Knocked-out tooth
Pick it up by the crown, never the root. Rinse briefly if dirty, do not scrub. Best: reinsert it into the socket and hold it. Otherwise store it in milk or inside your cheek. Get to a dentist within 30 to 60 minutes, replantation success drops steeply after that.
Broken tooth or lost crown
Save any fragments. Rinse with warm water and use a cold compress for swelling. A lost crown can be temporarily held with dental cement from a pharmacy. Avoid chewing on that side and call for a same-day appointment.
Severe toothache or swelling
Throbbing pain that wakes you at night usually means infection reaching the nerve. Over-the-counter pain relief buys time but treats nothing. Facial swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing means same-day care, that infection can spread.
When it is the ER instead
Uncontrolled bleeding, jaw fracture, or swelling affecting breathing or vision goes to the emergency room. Everything else dental is handled better, faster, and cheaper in a dental office, emergency rooms cannot fix teeth.
Key takeaways
- •Knocked-out teeth have a one-hour window, use milk for transport.
- •Swelling with fever is same-day urgent.
- •Save our number before you need it.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Your situation deserves an exam.