It’s a normal spring day in North Texas and you’re out playing a pickup game of basketball when, suddenly, you collide with another player. The result is that one of your teeth is dislodged from your mouth, and all of a sudden, you have a traumatic situation. What should you do? Your emergency dentist in McKinney has some simple steps you should follow to get the relief you need.
My Tooth Has Been Knocked Out – What Should I Do?
When you find yourself in a dental emergency, no matter what type, you should do the following first:
- Calm Down – Relaxing may seem like the last thing you want to do in a dental emergency, but it’s a must. That’s because a calm mind will be better equipped to govern your next steps. So just step back for a brief moment and take a breath to collect your thoughts.
- Contact Your Dentist – Your next action should be to contact your local dentist’s office. The trained staff will be able to direct you as to how to proceed and let you know when you can come in to be seen.
While you’re waiting for care, there are some things that you can do to help the situation on your own.
What You Can Do for Your Dislodged Tooth
When your tooth is dislodged, it’s important to handle it carefully. With clean hands, carefully grab the tooth and place it in a cup of milk. This is a good medium because it prevents the cells from the root surface from swelling up and bursting, which happens when they’re placed in water.
Furthermore, milk is packed with protein that does the following:
- Maintains the proper acid-to-alkaline ratio
- Provides an anti-bacterial environment
- Contains sugars that help to maintain cell growth
If you don’t have any milk handy, there is something else that can be done.
An Alternative for a Dislodged Tooth
If milk isn’t available, then your saliva is better than nothing. So you can place the tooth back into your mouth, carefully, and allow the natural mineralizing properties of your saliva to take effect. Keep in mind, though, that any remedy is only temporary.
Furthermore, it’s important to call your dentist’s office early on. This is because you have, roughly, a six-hour window to have your tooth successfully re-inserted.
Once you’re restored, though, you should focus on how to prevent this problem from happening again.
A Simple Prevention Method
In the future, if you’re planning on participating in any type of sporting event, you should be sure to wear a custom mouthguard. It will provide a way of absorbing the worst part of a sudden impact and redistribute the force throughout the rest of the appliance and away from your teeth.
To learn more about preventive methods or to schedule an appointment, reach out to your dentist in McKinney today.
About the Author
Dr. Nathan Coughlin earned his dental degree from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry, graduating with honors. He fully restores patients to their healthier selves at Oakbrook Dental & Orthodontics and can be reached for more information through his website.