Dental injuries - Knocked out, chipped or cracked teeth

If an adult (permanent or secondary) tooth is knocked out, it has a good chance of surviving if it is put back into position straight away and you seek professional help immediately. The longer a tooth is out of the gum, the less chance it has of surviving.

Never try to put a baby (deciduous or primary) tooth back in the gum if it is knocked out, as this can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath.

Is it a baby tooth or an adult tooth?#

It can be tricky to tell, but baby teeth are smaller, smoother and usually whiter than adult teeth. A child’s adult teeth are often more yellow and larger, and can have small bumps called mamelons along the biting edge.

Knocked-out adult teeth#

Stay calm. If an adult tooth is knocked out:

• Handle the tooth by the crown (the smooth white part), not the root (the yellowish pointy part).
• If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it in milk or saline for a few seconds. Do not rinse the tooth with water.
• Holding the clean tooth by the crown, gently put it back into the socket, making sure the pointy yellowish root goes in first. Only do this if the person is conscious.
• Get the person to hold the tooth in place by gently biting on something soft, such as a handkerchief.
• Help the person see an oral health professional immediately.

If you can’t replace the tooth yourself, try not to let it dry out. Place it in milk, or ask the person to spit into a clean container and put the tooth in their saliva. You could also seal the tooth in plastic wrap. Do not use water to rinse or store a knocked-out tooth. Seek immediate advice from an oral health professional.

Knocked-out baby teeth#

Do not try to put a knocked-out baby tooth back in the gum. Trying to replace it might damage the permanent tooth sitting underneath. The baby tooth could fuse to the bone, causing problems when it is time for it to fall out naturally, and could affect the growth of the adult tooth, bone and gums.

See an oral health professional immediately to make sure there is no other damage to the teeth or mouth. If it is outside clinic opening hours, seek help from an out-of-hours medical service.

Chipped or cracked teeth#

Teeth that have been chipped or cracked may or may not be painful. Either way, you should see an oral health professional as soon as possible, because early repair can improve the survival of a damaged tooth.

If part of the tooth has broken off and is intact, store it in milk, in the saliva of the person with the broken tooth, or sealed in plastic wrap, and see an oral health professional as soon as possible.

Preventing dental injuries#

Always wear a mouthguard when you train for and play sports where your teeth could be damaged, such as football, rugby, soccer, basketball, netball, water polo or hockey. A dental professional can make a custom-fitted mouthguard to give your teeth the best protection.

Where to get help#