Losing your tooth can be painful and, at the same time, affect your smile and oral health. This could have resulted from an injury, accident, or whatever the case may be.
While losing a tooth is not as common in adults as it is in children, it does happen. Therefore, if your tooth comes loose, don’t panic. What you should do is to get to your dentist as soon as possible. Here is what you should do in case you knock out your tooth.
- Stop the bleeding in your gum
When you lose a tooth, it is typical that the gum starts to bleed. Take a cotton swab and gently press it on the gum to absolve the blood. Alternatively, you can use a cotton bud by gently dabbing the affected area. With this, you can prevent a possible infection or swell in your gums.
- Rinse the detached tooth
If your tooth suddenly came out in an accident, it might drop onto the floor or some dirty surface. Do not worry; just pick up the tooth and wash it in clean water.
While cleaning the tooth, you should handle it only from the crown and avoid touching its root. This will raise your chance of reattaching your tooth.
- Attach the tooth to the gum
Replace the tooth into the gum it came from. Attach it the way it always was when it was still naturally attached. You can hold it in place with your hands or an adjacent tooth while closing your mouth. This will help preserve the tooth in its natural habitat while you go to the dentist.
- Preserve the tooth
Naturally, you might not be comfortable holding a loose tooth in your mouth. An alternative way to preserve your tooth is to put it in milk and hold it there till you get to the dentist. Or you can dip it in a saline solution for preservation. The main idea is to keep your tooth well hydrated and moist till your dentist can help you to reattach it.
- Call the dentist
After you’ve retrieved and preserved your tooth, you’d want to get to your dentist as soon as possible. Try to get to the dentist within 30 minutes. The earlier you get there, the better, which is why it is imperative to be aware of the dental clinics near you in case of emergencies.
If you just lost your tooth, you’d be okay following the steps above. Your preventative dentist Liverpool will help you reattach your tooth to the gum, which can last years with no problem. However, if you can’t find your tooth, you have other options like dental implants, dental bridges, dentures, and more. Therefore, do not worry about your pretty smile. There are many ways to preserve it.