Have you ever broken a tooth? Do you know what you would do if you did have a broken tooth? Breaking a tooth can be extremely upsetting but can happen to even the most careful people. Your lawnmower could run over a rock or a large stick that could fly up and hit you in the mouth, you could be playing sports and a piece of sports equipment could knock out a tooth, or you could simply trip and hit your face on the way down. Whatever the circumstances, it's a good idea to be prepared for this eventuality just in case. If you should ever knock out a tooth, here are some things to keep in mind:

Find a dentist now: Not every dentistry practice has an emergency dentist on-hand. If you break a tooth after your regular dentist has closed his or her office, you'll need to go to a different office. Since picking an emergency dentist at random, while in pain, could mean that you wind up with one that doesn't accept whatever dental insurance you have, it's a good idea to do your search now. This will help ensure that you have a dentist that is close to you and that will take your insurance. 

Try to find the tooth or teeth: Although it's possible that the emergency dentist may not be able to save the tooth, it's also equally possible that the dentist may be able to fix the tooth back into place. This will depend upon how the tooth was knocked out and how severe the damage actually is. The only way to know for certain is to bring the tooth with you when you go to the dentist. The sooner you can see the dentist, the greater the chance he or she has of saving the tooth.

Know how to transport broken teeth: Once you find the tooth or teeth that have been knocked out, you'll need to transport them carefully so that the emergency dentist has the best chance of saving them. If a tooth has been on the ground, rinse it carefully in tepid water for a few seconds, making sure to only touch the enamel and not the exposed root. If possible, reinsert the tooth into the socket and bite down on gauze or soft cloth to control the bleeding and hold it in place. Otherwise, you can transport the tooth in a container of whole milk. This will help keep the soft tissue in the center of the tooth from drying out and dying.