Knocked-Out Tooth? Here's Exactly What to Do in the Next 30 Minutes

A knocked-out (avulsed) permanent tooth is one of the few true dental emergencies where timing is everything. The window for saving the tooth is roughly 30–60 minutes. After that, the ligament fibers that attach the tooth to the bone begin to die, and reimplantation becomes much less likely to succeed. Here's what to do.

Step 1: Find the Tooth

Pick it up by the crown (the white part you can see when smiling) — never by the root. The root contains delicate ligament fibers that are critical for reattachment. Even touching the root briefly can damage these fibers.

Step 2: Gently Rinse (If Dirty)

If the tooth has dirt on it, rinse it gently with clean water or milk for no more than 10 seconds. Do not scrub it, use soap, wrap it in a tissue, or let it dry out. Do not remove any tissue fragments attached to the root.

Step 3: Try to Reinsert It

If possible, gently place the tooth back in its socket, making sure it's facing the right way. Bite down gently on a clean cloth or gauze to hold it in place. This is the best place for the tooth to be during transport.

Step 4: If You Can't Reinsert It, Keep It Moist

If reinsertion isn't possible, the tooth must stay moist. The best storage mediums in order of preference: (1) milk, (2) your own saliva — tuck it between your cheek and gum, (3) saline solution, or (4) Save-A-Tooth emergency kit if available. Do not store the tooth in plain water — the cells on the root die quickly in tap water.

Step 5: Call Your Dentist Immediately

Call your dental office as you're heading there. A 30-minute or less response time gives the best chance of successful reimplantation. The dentist will clean the area, reposition the tooth, and splint it to adjacent teeth for stabilization. You'll also likely need antibiotics and follow-up care.

Important: This Only Applies to Permanent Teeth

Do NOT attempt to reinsert a baby (primary) tooth — it can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. For a knocked-out baby tooth, still call your dentist, but the protocol is different.