Knocked out a tooth? What to do in the first 30 minutes

A knocked-out (avulsed) adult tooth is one of the few true dental emergencies where what you do in the first half hour changes the outcome.

• Pick it up by the crown — the white part you see in the mouth. Don't touch the root.
• If it's dirty, rinse briefly with milk or saline. No soap, no scrubbing, no drying it off.
• Try to put it back in the socket and bite gently on gauze to hold it. If that's not possible, keep it in a small container of milk, or inside your cheek.
• Call a dentist immediately. Replantation works most reliably within 30–60 minutes.

Baby teeth are different — they're not replanted. Call us anyway, so we can check the surrounding teeth and gums.

In Waterloo, you can reach Auburn Centre Dental at (519) 884-8594. If there's facial swelling, fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing, go to an emergency room first.