As you Local Redcliffe Dentists at John Street Dental know, a blow to the mouth through accidents and contact sports can cause teeth to be knocked out.
The good news is – if you act quickly and stay calm, there can be a positive outcome. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, there is a very good chance it can survive.
The key to saving a knocked out tooth is putting it back into its socket as quickly as possible. The faster you can do this, the better the chances.
If you can replace the tooth in the socket –
– Pick up the tooth by the crown, not the root.
– If there is debris sticking to the tooth, rinse it very briefly in milk or a saline solution. This is advised to stop the root from drying out. Milk in particular is good for storing knocked out teeth because the cells from the root surface don’t swell up and burst like they do when placed in water.
– Replace it in its socket, facing the right way.
– Hold it in place with foil or by biting gently on a handkerchief
– Contact your Local Redcliffe Dentist immediately.
If you can’t replace the tooth in its socket
– Store the tooth in milk (or saline if milk isn’t available) or wrap in clingfilm.
– Get to your Local Redcliffe Dentist immediately, or if afterhours, to the nearest hospital.
What you should never do if your tooth is knocked out
– Try to clean the tooth with cleaning products or scrubbing
– Allow the tooth to dry out
– Try to replace a baby tooth – it will complicate the situation later.
If you play contact sport, it is worth considering getting a sports mouthguard made by your Local Redcliffe Dentists at John Street Dental.
Mouthguards save teeth and they also help protect jaws as well. All young athletes would benefit from wearing a protective mouthguard. Sports such as rugby, wrestling, soccer and basketball (just to name a few) pose a high risk of injury to jaws and teeth.
Call the friendly dentists at John Street Dental today to discuss the best ways of protecting your teeth and jaws from injury on 07 32844281 or Book online
