A knocked-out (avulsed) tooth is one of the most time-critical dental emergencies you can face. What you do in the first 30 to 60 minutes can be the difference between saving your natural tooth and losing it permanently. This guide walks you through exactly what to do if a tooth is knocked out, how to store and transport it, and when to get to an emergency dentist.
If you're dealing with this right now, don't wait to finish reading call an emergency dentist immediately and follow the steps below on your way. For general dental emergency guidance, see our emergency dental treatments page.
Why Every Minute Counts
A tooth is held in the jawbone by a network of delicate periodontal ligament fibres. When a tooth is knocked out, these fibres are torn but can sometimes reattach if the tooth is replanted quickly and kept moist. Dentists generally agree that a tooth has the best chance of survival if it's put back in its socket within 30 minutes of the injury, and that the odds of successful reimplantation drop sharply the longer the tooth is out of the mouth or allowed to dry out.
This is why an avulsed tooth is treated as a true dental emergency not something that can wait until tomorrow, or even a few hours.
Step-by-Step: What to Do If a Tooth Is Knocked Out
1. Stay calm and find the tooth
Locate the tooth as quickly as possible. If it's dirty, pick it up by the crown (the white chewing surface) never touch the root, as this damages the ligament fibres needed for reattachment.
2. Rinse it gently don't scrub
If the tooth is dirty, rinse it briefly under cold running water for no more than 10 seconds. Do not scrub it, use soap, or dry it with a towel. Avoid removing any tissue fragments attached to the root.
3. Try to reinsert the tooth into the socket
If possible, gently push the tooth back into its socket facing the correct way, then bite down softly on a clean cloth or gauze to hold it in place. This is the single best thing you can do a tooth replanted immediately has the highest chance of long-term survival.
4. If you can't reinsert it, keep it moist
Never let the tooth dry out this kills the remaining ligament cells within minutes. Store it in one of the following, in order of preference:
Milk (cold, full-fat milk is ideal and widely recommended by dentists)
Saliva hold the tooth inside your cheek (only if the patient is an older child or adult who won't swallow it)
A tooth preservation kit (such as Save-A-Tooth), if available
Saline solution if nothing else is on hand
Avoid storing the tooth in plain tap water, as it damages the root surface cells.
5. Control bleeding and manage pain
Bite down on gauze or a clean, damp cloth to control any bleeding from the socket. Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek to reduce swelling, and take over-the-counter pain relief if needed. Avoid aspirin if there's a risk of ongoing bleeding.
6. Get to an emergency dentist immediately
Call ahead so the clinic knows you're coming with an avulsed tooth and can prepare for immediate reimplantation. Bring the tooth with you in its milk or saliva storage, even if you've managed to push it back into the socket yourself.
Tooth Knocked Out: What Not to Do
Don't touch or handle the root of the tooth
Don't scrub or clean it with soap, alcohol, or antiseptic
Don't wrap it in a dry tissue or paper towel
Don't let it dry out, even for a few minutes
Don't delay every minute reduces the chance of saving the tooth
Baby Teeth Are Different
If a baby tooth is knocked out, do not attempt to reinsert it. Reimplanting a primary tooth can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. Still see a dentist promptly to check the socket and surrounding teeth, but the urgency around replanting doesn't apply the same way it does for adult teeth.
What Happens at the Emergency Dental Visit
When you arrive with an avulsed tooth, the dentist will typically:
Clean the socket and gently reposition the tooth if it hasn't already been replanted
Splint the tooth to the neighbouring teeth to stabilise it while the ligament heals
Check for fractures to the tooth, socket, or jaw
Assess whether root canal treatment will be needed (common for teeth that were out of the mouth for a while)
Arrange follow-up review appointments to monitor healing over the following weeks
Living in Perth's Northern Suburbs? Here's Who to Call
If you're facing a dental emergency Perth families and locals often face a knocked-out tooth after a sports injury, a fall, or an accident getting to a same-day emergency dentist quickly matters more than which clinic is closest to home.
Mullaloo Beach Dental provides same-day emergency care for exactly this kind of urgent situation, seeing patients quickly when a tooth has been knocked out or otherwise traumatically injured. Being based in Mullaloo, the clinic is well placed for residents across the northern beaches to get in fast when minutes matter.
👉 Find Mullaloo Beach Dental and their location details here
If you're searching more broadly for urgent care across the region, our guide to the emergency dentist Perth northern suburbs area covers other options nearby.
Book Fast — Don't Wait
With an avulsed tooth, the clock is genuinely working against you. Don't spend time searching around once you're ready to act.
👉 Book a same-day emergency dental appointment now
FAQs About Knocked-Out Teeth
Can a knocked-out tooth be saved?
Yes, in many cases. Reimplanting the tooth within 30 minutes, or storing it correctly in milk or saliva while you get to a dentist, gives the tooth the best chance of successful reattachment.
What is the best liquid to store a knocked-out tooth in?
Cold milk is the most commonly recommended option if you can't reinsert the tooth immediately. Saliva (held in the cheek) and saline are acceptable alternatives if milk isn't available.
Is a knocked-out tooth always a dental emergency?
Yes. Whether it's a permanent adult tooth or a baby tooth, you should see a dentist as soon as possible adult teeth need urgent reimplantation, and baby teeth need assessment to protect the tooth developing underneath.
Do I need to go to a hospital or a dentist for an avulsed tooth?
A dentist should manage the tooth itself. Go to a hospital emergency department only if there's uncontrolled bleeding, a suspected jaw fracture, or other serious facial trauma alongside the dental injury.
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This article is general information and does not replace professional dental advice. If you have a tooth knocked out right now, contact an emergency dentist immediately.
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