Would you know what to do if your tooth was knocked out? A knocked-out tooth is one of those dental emergencies many of us aren't prepared to handle. Fortunately, you can protect your smile by calling your dentist in Corpus Christi, TX, Dr. Shobha Hasur of Everhart Dental immediately and following these steps:

Find your tooth

The first place to look for a knocked-out tooth is your mouth. If the tooth isn't in your mouth, carefully search the ground or floor around you. If you find the tooth, rinse it under clean, running water to remove dirt and debris. Pick up the tooth by the crown, or top. Try to avoid touching the roots of the tooth.

Call your dentist

Call the dental office in Corpus Christi, TX, and let your dentist know you have an emergency. Minutes count during dental emergencies. If you can get to the dental office within an hour of your accident, it may be possible to reimplant your tooth. Over the course of several weeks, the tooth will gradually reattach itself. It may be necessary to splint the tooth to strengthen and protect it during this process.

Keep your tooth safe

The tooth socket is the best place to keep your knocked-out tooth during your trip to the dental office. If your tooth won't fit back in the socket easily, don't force it. Put it between your gums and teeth. If that's not an option, fill a small, closed container with your saliva or milk and place the tooth inside. Keeping the tooth moist will help increase the chances that it can be reimplanted.

Don't do these things

Don't try to scrub the dirt off the tooth. If the tooth is too dirty to put in your mouth after gently rinsing it, put it in the sealed container as mentioned above. You'll also need to avoid chewing on the injured side of your mouth. It's best to avoid eating until you've seen the dentist for your emergency appointment.

Knocked-out teeth and other dental emergencies don't have to ruin your smile! Call (361) 854-5181 to reach your Corpus Christi, TX, dentist, Dr. Hasur of Everhart Dental.