Knocked-Out Tooth and Other Dental Emergencies: First Aid Until You Reach a Dentist

Quick answer: for a knocked-out adult tooth, pick it up by the crown, the chewing end, not the root. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water without scrubbing. Try to put it back in the socket and bite gently on gauze to hold it. If that is not possible, keep it moist in milk or a tooth preservation solution, or in the person’s mouth between cheek and gum if they are old enough not to swallow it. Do not store it in plain tap water. See a dentist right away; the sooner, the better. Do not put a knocked-out baby tooth back in. Go to the emergency room for heavy bleeding, a possible broken jaw, a head injury or swelling that affects breathing or swallowing.

Dental emergencies tend to happen at awkward times: a fall on the stairs, an elbow during pickup basketball, a bike crash on the way home or a bite into something hard on a holiday weekend. The first few minutes matter most for a knocked-out permanent tooth, and what you do with the tooth decides whether a dentist has a chance to save it.

This guide covers first aid for a knocked-out tooth and other common dental emergencies, based on guidance from the American Dental Association and dental specialty groups. It belongs to our apartment emergency kit and preparedness guide.

Sources: American Dental Association (ADA), MouthHealthy dental emergency guidance; American Association of Endodontists (AAE), “Knocked-Out Teeth”; American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), guidance on dental trauma in children; International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) guidelines; MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), “Tooth – broken” and “Teeth – knocked out.” Checked November 2026. This article is general safety information, not medical or dental advice. Call 911 in an emergency and contact a dentist promptly.

When to Go to the Emergency Room Instead

Most dental injuries are handled by a dentist, but some need an emergency department first. Call 911 or go to the ER if there is:

• Bleeding from the mouth that will not stop with 10 to 15 minutes of firm pressure
• A possible broken jaw, such as pain when opening or closing the mouth, teeth that no longer fit together or a jaw that looks out of line
• A head injury, especially with loss of consciousness, confusion, vomiting or worsening headache
• Swelling of the face, mouth or neck that makes it hard to breathe or swallow
• A deep cut to the lip, tongue or face that may need stitches

A blow hard enough to knock out a tooth can also injure the head. Our guide to head injury and concussion warning signs lists what to watch for.

Knocked-Out Adult Tooth: Step by Step

The AAE explains that the cells on the root surface begin to die once a tooth is out of its socket and drying out. Keeping the root moist and getting to a dentist quickly gives the best chance that the tooth can be replanted successfully.

1. Find the tooth. Look carefully, including inside the mouth and on clothing.
2. Pick it up by the crown. Hold it by the white part you normally see when smiling. Do not touch the root.
3. Rinse briefly if dirty. If the tooth has dirt on it, rinse it for a few seconds with milk, saline or clean water. Do not scrub it, use soap or remove any attached tissue fragments.
4. Try to put it back. If the person is alert and cooperative, gently push the tooth back into its socket, facing the right way. Have them bite gently on a clean gauze pad or cloth to hold it in place.
5. If it will not go back, keep it moist. Place it in a small container of cold milk or a commercial tooth preservation solution. If neither is available, an adult or older child can hold it in the mouth between the cheek and gum. Do not do this with young children, who might swallow it.
6. Avoid plain tap water for storage. The ADA and AAE note that water is not a good storage medium for long periods because it damages the root cells. A brief rinse is fine; soaking is not.
7. Get to a dentist right away. Call your dentist on the way. If it is after hours, many dental offices have an emergency line, and hospital emergency departments can help if no dentist is reachable.

Why speed matters

Dental groups stress that the best outcomes come when a tooth is replanted very quickly, ideally within minutes, and that the chances fall the longer a tooth is out of the mouth and dry. Do not wait to see a dentist the next day if you can be seen today.

Bring these to the dentist

• The tooth, in milk or preservation solution
• The person’s medical history, allergies and medication list
• Information on when they last had a tetanus shot, since a dentist may ask

Knocked-Out Baby Tooth

Baby teeth are treated differently. The AAPD advises against putting a knocked-out baby tooth back in the socket, because doing so can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Instead:

• Control bleeding by having the child bite gently on gauze or a clean cloth.
• Use a cold compress on the outside of the lip or cheek to reduce swelling.
• Keep the tooth so the dentist can confirm the whole tooth came out.
• Call the child’s dentist the same day for an exam.

If you are not sure whether a child’s tooth is a baby tooth or a permanent tooth, store it in milk and call a dentist right away. Children typically begin losing baby teeth and getting permanent front teeth around age 6, but this varies.

Loosened or Pushed-Out Tooth

A tooth that has been knocked partly out of position, pushed in or pushed sideways is also an emergency. The ADA advises seeing a dentist right away. Until then:

• Do not try to force the tooth back into position if it hurts or will not move easily.
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth for swelling.
• Avoid chewing on that side.

Cracked or Broken Tooth

For a chipped or broken tooth, the ADA recommends:

• Rinse the mouth with warm water.
• Save any pieces of the tooth, stored in milk, and bring them to the dentist.
• Apply gauze to any bleeding area for about 10 minutes, or until it stops.
• Use a cold compress on the outside of the mouth near the broken tooth to help with swelling and pain.
• See a dentist as soon as possible.

Small chips that do not hurt can often wait a short time, but a break that exposes the inner part of the tooth, causes significant pain or leaves a sharp edge needs prompt care.

Bitten Tongue or Lip and Mouth Bleeding

The mouth has a rich blood supply, so even small cuts can bleed a lot. MedlinePlus and the ADA advise:

• Rinse gently with water to see where the bleeding is coming from.
• Apply firm pressure with clean gauze or a cloth.
• Use a cold compress on the outside to reduce swelling.
• Get emergency care if bleeding continues after 10 to 15 minutes of steady pressure or if the cut is deep or gaping.

Our guide to cuts and scrapes wound care covers general wound care for the lips and face.

Toothache and Dental Swelling

A toothache is not always an emergency, but some signs are. The ADA suggests rinsing the mouth with warm water and gently using dental floss to remove any food caught between teeth. Do not put aspirin directly on the gums or the aching tooth, which can burn the tissue. A cold compress on the outside of the cheek can help with swelling.

A dental abscess, which is a pocket of infection, can spread. Seek same-day dental care for a painful swelling, a pimple-like bump on the gum, a bad taste with fever or a swollen face. Go to the emergency room if swelling spreads to the eye or neck, or if there is trouble breathing or swallowing.

Object Stuck Between Teeth

Gently try to remove it with dental floss. The ADA advises against using sharp or pointed objects, such as pins, which can cut the gums or scratch the tooth. If it will not come out, call a dentist.

Braces, Dentures and Dental Work

Orthodontic and restorative work brings its own small emergencies:

• Broken braces wire or bracket. The ADA suggests pushing a poking wire into a more comfortable position with the eraser end of a pencil. If it cannot be moved, cover the end with orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball or gauze until you can see the orthodontist. Do not cut the wire yourself, since a piece could be swallowed or inhaled.
• Lost filling or crown. Keep the crown, avoid chewing on that side and call your dentist. Over-the-counter dental cement can be a temporary fix in some cases, but it is not a substitute for a visit.
• Broken denture. Do not try to glue a denture with household adhesives. Keep the pieces and contact your dentist.

When You Cannot Reach a Dentist

Holidays, weekends and late nights make dental care harder to reach. Call your dentist’s main number anyway, because many offices route after-hours calls to an on-call dentist. Dental schools, community health centers and some hospitals run urgent dental clinics. For a knocked-out permanent tooth, do not let the search for a dentist delay care for long; an emergency department can assess the injury and help arrange follow-up, and the tooth should stay moist the whole time.

Preventing Dental Injuries

Most knocked-out teeth come from falls, sports and accidents. A few habits help:

• Wear a mouthguard for contact sports and activities such as skateboarding or martial arts. The ADA recommends mouthguards for sports where the mouth could be hit.
• Do not chew ice, hard candy or popcorn kernels, which can crack teeth.
• Do not use teeth as tools to open packages or bottles.
• Wear a seat belt and use proper car seats for children.
• Keep stairs and hallways clear and lit, and secure loose rugs, especially for older adults and young children.

Building a Small Dental Kit

Add a few items to your small apartment first aid kit:

Item	Use
Small container with a lid	Holds a knocked-out tooth in milk
Tooth preservation solution	Longer-lasting storage than milk; check the expiration date
Sterile gauze pads	Bleeding control and holding a replanted tooth
Cold packs	Swelling
Dental floss	Removing trapped food
Disposable gloves	Hygiene
Your dentist’s phone and after-hours number	Fast contact

Save your dentist’s emergency number in your phone as well, and find out whether your area has a dental school clinic or emergency dental service that sees patients after hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a knocked-out tooth be saved?

Sometimes, if it is a permanent tooth, the root is not damaged and it is replanted quickly by a dentist. Handle it by the crown and keep it moist in milk or a preservation solution.

Should I put a baby tooth back in?

No. Dental groups advise against replanting baby teeth because it can harm the permanent tooth underneath. Call the child’s dentist.

Can I store a knocked-out tooth in water?

Only for a brief rinse. Soaking in water damages the root cells. Milk, a tooth preservation solution or the person’s own mouth are better options.

Should I go to the ER or the dentist for a knocked-out tooth?

Go to a dentist right away unless there is heavy bleeding, a possible broken jaw, a head injury or trouble breathing, which need the ER.

How do I stop a bleeding gum after a tooth injury?

Bite gently on clean gauze or a cloth for 10 to 15 minutes. Get emergency care if bleeding does not stop.

The Bottom Line

With a knocked-out adult tooth, handle it by the crown, rinse briefly if dirty, try to put it back and get to a dentist as fast as possible. Keep it moist in milk or a preservation solution if it will not go back in, and never soak it in water. Leave baby teeth out and call the child’s dentist. Head to the ER for heavy bleeding, a possible broken jaw, a head injury or swelling that affects breathing.