My Tooth Fell Out!! What Do I Do?

The loss of a tooth is a magical thing for a child. The moment you rushed to your room to hide your tooth underneath your pillow in exchange for some sort of valuable reimbursement from the tooth fairy was definitely a highlight of many of our childhoods. However, losing a permanent tooth as an adult can feel like a horrible nightmare.

Some Reasons Why Your Tooth May Have Fallen Off

There are many reasons why your tooth may have fallen off, and losing permanent teeth in adults is more common than you may think. More than 178 million people in the US are missing at least one tooth.

So, why does this happen?

Poor Periodontal Care – The number one reason why most adult teeth fall off is due to poor periodontal care. When bacteria gets under the gum line, the infection can become so severe that it can separate the tooth from the gums. The tooth will then become unstable, and ultimately fall out or have to be removed by a dentist.

Trauma To The Tooth – Another common reason is due to injuries or impact on the tooth. This can result in the tooth loosening or falling out. Sports injuries, vehicular accidents, or any direct trauma to the mouth region, can cause a tooth to fall out.

Extensive Tooth Decay – Fillings, crowns, and other dental procedures can repair damaged teeth, but when these problems are not corrected if left untreated. The tooth will eventually decay and destroy its own structure until it can’t any longer remain attached.

Oral Cancer and Diseases – When problems are left untreated for a really long time, certain illnesses can begin to disrupt your teeth or the bone structure in your mouth. Resulting in the loss of adult teeth.

What To Do

In case something like this happens, you should contact your dentist immediately. They will be equipped with the right tools to re-implant the lost tooth. Remember, a lost tooth is considered a dental emergency that requires immediate attention. So, if a tooth falls out, you should:

Locate the tooth or crown that has fallen out. Do not touch the root of the tooth.
If needed, rinse the tooth with saliva or milk. Do not use any detergent as this can ruin the tooth and cause pain.
Store the tooth in the empty socket, or back in your mouth, if possible. The saliva will help improve your chances of the tooth being successfully re-implanted.
If you cannot put the tooth back in your mouth, store it in milk, not water. Water will not preserve the tooth well.
You will only have about an hour to be able to reimplant a tooth successfully. So, do not take your time with this.

Replacing A Missing Tooth

If your tooth is unable to be reimplanted, it is very important that you still replace your missing tooth. In addition to improving your smile, prosthetics can protect you from gum disease, further decay, or bone loss in the jaw – which will make it much harder to restore the mouth later.

Three types of dental procedures to replace a missing tooth are:

Dental bridge is a type of prosthetic that includes two dental crowns that fit around the adjacent teeth, with an artificial tooth filling the gap.
Dental implants are becoming a very popular dental choice for many adults and teens. A dental implant is a replacement tooth built around a titanium root, implanted into the jawbone. This is the most realistic and permanent solution to a missing tooth.
A partial denture is another option to a missing tooth. A replacement tooth is fitted into a metal framework that will click into place using clasps around other teeth.

Questions? Call us at the office (714) 847-7733 to discuss your concerns or check us out on Insta @surfcitydentist or Facebook @surfcitydentist

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

– Dr. Coleman

Surf City Dentist

Surf City Dentist would like to be your personal and private dentist. Call us for an appointment. Your health is important.

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This blog is for advisory purposes only. Actual medical/dental diagnosis can not be done online. This blog does not replace the opinion or procedures recommended by others licensed professionals in the field.
Please visit a licensed dentist or doctor.