knocked out or broken tooth?
Knocked out tooth – If a tooth is completely knocked out of your mouth, carefully rinse the tooth in warm water if it is dirty. Be careful not to scrub the tooth or remove any tissue that is still attached to the tooth. If possible, gently replace the tooth in its socket in your gum and hold it there. If this isn’t possible, place the tooth in a cup of milk. Get to the dentist as quickly as possible and make sure to take the tooth with you. It may be possible for the dentist to restore the tooth in your gum if the root is intact.
Broken tooth – The most common cause of a broken tooth is a blow to the face or biting down on something hard. Children may break a tooth falling off a bicycle or during other active play. If you have a broken tooth, you will need to see the dentist as soon as possible. Rinse your mouth with warm water. If your gum is bleeding, press a piece of gauze on the area until the bleeding stops. If you are able to save the pieces of the tooth, again put the pieces in some milk and take them to the dentist. Depending on how the tooth was broken, it may be possible for the dentist to glue the tooth back together.
Place a cold compress over the cheek or lips to control swelling and take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed. Your dentist will determine whether or not you need a root canal as well as the best method to repair the tooth.
Teeth can be damaged in a variety of ways, and you may not immediately know how bad the damage is. The important thing to remember is that if something happens to damage or break a tooth, get it checked by your dentist as soon as possible.