A Knocked Out Tooth Is a Dental Emergency

Rigorous athletics can place a person at an increased risk of injury. While bruises, bumps and sprained joints are common, there are times when a hard blow to the mouth can severely damage or knock out a tooth.

In a situation like this, applying some basic first aid principles can help manage pain and other complications while you seek emergency treatment at Real Life Dental.

Sometimes rising your mouth with some lukewarm saltwater can help clear away lingering blood or other debris to help get a better view of the affected area. If the gums have been injured and are bleeding you might want to try lightly packing the area with some sterile gauze.

If a tooth has been knocked out of the socket and it is whole and kept alive, our dentists might be able to place it back in the socket. The tooth can be preserved by handling it only by the crown and not by the roots. You should hold it between your cheek and gums, submerge it in milk or your saliva, or place it in a tooth-preservation fluid that has been specifically formulated to keep the tooth alive.

If you live in the Blacksburg, Virginia, area and you have just suffered a severe dental trauma, you should call 540-552-5433 for an emergency appointment.