What to do if a tooth gets knocked out
Attention Coaches, Parents and Athletes!
Whether it is while playing an organized sport such as hockey or doing a recreational activity such a riding a bike, it is important to wear the appropriate protective gear, especially mouth guards to protect the teeth. If an injury does occur, such as a tooth getting knocked out, here are some helpful tips…
Knocked out permanent tooth:
The parent or another adult should:
- find the knocked out tooth
- hold it by the crown (top part) only, not by the root
- if the tooth has obvious dirt on it, then rinse it under cold water gently but do not scrub it
- reinsert the tooth back into the socket quickly or place it in cold milk, the child’s cheek fold (vestibule), or cold wet cloth
- Take the child and the tooth to a dentist immediately provided the child does not first need to be assessed medically by a physician. There is a very short window of time for the tooth to be placed back in place and splinted by the dentist so the cells around the root survive (ideally under 1 hour).
(Never attempt to reinsert a primary tooth because of the danger of damaging the underlying permanent teeth.)