Can I Put My Knocked-Out Tooth Back in Its Socket?

It can be incredibly alarming to sustain a blow to the face, look down at the ground, and notice one of your pearly whites has been knocked out! But when this happens, there’s no reason to let panic set in—the world isn’t ending, and the solution can be resolved with the help of your emergency dentist! However, you might wonder if you can replace the tooth in its socket yourself, rather than visiting your provider. Here’s more about what you should do if you have a knocked-out tooth and some tips for preventing additional teeth from being lost.

Addressing Knocked-Out Teeth

Teeth can become knocked out for a variety of reasons, and believe it or not, it’s a pretty common occurrence. In fact, it’s estimated that roughly 5 million adults and children in the US sustain at least one knocked-out tooth annually. But just because it’s pretty frequent doesn’t mean that it’s any less serious or urgent! A displaced tooth needs to be addressed quickly, generally within an hour, in order to be salvaged.

But you might be wondering if it’s better to rely on getting to your emergency dentist for this, or if you can replace the tooth yourself, and the answer depends. You can try to replace the tooth yourself if it’s in one piece; locate it and pick it up by the crown, careful not to touch it by its root. If necessary, you can gently rinse it off with water before attempting to put it back into the socket. Don’t force it, but rather, gently bite down on it, using gauze to assist you if needed. If things don’t work out, you can store it in a container of milk or your own saliva until you visit your dentist.

Tips for Preventing Displaced Teeth

Anybody can knock out one of their teeth, and realistically, it’s not possible to entirely prevent it from occurring—life is simply impossible to predict! However, there are still quite a few things you can do to reduce the chances of it happening to you. Consider the following:

• If you play contact sports, use the proper safety equipment including a mouthguard and/or helmet.
• Maintain great oral hygiene by brushing and flossing daily; a clean mouth is far less likely to encounter issues that result in tooth loss!
• Avoid bad oral habits that might also impact your oral wellness, like overconsuming sugar, smoking and using tobacco, and biting into hard objects.
• Maintain regular dental checkups to ensure that no hidden issue is able to progress to the point of tooth loss.

About the Author

Dr. J. Lee Pettigrew and his team have proudly served patients and families in the Southlake, TX community for several years! His practice is thrilled to offer a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic services as well as emergency dentistry for all of your urgent needs. If you or a loved one has knocked out one of their teeth, don’t hesitate to contact us quickly for assistance! Telephone: (817) 481-4888.