Knocked-out permanent tooth
Handle the tooth by the crown, never the root. Rinse gently with milk or saline if dirty, and reinsert it into the socket if you can. If not, keep it in milk or in your cheek and get to a dentist within 30 to 60 minutes.
Cracked or broken tooth
Rinse with warm water, apply a cold compress outside the cheek, and avoid chewing on that side. Save any fragments. Sharp edges can be covered temporarily with orthodontic wax.
Lost crown or filling
Keep the crown, clean it, and try temporary cement from a pharmacy if the tooth is sensitive. Do not use household glue. Call promptly, because the tooth shifts within days and the crown may no longer fit.
Facial swelling: go now
Swelling that spreads toward the eye or under the jaw, difficulty swallowing, or fever with dental pain is a spreading infection. That is an emergency room visit, not a wait-and-see situation.
Key takeaways
- •Milk is the best transport medium for a knocked-out tooth.
- •Never use household adhesives on a crown.
- •Swelling plus fever or trouble swallowing means the ER.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Your situation deserves an exam.