Losing a tooth due to an injury or accident isn’t necessarily a bad sign. However, there are necessary steps that patients need to do immediately right after getting a tooth knocked out to ensure that dentists can replant their tooth successfully. Therefore, before seeking affordable dentistry, here are some first-aid things to do after getting a tooth knocked out.
1. Place Extracted Tooth in Milk
It is best to put it in a glass of cold milk immediately to ensure it stays in its best state possible. Placing it in milk can avoid unnecessary damage to your tooth and keep it as intact as possible.
If you can’t find a glass of milk, you can use a container of water that you’ve cooled down to around the same temperature as your tooth. Do note that ice-cold water can harm your tooth, so it’s best to let it sit in the water for twenty minutes or until it reaches body temperature.
2. Wash Extracted Tooth
After taking the tooth out of the glass of milk, you should wash the tooth to clear off any blood and fluid. Use a cotton swab to rub off all the tooth’s substances gently. Next, rinse your tooth with saltwater to avoid infection and to allow it to stay fresh. Dip your tooth in a cup of warm salt water until you see the water turning slightly cloudy. After that, dry the tooth using tissues.
3. Visit a Dental Clinic
Eventually, you will have to see a dentist for your tooth. Experts recommend that you visit a dentist on the same day you lose your tooth. The dentist will assess your tooth and take it from there. It is not just about embedding the tooth but also putting it back into the socket where it is supposed to be. Of course, treatment can be costly, so it is important to have dental insurance so you can enjoy affordable dentistry.
4. Replant Your Tooth
Whether you are in a dentist’s clinic or at home, there are specific things that you need to do to ensure that your tooth can be replaced in your mouth. First, rinse your mouth off with water to remove any lingering blood in your mouth. As mentioned before, you can use salt water to clean your mouth. Next, you need to use gauze to hold your tooth in place. Place the tooth back into the socket and secure it with gauze.
5. Consider a Dental Implant
If your tooth is beyond the stage of replanting, then you should consider getting a dental implant instead. Dentists can put a dental implant into your jawbone and then place it in your mouth. The dental implant is a better alternative than having a root canal or gum treatment because it won’t cost you as much money.
Conclusion
Getting a tooth knocked out is not a good thing to happen. However, you don’t need to worry because you can always rely on affordable dentistry to help you. You can take these first-aid steps and visit a dentist to have a tooth replacement. The most important thing is to ensure that you have dental insurance for possible dental treatment.
Dental House MI is a Ypsilanti-based dental clinic offering affordable dentistry for people seeking expert intervention. Aside from tending to the knocked-out teeth, we also cover basic dental procedures like extractions and cleaning services. Visit our website today to book an appointment with us.