News

A tooth has fallen out; what should I do?

Almost 178 million people lose at least one permanent tooth during their adulthood. And it is very important in that situation you refer to a dentist. Because if a permanent tooth falls out it does not grow back like baby teeth. So, if one of your permanent teeth fell out, take it seriously!

Here what you should do if one of your teeth fell out…

• There is a chance for re implanting your tooth back. You can have a one hour window before re implanting your fallen out tooth into your gum. So if you lose a permanent tooth, immediately call your nearest dentist and take an emergency appointment. By that time you can do this so you can have a successful implant to your fallen tooth.

• Hold your dislodged tooth by the crown and not by the root.
• Rinse the tooth with your saliva or milk and attempt to implant it directly in the socket.

• Hold the tooth firmly in the gum with gauze or cotton to minimise bleeding.
• If you can’t place your tooth in the socket just keep it in a cup of milk and bring it to the dentist immediately.
• Do not keep it in water, only milk or saliva!
• When you arrive at the dentist the first thing the dentist will do is to disinfect the area, and re implant your tooth back. The dentist first concern is the potential infection in your gum or socket that is why of you notice any kind of pain or swelling after your dentist appointment call your dentist immediately back. Your dentist will prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication to you. Additionally you can apply cold compress for around 2-3 minutes to relieve your pain.

The above notes are for adults tooth and not child tooth (milk tooth). If your child loses a tooth he/she have a chance to grow new one. So do not attempt to reimplant your child’s tooth. However, it is important to take your child to a dentist when his/hers tooth falls out to prevent infections.

Why your tooth may fall out?

There are several reasons behind falling tooth for adults. Some you can avoid and some you can’t:

Accidental injury, trauma or accident involving your face/teeth.

Lack of oral hygiene: gum bacteria can loosen a tooth’s grip. This can happen on multiple teeth, and if you don’t visit the dentist twice a year, you risk losing several teeth.

Tooth decay: tooth decay can occur due to dietary choices and poor dental care. These compromises the structural integrity of your teeth contributes to tooth loss. While fillings and crowns can repair early signs of tooth decay, the more severe ones may need root canal (or in the worst case, a tooth extraction).

External causes like smoking or genetics: men over the age of 35 are at a greater risk of developing periodontal disease than other groups, especially if they are heavy smokers. Smoking contributes to gum disease and eventually tooth loss in severe cases.

Losing a permanent tooth is an emergency. Follow these tips to have your tooth reimplanted successfully. Always practise good oral hygiene to reduce tooth loss. Brushing, flossing, and twice-yearly dental check-ups are necessary.

call our team on 0451 498 007 to book your dental appointment