For a dental injury when a tooth is knocked out, what should you do?

• A. Try to save the tooth, place in milk if you can
• B. Rinse with cold water
• C. Push the tooth back into the socket
• D. Swallow the tooth

Answer: (A)

When a tooth is knocked out, the most important factor for a successful outcome is keeping the tooth’s tissues alive long enough to reattach. Placing the tooth in milk provides a gentle, nutrient-rich, and relatively osmotically balanced environment that helps preserve the periodontal ligament cells on the root, which are crucial for re-implantation. Handling the tooth by the crown and getting to a dentist quickly maximizes the chance of saving it.

Rinsing with cold water can help remove debris but does not preserve the tooth as well. Pushing the tooth back into the socket is something that should only be done by someone trained, as poor reimplantation can cause more damage. Swallowing the tooth is dangerous and should be avoided. Keeping the tooth moist in milk is the best immediate action to improve the odds of saving it.