If you knock a tooth out, you want to make sure that you can deal with it as soon as possible. However, you need to make sure that you are handling it correctly; otherwise, you can end up causing more damage or making it so that the tooth can't be successfully reseated in your mouth. If you do everything right, then you have a very good chance at your tooth healing and settling back into your mouth the way it should. So, what should you do?

1. Don't Touch the Root

When you pick up your tooth, you may be tempted to pick it up by the root. However, if you do that, you run the risk of damaging the root. That is the most delicate part of your tooth, so make sure that you are handling it by the crown. Since the crown is already exposed to all kinds of things, it's tough enough to stand up to a lot of damage. 

2. Rinse It Off

You don't want to actually scrub the tooth, but you do want to gently rinse it off. You are just looking to get off any dirt or debris. If there is any gum tissue left over on the root, don't get rid of that. That tissue is securely attached and trying to get it off the root of the tooth could cause more damage. The way that you want to rinse it off is to turn the faucet on to cool water and a very gentle stream. Just barely put the tooth in the stream of water and for just long enough to get any dirt off it. 

3. Put the Tooth Back

If at all possible, you want to put the tooth back into the socket so that the tooth can get the best chance of reseating itself. Don't try to force it. If you can't easily get the tooth to slide back into place, you want to make sure that you can store it in another way. The best way to do it is to put it in a cup or resealable bag with enough spit to cover it. If you can't come up with enough of your own spit, you can use a little milk to cover it too. Milk has the same pH balance as saliva, so it will be gentle to your tooth. 

If you have knocked out a tooth and have done all these things, the next thing you need to do is to go to see a dentist and have them check everything over. For more information, contact your local dental clinic.