First Aid for a Knocked-Out, Chipped, or Injured Tooth

Keep Smiling Dental · Sector 39, Gurugram · Updated 2026-08-28

A dental injury can happen in seconds, a fall, a sports hit, or biting into something hard. What you do in the first few minutes often decides whether a tooth can be saved. This guide gives you clear, calm steps to follow right now, before you can reach a dentist. If you are near Sector 39, Gurugram, keep this page handy and call Keep Smiling Dental at 080 4736 1129 as soon as you can.

Step 1: Stay calm and check the injury

Take a breath. Look at the mouth carefully. Is the tooth completely out, chipped, loose, or pushed out of position? Is there heavy bleeding? Knowing what you are dealing with helps you act faster and tell the dentist clearly what happened.

Step 2: If the tooth is completely knocked out

1. Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white chewing part), never touch the root.
2. If it is dirty, rinse it gently with clean water or milk for no more than 10 seconds. Do not scrub it or use soap.
3. Try to place it back in the socket, facing the correct direction, and gently bite on a clean cloth or gauze to hold it in place.
4. If you cannot reinsert it, keep it moist in a small container of milk, the person's own saliva, or a saline solution. Never store it dry or in tap water.
5. Get to a dentist within 30 minutes if at all possible. Every extra minute lowers the chance of the tooth surviving.

Step 3: If the tooth is chipped or fractured

• Save any broken piece if you can find it, and keep it moist in milk or saliva.
• Rinse the mouth gently with warm water to clean the area.
• Apply a cold compress on the cheek near the injured tooth to reduce swelling.
• Cover any sharp edge with sugar-free chewing gum or dental wax if available, so it does not cut the tongue or cheek.
• Avoid chewing on that side until a dentist checks it.

Step 4: If the tooth is loose or pushed out of place

Do not try to force it back into position yourself. Bite down very gently on a clean cloth to keep it stable and avoid moving it with your tongue or fingers. Stick to soft foods and see a dentist as soon as possible, since the tooth's nerve and blood supply may be affected.

Step 5: Manage pain and bleeding

• Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek for 10 to 15 minutes at a time to ease swelling and pain.
• Take a standard over-the-counter pain reliever if needed, following the label directions.
• For bleeding gums, press clean gauze or a moist tea bag firmly on the area for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Avoid aspirin near the injury site if there is bleeding, as it can slow clotting.

What not to do

• Do not scrub or clean a knocked-out tooth with soap, alcohol, or a brush.
• Do not wrap the tooth in a dry tissue or paper.
• Do not ignore a chipped tooth just because there is no pain yet, nerve damage can show up later.
• Do not delay seeking help, even nights and weekends matter for tooth survival.

When to head straight to a dentist or emergency room

Seek urgent care immediately if there is uncontrolled bleeding, a jaw that feels out of alignment, facial swelling that is spreading fast, or if the person feels dizzy or nauseous after a head injury. These signs may point to something beyond the tooth itself.

Typical costs to expect

Emergency dental costs vary depending on the treatment needed. As a general guide for patients in Sector 39, Gurugram, an emergency consultation with X-ray is typically in the range of INR 500 to 1,500. Reimplantation or splinting of a knocked-out tooth is typically in the range of INR 2,000 to 6,000, while a simple chip repair with bonding is typically in the range of INR 1,500 to 4,000 per tooth. Root canal treatment, if the nerve is affected, is typically in the range of INR 5,000 to 12,000 depending on the tooth. These are approximate figures only, and your dentist will confirm actual costs after examining the injury.

Act fast, then call for help

Dental trauma is stressful, but quick, careful first aid gives the tooth its best chance. Once you have taken these initial steps, do not wait to see if things settle on their own. Call Keep Smiling Dental at 080 4736 1129, our clinic near Medanta, Sector 39, Gurugram is ready to guide you and see you as soon as possible.

Treatment costs mentioned on this page are indicative ranges for the Sector 39, Gurugram region. Your exact cost depends on your case and will be confirmed after a clinical examination at the clinic.