Knocked-Out or Broken Tooth: Dental First Aid

A knocked-out or broken tooth can be alarming — but staying calm and acting quickly makes a real difference. For a knocked-out adult tooth, the first 30 to 60 minutes are critical.

If an adult tooth is knocked out

• Pick it up by the crown (the white part) — never the root
• If it’s dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline for a few seconds; don’t scrub
• If you can, place it back in the socket and bite gently on a clean cloth
• If you can’t reinsert it, keep it in a cup of milk (not water)
• See a dentist immediately — ideally within the hour

Quick action gives the best chance of saving the tooth. Storing it in milk — or even held in the cheek pouch — keeps the cells alive until you reach us.

Important: baby teeth are different

A knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back in — doing so can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. Keep the area clean and see a pediatric dentist promptly to check everything is fine.

If a tooth is chipped or broken

• Save any broken pieces in milk if you can
• Rinse your mouth gently with warm water
• Use a cold compress to reduce swelling
• See a dentist soon — a chip can often be repaired

Depending on the damage, we can restore a broken tooth with bonding, a crown or other treatment. If a tooth is lost completely, we’ll discuss replacing it — see our guide to implant vs bridge vs denture.

Keep our number handy

For any dental emergency, call us on +91 70058 35565 — fast advice and prompt care can save a tooth.