What To Do If Your Tooth Gets Knocked Out?

What To Do If Your Tooth Gets Knocked Out

Dental injuries can happen fast — during sports, accidents, falls, or even everyday activities. Whether a tooth is loose, partially displaced, or completely knocked out, all of these situations are considered dental emergencies and should be treated immediately.

The sooner you act, the better the chance of saving the tooth.

Different Types of Dental Trauma

Loose or Shifted Tooth

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If a tooth is loose or pushed out of position but still in the mouth, do not try to wiggle it back and forth. This type of injury still requires urgent dental care to stabilize the tooth and prevent long-term damage.

Completely Knocked-Out Tooth

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When a tooth is fully knocked out, time becomes extremely important — but the tooth may still be saved if handled properly.

What To Do Right Away

If a tooth gets knocked out:

1. Pick the tooth up by the crown only(Do not touch the root.) 

2. Do not scrub or clean the toothIf it’s dirty, gently rinse it with saline or milk — never soap or chemicals. 

3. Keep the tooth moist at all timesThis is critical.Best options: 

   • Place it back into the socket if you can (this is the best option) 

   • Hold it inside your cheek in saliva 

   • Place it in a warm glass of milk 

4. Never let the tooth dry out. 

Get to a dentist immediately

The Importance of Time

The ideal window to reinsert a knocked-out tooth is within 60 minutes.

While it may still be possible after that, the longer the tooth remains out of the mouth, the more the odds of successful healing decrease.

Every minute matters.

Why This Is One of My Favorite Procedures

Although dental trauma can be stressful, treating knocked-out teeth is one of my favorite emergency cases — because of what it represents.

Restoring a tooth isn’t just about fixing damage.

It’s about giving someone their smile back, restoring confidence, and helping them feel like themselves again.

When treated quickly, it’s often possible to save the natural tooth and avoid more complex procedures in the future.

If a Tooth Is Knocked Out — Don’t Wait

If you or someone you know experiences dental trauma, treat it as an emergency and contact our office right away.

Mission Viejo Dental Associates27871 Medical Center Rd, Suite 100 Mission Viejo, CA 92691