If your first time staying alone for the weekend has ended with you knocking your tooth out, you're probably wondering what to do next. First of all, don't panic. You may have knocked your tooth out, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you've permanently lost a tooth. If you work fast and take the right steps, your dentist might be able to save the tooth. Here's what you need to do.
Stop the Bleeding
If your mouth is bleeding, you'll need to get that stopped. First, rinse your mouth out with fresh water to remove the excess blood. Next, wrap some medical gauze up into a small roll, and place it directly over the socket where you lost the tooth. Bite down firmly but gently. Keep biting down until the bleeding stops. You might need to change the gauze a couple of times, but that's okay.
Locate the tooth
Once you've got the bleeding under control, you'll need to find your tooth. When you find it, carefully pick it up by the biting edge. Don't touch the root or you might damage it, which will prevent the dentist from reinserting it. Pick the tooth up and place it in the palm of your hand. Drizzle small amounts of water over the tooth to remove dirt and debris. Be careful not to drop your tooth down the drain while you're cleaning it.
Preserve It
After you've cleaned your tooth off, you're going to preserve it. This step will make sure that it doesn't dry up and suffer permanent damage on the way to the dentist. Find a small plastic container. You can use either a plastic food storage container or a resealable plastic baggie. Place a small amount of milk in the container. Now place your tooth in the container and seal it up. The milk will preserve your tooth until you can get to the dentist.
Get to the Dentist
After you have your tooth taken care of, you'll need to get to the dentist. If you're home alone for the weekend, be sure to call an adult to come pick you up. If your tooth is still intact, and didn't suffer any root damage, the dentist will be able to reinsert it into the socket and prevent permanent tooth loss.
If you're home alone, and you've knocked your tooth out, stay calm. The steps provided above will help you preserve your tooth and prevent permanent loss. For more advice, talk to a dentist like Samuel L Stokke DDS.
Share19 July 2016
My son was outside playing with some friends when he accidentally fell down and hit his mouth on the sidewalk. The fall knocked out his front tooth, so I immediately placed the tooth in a small jar and added some milk. I rushed my son to the dental clinic and the dentist immediately took us into the examination room. The dentist placed the tooth back into the socket and saved it. My name is Beverly Tillman and thanks to the quick work of the dentist, my son didn't lose his tooth. Since this was a scary time for me and my son, I wanted to write this blog as a source of information for other parents who are facing a dental emergency. First of all, don't panic and get to your dentist as soon as possible. I hope this blog will help to answer your questions about dental emergencies.