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A LITTLE BIT OF PREP<\/b> work makes a huge difference when an emergency happens, including a dental emergency such as an oral injury. What exactly can we do to prepare for something like an unexpected injury? It depends on the specific situation.<\/p>\nBroken Tooth<\/h3>\n
If an injury results in a broken, chipped, or cracked tooth, the best thing to do is head straight to the dentist. If you can find the broken pieces, bring them along in a glass of cold milk to protect them<\/strong>. It\u2019s also okay to rinse your mouth with water.<\/p>\n Even if a crack or chip seems minor, don\u2019t ignore it!<\/strong> If the damage reaches the pulp chamber, it puts the tooth in serious danger of infection. Even if it doesn\u2019t, it can work like a cavity and give bacteria a space to grow until it does reach the pulp chamber. That\u2019s how dental infections start, leading to pulp death, painful abscesses, loss of bone tissue in the jaw, and even the risk of the infection spreading to the bloodstream.<\/p>\n If the whole tooth gets knocked out in one piece, this, too, is a situation that requires immediate attention from the dentist<\/strong>. There is a limited window (not much longer than an hour) in which a knocked out tooth can be successfully replanted, so the faster you get to the dentist, the better its chances are. To give it its best shot, put it back in the socket on the way there and hold it in place with a washcloth or gauze. If that isn\u2019t possible, store it in cold milk.<\/p>\nKnocked Out Adult Tooth<\/h3>\n