What to Do if a Tooth Becomes Loose After an Injury

A tooth that’s become loose after a fall or blow needs a dentist to check it — how quickly depends on how loose it is and whether it’s a baby or permanent tooth. Here’s how to judge that, and what to do while you arrange care.

Is this a loose tooth, or has it come out?

If the tooth has come out completely, this isn’t the right guide — see what to do if a permanent tooth is knocked out or what to do if a baby tooth is knocked out instead. This page is for a tooth that’s still in the socket but feels wobbly, shifted, or not as firm as before.

How urgent is this?

Contact a dentist urgently (same day, or emergency line) if:

• The tooth clearly moves when gently closing the teeth together or speaking
• The tooth looks like it’s sitting at a different angle than before
• There’s significant bleeding from the gum around the tooth
• The injury happened alongside other symptoms — see dentist, NHS 111, A&E or 999

Book a same-week or next-available appointment if:

• The tooth feels only slightly loose, with no visible change in position
• There’s minor gum bleeding that’s settled
• The person isn’t in significant pain

A permanent tooth that’s clearly loose may need a temporary splint quickly to give it the best chance of settling back into place — so if in doubt, treat it as urgent rather than waiting to see if it improves.

What to do right now

1. Avoid touching or wiggling the tooth, even if it’s tempting to check how loose it is — this can make things worse.
2. Avoid biting on it. Stick to soft foods and chew on the other side.
3. Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze if there’s gum bleeding, and hold it in place for a few minutes.
4. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the face if there’s swelling.
5. Contact a dentist to arrange an appointment, using the urgency guide above to judge how quickly.

Do not do these things

• Don’t try to push the tooth back into a “normal” position yourself.
• Don’t keep checking how loose it is by wiggling it — this delays healing and can loosen it further.
• Don’t ignore it because it doesn’t hurt much — looseness itself is the sign that matters, not pain.
• Don’t assume a loose baby tooth is the same as one that was already wobbly before the injury — see “What if…?” below.

What if…?

The tooth was already a bit wobbly before this happened — is this different?
It can be hard to tell, especially with baby teeth that were already close to falling out naturally. If the looseness has clearly increased since the injury, or there’s new pain or bleeding, treat it as an injury and get it checked. If you’re unsure, a dentist can tell quickly.

Will it tighten back up on its own?
Sometimes, especially with mild looseness — but this isn’t something to guess on. A dentist needs to confirm there’s no other damage and advise on whether it needs a temporary splint while it settles.

Can the person eat normally?
Soft foods only, avoiding the affected side, until the tooth has been checked and any treatment has had time to settle.

Does every loose tooth need splinting?
Not always — this depends on how loose it is and what the dentist finds. Splinting (fixing the tooth gently to its neighbours for a short period) is more likely for a permanent tooth that’s significantly loose, to help it stabilise.

What the dentist may do

The dentist will check how loose the tooth is, look for any related damage to the socket or nearby teeth, and may take an X-ray to check the root. Depending on what they find, treatment can range from simply monitoring the tooth over the following weeks, to a temporary splint holding it in place while it heals.

When should you contact the dentist again?

Most loose teeth settle and heal without further problems, but the injury can occasionally affect the nerve inside the tooth even after it seems to have stabilised. Get the tooth checked again if you notice, in the weeks or months afterwards:

• The tooth turning grey, yellow or darker than the teeth next to it
• A swelling or small boil on the gum near the tooth
• Pain returning after it had settled down
• The tooth becoming loose again after initially firming up, or the bite feeling different

These can be signs that the tooth’s nerve has been affected and needs further treatment — this is easily missed because it doesn’t always happen straight away.

If this happens at school, nursery or a club

Discourage the person from touching or testing the tooth, keep them calm, and arrange dental care using the urgency guide above — this is rarely a 999 situation on its own. See Dental Trauma First Aid for Schools and Dental Trauma First Aid for Sports Coaches.

Related guides

• What to do if a permanent tooth is knocked out
• What to do if a tooth is chipped or broken
• What to do if a tooth is pushed in, out or sideways
• Dentist, NHS 111, A&E or 999: where to get help for a dental injury

Print this before you need it

Download the free Knocked-Out Tooth Poster to keep in your first aid room, sports bag or at home. Download free

References

• International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT), Guidelines for the Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries: Fractures and Luxations, 2020 (current as of August 2026)
• NHS, Broken or knocked-out teeth, nhs.uk

This guide does not replace assessment by a dentist or emergency service. It reflects current international and UK guidance, reviewed by Dr Yousuf Ibrahim, BDS.