Got Milk? That should be
one of the first questions asked when a tooth is knocked out of
the mouth. Milk is a good medium for keeping a tooth alive and well
until patient and tooth can get to a dentist. This is because it
is free of harmful bacteria. Milk also supports the vitality of
the cells and tissues on the root surface of the tooth; the cells
are less likely to absorb milk and ultimately burst.
The best thing to do is have your dentist put
the tooth back in the socket. Putting the tooth in milk, saliva
or water, is better than letting it dry out, but water may damage
the cells of the periodontal ligament within minutes.
The key is preservation. Here are a few basic guidelines for saving
a knocked-out tooth:
Locate the tooth immediately; do not leave
it at the site of the accident.
Pick up the tooth by the crown (the chewing
surface) to minimize injury to the root.
Keep tooth moist at all times.
See a dentist as soon as possible.
Bring the tooth to a dentist as soon as possible
- ideally within 30 minutes. However, it is possible to save the
tooth even if it has been outside the mouth for an hour or more.
