When a permanent tooth falls out or gets knocked out of your mouth, this is called an avulsed tooth. A fallen tooth is one of the most serious dental emergencies you might face. It can cause great concern, primarily because permanent teeth don’t grow back as baby teeth do. If your tooth can’t be fixed, you will have to decide how to handle the new gap in your teeth.
Here is what you should do if your tooth falls out.
What to Do
If your permanent tooth falls out of your mouth, there is a chance it can be reimplanted back into your gum. You need to set an appointment with your emergency dentist in Houston as soon as possible. The window for reimplantation is about an hour, so you don’t want to delay it.
Doing these things can help preserve your tooth and increase your chances of successful reimplantation.
- Pick your tooth and hold it just by the crown, not the root.
- If possible, put the tooth back in your mouth, directly into the socket. It may fit in very easily, but make sure to place it in the correct direction.
- Hold it in the socket with a piece of gauze or cloth.
- If there is a need to rinse off your tooth, use your saliva or milk. Avoid water as it doesn’t help preserve your tooth very well.
- Don’t clean your tooth with soap or scrub it, even if it is dirty. A quick rinse with saliva or milk is all you should need.
- If you cannot put your tooth back in your mouth, store it in milk until you can get to the dentist.
If your gums feel swollen after your emergency dental visit or don’t feel well in general, contact your dentist immediately.
Reasons Why a Teeth Might Fall Out
An adult tooth may fall out for several reasons, some you can avoid, and some you cannot. Here are a few reasons why it might happen.
- Gum Disease. Gum disease greatly impacts your gums, leading to tooth loss.
- Accident or trauma to your face, gums, or teeth. Like boxing, but don’t wear a mouthguard? Love riding a bike without a helmet? Any of these reasons can cause you to lose a tooth unexpectedly.
- Poor dental hygiene. If bacteria grow into your gums, it can destabilize your tooth.
- Tooth decay. Tooth decay results from poor oral care or because you don’t see a dentist when there are problems.
Conclusion
No matter why your tooth falls out or gets knocked out, treat it like a dental emergency. Make sure you have an emergency dentist like Vintage Oral Surgery in your contacts, so you get the help you need as soon as possible.