The Best Way to Handle a Broken Tooth
Posted on: 25 August 2017
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Time really is of the essence when you break a tooth. It can be a traumatic experience, but if you act quickly and handle the tooth in the best possible way (and see a dentist immediately), it can be possible to reattach the tooth.
Cleaning the Tooth
If the tooth has broken off and actually fallen onto the ground, it can be prudent to rinse off any dirt and debris. This should be a very brief rinse, and it is a good idea to put the plug into the drain before you hold the tooth under the water. If the tooth slips from your grasp and goes down the drain, then obviously it will be gone forever.
Use Water Sparingly
Do not soak the broken tooth in water, and don't should you store it in water en route to the emergency dentist. Any root cells still attached to the teeth will swell up when soaked in water, and they have the potential to in fact burst. Once these roots have been damaged to this extent, then reattachment is not possible. So what is the best way to transport a broken tooth?
The Magic of Milk
Milk is in fact the best product for external storage of a tooth. It contains sugars which stimulate the growth of the root cells, as well as proteins which act as an acidic regulator (much like the saliva in your mouth). UHT (ultra heat treated) milk is generally best. It's stored unrefrigerated, and this temperature is less stressful for the root cells in the broken tooth. If you don't have any UHT milk handy, then whatever milk you have in the fridge will also be appropriate. Don't bother to wait for it to come to room temperature, as time is of the essence. Put the tooth into a small, sealable container and cover it with milk. Tightly seal the container, and immediately make your way to the emergency dentist.
Storage Inside Your Mouth
If you should not have any milk at all, or if the breakage occurs when you're out and about, then you will need to store the tooth inside your mouth to regulate its temperature, and also to preserve the root cells as much as possible. It will still be necessary to carefully rinse away any dirt and debris, and then you can store the tooth in your cheek until such time as you can get to the emergency dentist. Exercise extreme caution when doing so. The injury might be bleeding, and it can be instinctive to swallow. It's vital that you don't accidentally swallow the tooth.
With some quick action (and perhaps with a little bit of milk), a dentist at a company like Dentists @ Muswellbrook Pty Ltd will hopefully be able to restore your smile with a minimum of fuss.