Loose tooth after injury: what to do next

Dental trauma can affect one tooth, several teeth, the gum, the bite, the jaw and the soft tissues of the mouth.

• A tooth feels loose, tender, longer, shorter or out of position.
• Pain when biting or the bite feels different.
• Bleeding from the gum around the tooth.
• A chipped or broken tooth fragment is missing.
• Cuts to the lip, tongue, cheek or gum.
• Jaw pain, swelling or difficulty opening or closing the mouth.

1. 1Contact a dentist urgently for advice and assessment.
2. 2Avoid touching, wiggling or repeatedly checking the tooth.
3. 3Do not force the tooth back into position.
4. 4Avoid biting on the affected tooth and choose soft foods while waiting.
5. 5Keep any broken tooth fragments in milk, saline or water and take them to the appointment.
6. 6If there is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze or a clean cloth.

• Do not keep wiggling the tooth to see how loose it is.
• Do not push a displaced tooth back into position yourself.
• Do not follow knocked-out-tooth reimplantation steps for a tooth that is still in the socket.
• Do not assume a loose baby tooth after trauma is normal shedding.
• Do not chew on the injured tooth.
• Do not ignore injuries to neighbouring teeth, the jaw, lips, cheeks or gums.

A loose, displaced or tender tooth after trauma needs urgent dental assessment, particularly when the bite has changed, the tooth has moved, or more than one tooth may be involved.

• A permanent or baby tooth is loose after a knock, fall or accident.
• A tooth looks displaced, elongated or pushed out of its usual position.
• Pain, bleeding, swelling or soft-tissue injury is present.
• A broken fragment is missing or may have been inhaled.
• A child has dental trauma and you are unsure whether the tooth is primary or permanent.
• The teeth do not meet together normally after the injury.

If you cannot access your own dentist and need urgent help, use NHS 111 or 111 online. NHS 111 can advise the next step but does not guarantee an appointment.

• Loss of consciousness, vomiting or double vision after injury.
• Severe facial or jaw trauma.
• Heavy mouth bleeding that will not stop.
• Breathing difficulty, choking or suspected inhalation of a tooth or fragment.
• The teeth cannot close together normally after significant trauma.
• The person is too drowsy, confused or unwell to travel safely for dental care.

A dentist may assess tooth movement and position, the bite, gum and soft-tissue injury, neighbouring teeth, and whether more than one tooth or the supporting bone is involved.

They may test sensibility, take X-rays, decide whether stabilisation is needed, arrange follow-up, or refer for more complex trauma care depending on the injury.