possible. The injured person may not be willing or there may be other issues preventing you from doing so. A secondary option is to place it into a clean container filled with saline solution, milk, or saliva. You can also place it between the cheek and gum of the injured person or of anyone willing to do so. Any of these methods keep the root moist and limits exposure to contaminants. Transporting the tooth dry will cause damage to the root and water is not a recommended transport vehicle.

If there is bleeding from the socket where the tooth is lost, the mouth should be rinsed and gauze placed on the socket. The injured person should bite down on it to stem or stop the bleeding.

For knocked out teeth, the sooner a tooth is put back into place and stabilized the better the chance of keeping the tooth. Ideally, the tooth should be re-implanted within 30 minutes. Stabilizing the tooth can requiring wiring it in place, arch bars or plastic forms for up to 14 days or more. For loosened teeth, similar treatment may be required. In both cases, it is recommended that hard foods be avoided to prevent further damage and to allow the socket to heal.

First aid for knocked out teeth is not hard, requires no special training, but can save someone a lot of painful dental work when done properly.

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