If you are the sporty sort and enjoy playing games such as hockey or rugby, you’ve probably visited your dentist to be supplied with a mouth guard. Nothing takes the fun out of a game like a few missing teeth.

However, even with the best intentions, sometimes the worst happens. Maybe you forgot your mouth guard that day or didn’t get around to getting a new one when the old one wore out. Perhaps you lent yours to a friend, or maybe you are into a contact or extreme sport that hasn’t yet seen the value of protecting the teeth.

Whatever the reason, if you get a tooth knocked out by a flying ball or from careering off your BMX, you need the dentist, quick. If you happen to live or play on the south coast, having the number of an emergency dentist in Bournemouth in your phone, just in case, is a smart move.

At Queens Park Dental Team, our emergency dentist in Bournemouth Hannah Neve has been in practice for 31 years – there isn’t much she hasn’t seen in terms of dental emergencies. Whatever the state of your mouth, don’t hesitate to give us a call if you’ve lost one or more teeth. The earlier you can call the better as it gives us more chance of being able to see you on the same day.

With a knocked-out tooth, there are a few steps to follow that can give you a good chance of saving it:

• Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white part above the gum), never by the root (the hidden part below the gum);
• If you can, put it back in the socket yourself. Clean it with saliva if needed;
• If it isn’t possible to put it back in the socket, put it in a clean container and cover it with milk;
• Don’t clean the tooth with water or keep it in water;
• If the tooth is a child’s milk tooth, don’t try to put it back in the socket as you could damage their adult tooth coming through.

With any luck, our emergency dentist in Bournemouth will be able to re-attach your tooth and restore your grin.