“Moisture is everything. If you don’t have milk or saline, even a clean plastic bag with a bit of spit is better than dry air.”
Couldn’t agree more—drying out is basically game over for the tooth. I actually started carrying those little saline vials in my car after hearing about a kid who lost their tooth at a skate park and nobody had anything but water. It’s honestly such a simple thing, but makes all the difference. And yeah, putting it between the cheek and gum freaks me out too... I’d rather risk some spit in a bag than have to explain that one to an ER doc.
I actually started carrying those little saline vials in my car after hearing about a kid who lost their tooth at a skate park and nobody had anything but water.
That’s smart—saline is easy to stash and way better than just water. Has anyone here actually tried putting a tooth back in themselves? I always wonder if people manage it or just wait for the dentist.
I’ve always wondered about that too—like, if you’re supposed to just jam your tooth back in and hope for the best? I read somewhere it’s better to put it back yourself if you can, but honestly, I think I’d freak out and probably just hold it in place and rush to the dentist. The idea of pushing a tooth back into its socket just sounds... intense.
My little cousin knocked his out at soccer practice once and my aunt tried to put it back, but he was crying so much she couldn’t really do it. They ended up putting it in milk and driving straight to the dentist. Not sure if that made a big difference, but he still has the tooth now, so maybe it helped.
I get why people carry saline or milk now though. Seems like one of those things you never think about until it happens. Has anyone actually managed to put their own tooth back in? I feel like I’d need nerves of steel for that.
The idea of pushing a tooth back into its socket just sounds... intense.
Yeah, I’m with you on that. I know they say putting it back yourself is better, but honestly, I’d be way too nervous to try. I keep thinking, what if I do it wrong and make things worse? Plus, the thought of the pain freaks me out. My instinct would probably be to just wrap the tooth in something clean and get to the dentist as fast as possible.
I remember when my nephew lost his front tooth at the playground—he was maybe 8? My sister didn’t even try to put it back because he was sobbing and there was blood everywhere. She put it in a little cup of milk (luckily there was a convenience store nearby) and rushed him to urgent care. The dentist ended up saving it, but it took a few visits and wasn’t cheap.
I guess if you’re super calm under pressure, maybe you could do it, but for me, the risk of messing up or fainting is too high. I’d rather just focus on getting help quickly, even if that means paying more later.
That story about your nephew sounds rough. I totally get the hesitation—trying to jam a tooth back in, especially with a crying kid, just feels like a recipe for disaster. I’ve read that time is super important, but honestly, I’d probably do the same as your sister. The idea of causing more pain or getting it wrong would freak me out.
I wonder if it’s different for adults? Like, if you knocked out your own tooth, would you be able to handle putting it back in yourself, or is it just as hard? I’ve only ever had minor dental stuff, but even then, my pain threshold is embarrassingly low. Also, I’m curious if anyone’s actually tried the “tooth in milk” thing and had it work out long-term. Is it really that effective, or is that just something we hear about but rarely see succeed?
It’s wild how much pressure there is to make the right call in those first few minutes.