What should I do if I chip or knock out a tooth?
Short answer: For a knocked-out adult tooth, act within the hour. Pick it up by the crown — never the root — do not scrub it, and if you can, gently push it back into the socket and bite on a clean cloth. If you cannot, keep it in milk (not water) and get to a dentist immediately. For a chipped tooth, save the fragments and call the same day.
A knocked-out adult tooth: the first hour
Time is the single biggest factor. A tooth reimplanted within about 30 to 60 minutes has a far better chance of surviving long-term. After a few hours, the odds drop sharply.
- Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown — the white chewing part. Never touch the root. The delicate cells on the root surface are what allow the tooth to reattach, and handling destroys them.
- Do not scrub, scrape or use soap. If it is visibly dirty, rinse briefly in milk or saline — a few seconds only. Never scrub the root clean.
- Reimplant it if you can. Push it gently back into the socket the right way round, then bite softly on a clean cloth or gauze to hold it. This is by far the best transport method.
- If you cannot reimplant it, keep it moist in milk. Milk is genuinely the best readily available option. Saliva works — hold it inside your cheek if the person is old enough not to swallow it. Never store it in water, which damages the root cells quickly.
- Get to a dentist immediately. Call 622-6893 on the way so we can prepare.
Baby teeth are different — a knocked-out baby tooth should not be reimplanted, as it can damage the developing adult tooth underneath. Still see a dentist promptly.
A chipped or broken tooth
Less time-critical, but still a same-day call:
- Save any fragments in milk or saline — sometimes a piece can be bonded back on
- Rinse your mouth with warm water
- Control bleeding with firm pressure on clean gauze
- Cold compress on the outside of the cheek to limit swelling
- Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free chewing gum or dental wax if it is cutting your tongue or cheek
- Avoid chewing on that side until it is assessed
Even a small chip is worth checking. A crack can extend into the nerve and cause problems weeks later, and it is much easier to treat before that happens.
When to go to a hospital instead
Go to a hospital emergency department rather than a dental clinic if there was a significant blow to the head, if there is loss of consciousness, confusion or vomiting, if you suspect a broken jaw, or if there is heavy bleeding that will not stop. Dental injuries frequently accompany other injuries that take priority.
Reaching us
Call the office on 622-6893 — for a genuine emergency a phone call is faster than a message. We open at 7:00am Monday to Friday and 8:00am Saturday, and we keep space in the schedule for urgent cases.
You can also send a photo to our WhatsApp on 396-8447, which helps us prepare before you arrive.
Common questions
Can a knocked-out tooth be saved?
Often yes, if it is handled correctly and reimplanted quickly — ideally within 30 to 60 minutes. Handle it by the crown only, keep it moist in milk or saliva, and get to a dentist straight away.
Should I put a knocked-out tooth in water?
No. Water damages the delicate root surface cells needed for reattachment. Milk is the best readily available storage medium; saliva also works.
What if my child knocks out a baby tooth?
Do not try to put it back — reimplanting a baby tooth can damage the developing adult tooth underneath. Control any bleeding and see a dentist promptly to check for other damage.
Is a small chip really worth seeing a dentist about?
Yes. Small chips can hide cracks that extend towards the nerve, and rough edges can irritate the tongue and cheek. Early assessment is quick and can prevent a much larger problem.