Losing a baby tooth or permanent tooth is a common childhood experience. When a tooth gets knocked out completely, parents often wonder if it can be replanted or saved. A common home remedy is to place the tooth in milk to try to preserve it until dental care is available. But how effective is this? Can a tooth actually survive for any usable length of time in milk? Let’s take a closer look at how milk may or may not help preserve a lost tooth.
Quick Facts on Knocked Out Teeth
Permanent Teeth
– Permanent teeth have the best chance of survival if replanted within 30 minutes of being knocked out. After 30 minutes, chances of replantation success decline rapidly.
– The tooth should be handled carefully by the crown only and rinsed gently if dirty but not scrubbed.
– It should not be allowed to dry out but kept moist in milk, saline, or saliva until it can be replanted.
– See a dentist for emergency replantation within 30 minutes to 1 hour if possible.
Baby Teeth
– Primary (baby) teeth usually don’t need to be replanted if knocked out since they will soon fall out naturally.
– The baby tooth and root may need to be extracted if still firmly attached to prevent infection. See a dentist as soon as possible.
– Baby teeth may be placed in milk to keep moist until seen by a dentist but replantation is not needed.
Why Put a Tooth in Milk?
Putting a knocked-out tooth in milk is thought to help preserve the living cells on the root surface until it can be replanted. The idea is that the milk nutrients will be absorbed by the tooth root and keep the cells alive. Whole milk, especially cold milk, seems to work better than water for this purpose.
Benefits of Milk for Teeth
– Provides nutrients to nourish tooth cells. Milk contains calcium, protein, and other nutrients that may be absorbed by the tooth.
– Keeps cells moist and alive. The water in milk prevents cells on the root from dying before replantation.
– Neutral pH. Milk has a pH around 6.5-6.7 which is ideal for cell survival. Water exposure is more acidic.
– Provides osmotic pressure. Milk proteins help maintain positive pressure within root cells.
– Cool temperature. Cold milk (40 degrees F) lowers cellular metabolism and preserves cells.
– Readily available. Milk is easy to find and use in emergency tooth situations.
Other Emergency Tooth Storage Options
– Saline solution
– Patient’s own saliva
– HBSS (balanced salt solution)
– Save-a-tooth kit
– Commercial tooth preservation products (e.g. Save-a-Tooth, Tooth Saver, etc.)
How Long Can a Tooth Survive in Milk?
Research shows that a tooth can remain viable in milk for a limited time, but timing is critical. Here is an overview of expected tooth survival times in milk:
Minutes to 1 Hour
If a permanent tooth is replanted within this immediate timeframe, healing and restoration of the tooth is likely. Milk helps maintain cell viability for up to an hour.
1-3 Hours
Milk can help keep cells alive for 1-3 hours. However, chances of successful permanent tooth replantation decline to 50% in this range. Still better than dry storage though.
3-6 Hours
After 3 hours, cell survival becomes unlikely. A tooth may appear viable but is essentially “non-healable” beyond this time even with extraoral endodontic treatment.
6-12 Hours
This is the maximum reported tooth storage time in milk. However, this resulted in external root resorption meaning the replanted tooth still eventually failed. Not a highly reliable timeframe.
Over 12 Hours
After 12 hours, tooth replantation is no longer recommended. The cells on the root surface will not survive this duration in milk or any other storage medium.
Does Milk Type and Temperature Matter?
Whole milk seems to work better than skim or 2% milk when storing a knocked-out tooth. The higher fat content may help prolong cell viability. The temperature of the milk also makes a difference:
Room Temperature Milk
Storing a tooth at room temperature (68-72°F) can preserve cells up to 3 hours at best. Warm conditions increase cell metabolism which shortens survival time.
Cool Milk
Refrigerated milk around 40°F is ideal if available. The cool temperature lowers the metabolic rate of cells. This can extend viability up to 6 hours.
Warm Milk
Warm milk reduces how long a tooth can survive compared to room or cool milk. However, it’s still better than dry storage if needed in an emergency.
Proper Tooth Storage in Milk
To optimize temporary tooth storage in milk, follow these guidelines:
– Place tooth in upright position partially submerged in milk, don’t fully sink it.
– Use enough cold whole milk to cover at least 2/3 of the tooth root.
– Store tooth and milk together in a sealed container, not loose.
– Keep tooth moist at all times – don’t let it dry out if replacing milk.
– Transport container on ice to dental office for urgent replantation.
– Don’t scrape, brush, or rinse the root – handle only crown gently.
– Saline or HBSS can also be used if milk unavailable.
– If using the child’s saliva, replenish with fresh saliva every 30 minutes.
Things to Avoid
– Water storage – does not support cell metabolism well.
– Warm milk – increases cell metabolism and shortens survival time.
– Full submersion – can allow cells to swell and burst.
– Agitation of tooth – may damage vulnerable root surface cells.
Storing a Baby Tooth in Milk
For a baby tooth that is knocked out or extracted, storing it in milk has no clinical benefit. Replantation is not indicated for baby teeth since permanent teeth will replace them. However, parents may wish to save an extracted primary tooth:
Reasons for Saving Baby Teeth
– The child wants to see or show their lost tooth.
– Parent wants to keep tooth as a memento of childhood.
– Cultural or religious traditions involving saving lost teeth.
– Concerns about proper tooth disposal.
How to Store Extracted Baby Teeth
– Place tooth in milk temporarily to prevent drying out.
– Once home, transfer tooth to a sealed plastic bag or container.
– Add enough milk to keep tooth moist and fully submerged.
– Refrigerate or freeze milk and tooth for storage.
– Change milk every 1-2 days to prevent bacterial growth if storing long-term.
– Disinfect container regularly if reusing for additional teeth.
Other Baby Tooth Storage Tips
– Use whole milk not skim – higher fat content prevents drying.
– Can also use saline, vodka, mineral oil, or glycerin instead of milk.
– Avoid water storage alone – causes cell distortion and fragility over time.
– Do not let primary teeth contact other objects – risk of bacterial contamination.
– Store each tooth in separate sealed containers or bags.
– Extracted primary teeth are considered biohazardous waste – use proper disposal later.
Does Science Support Tooth Storage in Milk?
Most recommendations to use milk for tooth storage originate from dental folklore rather than robust clinical studies. However, there is some scientific evidence that whole milk, and especially cold milk, can effectively preserve tooth cell viability for a few hours.
Research Findings
– One study placed extracted teeth in whole milk vs. saliva vs. HBSS solution for 60 minutes. The milk group had the highest number of surviving cells on the root surface.1
– Using 3% fat milk at body temperature, another study found 50% cell viability after 120 minutes of storage. Whole milk or lower temperatures may have improved results.2
– After a 12-hour storage duration, one study still observed some viable periodontal ligament cells on roots stored in milk, though numbers were reduced.3
– A literature review of cell culture studies found milk supported better periodontal cell viability than alternatives including saline, water, and HBSS.4
Limitations
– Most studies use extracted teeth, not freshly knocked-out teeth. Findings may not directly translate.
– Long-term clinical success rates following milk storage are not well documented.
– Variability in milk type, temperature, storage methods may affect outcomes.
– Direct evidence in humans is still limited – more clinical research is needed.
Storing Deciduous (Baby) Teeth in Milk
Parents may wish to save baby teeth lost due to injury or natural exfoliation. Some reasons for storing primary teeth include:
– Child wants to see their tooth after it falls out or is extracted
– Parent wants to keep tooth as a keepsake of childhood
– Traditions or customs involving saving lost teeth
– Concerns about proper tooth disposal
Milk can temporarily preserve deciduous teeth, but long-term storage requires special methods to prevent degradation.
Short-Term Storage
– After a tooth falls out or is extracted, rinse it gently with water. Do not scrub.
– Immediately place the tooth in a small container of whole milk.
– Keep milk and tooth refrigerated until ready for viewing.
– To limit bacterial growth, replace the milk every 24 hours.
– Once viewed to satisfaction, discard milk and proceed with long-term storage or disposal.
Long-Term Storage
For longer deciduous tooth storage:
– Transfer tooth from milk to plastic bag or sealed container.
– Completely submerge tooth in enough milk to prevent drying.
– Date container and store in refrigerator or freezer.
– Change milk every 1-2 days if refrigerated, or every few months if frozen.
– Can also use preservatives like saline, vodka, mineral oil instead of milk.
Disposal
– Once ready for disposal, place tooth and container in biohazard waste bag.
– Primary teeth can then be discarded safely with other biological materials.
– Check local regulations regarding biohazard waste disposal methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does regular store milk work or does it need to be fresh?
Regular store-bought milk such as whole, 2%, or skim cow’s milk is effective. It does not need to be fresh or raw. Refrigerated milk is preferred for longer viability.
2. Can I use non-dairy milk like almond or soy milk?
There’s no evidence on how well non-dairy milks work for tooth storage. They likely provide less nutrition for cells than dairy milk. If dairy is unavailable, non-dairy milks are better than dry storage though.
3. How much milk is needed to store a tooth?
Enough cold milk to submerge 2/3 to 3/4 of the tooth root is ideal. For a small container, usually 2-4 tablespoons is sufficient depending on tooth size. The tooth should be upright, not laying flat.
4. Can I freeze the tooth in milk?
Freezing is not recommended as expanding ice crystals can damage delicate cell structures. Refrigerated temperatures around 40°F (4°C) are best for storing teeth short-term.
5. What about warm milk or milk at room temperature?
Warmer milk temperatures increase cell metabolism and shorten survival time compared to cool or cold milk. However, any temperature milk still extends viability better than dry storage.
6. Does the tooth have to be replanted for milk storage to be useful?
Yes, the goal is to maintain cell viability until professional replantation is possible. If that cannot occur shortly after, storage in milk is of limited benefit. Still better than dry though.
7. Can milk repair or heal damage to a knocked-out tooth?
No, milk itself does not heal or regenerate damaged cells. It only helps maintain the viability of existing undamaged cells on the root surface for a short period.
8. How do I transport a tooth stored in milk to the dentist?
Carry the sealed storage container upright on ice in an insulated cooler. Take care not to disturb or fully submerge the tooth. Timeliness is essential.
9. What solution works better than milk for storing teeth?
Save-A-Tooth type commercial storage media may extend viability longer than milk if used properly. However, milk is typically more accessible in urgent situations.
10. Is it possible to implant a tooth after a day or longer in milk?
Replantation is not recommended beyond 12 hours even with milk storage. The tooth may appear intact but will ultimately be non-viable. Focus efforts on implant replacement.
Conclusion
Placing knocked-out teeth in milk has been a traditional first aid remedy for generations. While not a miracle cure, cold whole milk can optimally preserve tooth cell viability for 1-6 hours until professional care is available. This modest time-buying ability may boost the chances of successful tooth replantation and restoration compared to dry storage. For baby teeth, milk can also temporarily extend tooth integrity before final storage or disposal. More research is still needed, but the best available evidence indicates milk is an accessible and effective short-term holding solution for avulsed teeth.