Knocked-Out Tooth

Hold a knocked-out adult tooth by the crown, rinse gently with milk or saline if dirty, and reinsert into the socket if possible — otherwise store in milk or saliva and get to a dentist within 30 minutes.

Knocked-out adult tooth

1. Hold the tooth by the crown (white part) — never touch the root.
2. If dirty, rinse very gently with milk or saline (not water if you can avoid it). Do NOT scrub.
3. Try to reinsert it into the socket the right way around and have the person bite gently on a clean cloth.
4. If you cannot reinsert it, store the tooth in milk or in the person's own saliva (between cheek and gum, if old enough not to swallow it).
5. See a dentist within 30 minutes — the sooner the better.

Baby teeth

Do not reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth — it can damage the developing adult tooth. Still see a dentist.

Broken or chipped tooth

• Save any tooth fragments in milk or saliva.
• Rinse the mouth gently with warm water.
• Apply a cold pack to the cheek to reduce swelling.
• See a dentist as soon as possible.