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

If an adult tooth is knocked out, hold it by the crown, rinse it quickly if it's dirty, and try to put it back in place — or keep it in a little milk. Then get to a dentist, ideally within 30 minutes.¹

For what to do with other dental emergencies, see our emergency dental care page.

Step by step: a knocked-out adult tooth

1. Find the tooth. There's a good chance it can be saved.¹
2. Hold it by the crown — the white part you see in the mouth. Don't touch the root: the cells on it are needed for healing.¹
3. If it's dirty, rinse it quickly in warm water. Don't scrub it or leave it soaking.¹
4. Put it back in the gum if you can, then bite gently on a clean piece of cloth to hold it in place.¹
5. If you can't put it back, keep it in a little milk or in saliva so it doesn't dry out.¹
6. Get help fast. Aim to see a dentist within 30 minutes. A tooth may still be saved up to 2 hours after the injury.¹

The sooner you get treatment, the better the chance of saving the tooth.¹

A knocked-out baby tooth is different

Don't put a baby tooth back in. Rinse your child's mouth with salt water, use an ice pack if it's swollen, and see your dentist. The gum will heal, and an adult tooth should grow in its place.¹

A broken or chipped tooth

If part of a tooth breaks off, keep the piece in milk or sterile saline and bring it with you to the dentist.¹

After any mouth injury

Always see a dentist after an injury to the mouth, even if everything looks fine — not all damage is visible straight away.¹ If you have a toothache that lasts more than 2 days, or doesn't settle with pain relief, see a dentist as soon as you can.²

Prevention: mouthguards

A mouthguard during sport — training and games — helps protect against injuries like knocked-out teeth.¹

Need us now?

Call us as early as you can on 02 6160 0540 and we'll do our best to see you as soon as possible. Our emergency dental care page has first aid for toothache, swelling and broken teeth, and what to do after hours.