Whether you’re playing sports, taking a tumble, or dealing with an unexpected accident, having a tooth knocked out can be frightening. In fact, more than 5 million teeth are knocked out in the United States every year. If it happens to you or someone you love, you might wonder whether you can put the tooth back in its socket yourself.

The answer is yes, in some cases! However, acting quickly and knowing what to do are essential to giving the tooth the best chance of survival.