Old Wives Tales and Dental Emergencies- What's True, What's Not?

You've heard the old wives tales that putting a lost tooth in a cup of milk will save it, or that super-gluing a lost filling back in the hole it came from will fix the problem, but they're not always trustworthy in the event of a real dental emergency. 

So what should you really do if you lose a permanent tooth? In this case, the old wives tale is true: you can put the dislodged tooth in a cup of milk to save it. This is because the chemical makeup of milk is compatible with teeth. It's most important to keep a dislodged tooth safe and moist- if milk is unavailable keep the tooth in your mouth in between the cheek and gum, or put it in a cup of water with a pinch of table salt. If you feel confident trying, very gently put the tooth back in to the socket to rest there while you are on your way to your dentist- but don't force it! Never touch the tooth root (the part of the tooth that is usually hidden in your gums) because it can be very easily damaged. As with every dental emergency, you should always call your dentist right away! A knocked-out tooth doesn't mean that it's gone forever, it has the best chance of being saved if a dentist can start working on it within an hour. 

Super glue is another story. Never use super glue to fix a lost filling or crown. There could be an underlying problem, such as tooth decay, that caused the filling or crown to fall off and this should be addressed by a dentist as soon as possible. A patient once visited our office with wood putty in his tooth as a home-remedy for a self-diagnosed cavity, obviously this isn't safe or effective. For a safe temporary fix before you reach your dentist, over-the-counter dental cement or sugarless gum (non-sugarless gum will irritate the tooth) will help keep a lost crown or filling in place. 

The old wives tale that sucking on an aspirin tablet next to a hurting tooth is another false one. Aspirin is acidic and will burn the gum tissue if left sitting on it, and won't do anything to help the toothache. If you have a toothache you should rinse out your mouth with warm water, floss with dental floss to remove any particles that may be causing irritation, and ingest an over-the-counter pain killer. As always, visit your dental office if you have a toothache so that they can assess and fix the problem. 


Any dental emergency is an injury to your teeth and gums. This can always be potentially serious and should be addressed immediately to avoid the risk of permanent damage or future expensive and extensive treatment. You should always call your dentist immediately concerning any dental injury or concern. For more information on how to handle any dental emergency visit www.EmergencyDentistPA.com. 

 www.drsethrosen.com 

A Family Dental Care Center: Dr. Seth Rosen

2030 West Main St. Norristown, PA 19403

610.631.3400