What to Do If You Knock Out a Tooth

You have about an hour, and what you do in the first five minutes decides whether the tooth survives.

Quick Answer

Pick the tooth up by the crown, never the root, rinse it gently with milk or saline if dirty, and try to place it back in the socket. If you cannot, store it in milk or inside your cheek and get to a dentist within 30 to 60 minutes. A dry tooth loses viability fast, so never let it dry out or scrub it clean.

The first sixty seconds

Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown, the part you normally see. The root is covered in delicate cells that let it reattach, and touching or wiping them destroys the chance of saving it.

If it is dirty, rinse briefly with milk, saline, or the patient's own saliva. Never scrub, never use soap, and never wrap it in a dry tissue.

Put it back if you can

The socket is the best storage there is. Push the tooth gently back in facing the right way, then bite softly on a clean cloth to hold it. That gives the best odds of survival.

If it will not seat, do not force it. Move to storage instead.

How to store it

Milk is the best common option because its makeup protects the root cells. A tooth-preservation solution is better if you have one. Holding it inside the cheek works if the person is old enough not to swallow it.

Water is a last resort, since it damages root cells within minutes. Never store it dry.

Get seen immediately

Time is the deciding factor. Within 30 minutes the odds are good, and they fall sharply after an hour. Call the dentist on the way so they can prepare.

Baby teeth are the exception and are usually not replanted, since that can damage the permanent tooth underneath. See emergency dental care and signs you need emergency care.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can a knocked-out tooth survive?

Best results come within 30 minutes, and chances drop sharply after an hour outside the socket. Keeping it moist in milk extends the window.

Can you put a knocked-out tooth back in yourself?

Yes, and you should if you can. Handle it by the crown, seat it gently in the socket facing the right way, and bite on a clean cloth to hold it until you reach the dentist.

Should you replant a knocked-out baby tooth?

No. Replanting a baby tooth can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. See a dentist, but leave the tooth out.