NJ Devils star Jack Hughes has been grinning through the 2025-26 season with a noticeably toothless smile, and a local oral surgeon recently weighed in on what that gap actually means for his dental health. The story got us thinking about how much confusion exists around knocked-out teeth in sports — from whether a lost tooth can really be saved, to whether mouthguards are worth the bother.
Spoiler: a knocked-out permanent tooth is a genuine dental emergency, and what you do in the first 30 to 60 minutes matters enormously. Let’s sort the myths from the facts.
Myth 1: A knocked-out tooth is gone for good.
Fact: A permanent tooth that comes out cleanly can often be replanted — if you act within an hour.
This is the big one. The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) is clear: a knocked-out permanent tooth (called an “avulsed” tooth) has the best chance of survival when it is put back in its socket within 30 minutes to an hour of the injury. The ligament fibers attached to the tooth root can still reattach if the tooth is handled correctly and replanted quickly.
What you should do immediately:
- Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part) — never touch the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline. Do not scrub it.
- Try to place it back in the socket yourself, or tuck it between your cheek and gum to keep it moist.
- If neither option works, drop it in a small cup of cold milk or a tooth-preservation kit like Save-A-Tooth.
- Get to a dentist or emergency room immediately. Every minute counts.
Call our office at (650) 588-3710 if this happens to you or your child. Our team treats dental emergencies in South San Francisco and can advise you in real time.
Myth 2: You should rinse a knocked-out tooth under the tap before storing it.
Fact: Tap water is one of the worst things you can put a knocked-out tooth in.
Tap water is hypotonic — meaning it is a different concentration than your body’s fluids. Soaking a tooth in it damages the periodontal ligament cells on the root surface, the very cells a dentist needs to be alive to attempt a successful replant. Milk is the closest readily available liquid to the right osmolarity, which is why it’s the go-to recommendation. Cold saline (contact-lens solution works) is also good. A tooth left dry for more than 20 minutes loses viability fast.
Myth 3: Kids’ baby teeth should be replanted the same way.
Fact: Knocked-out baby teeth are usually NOT replanted — but you still need to see a dentist quickly.
This surprises a lot of parents. When a baby tooth is knocked out, replanting it can actually damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. So dentists generally leave the space alone and monitor it. That said, you should still call your dentist right away: the dentist needs to confirm the tooth came out cleanly (wasn’t pushed up into the gum), check for other injuries, and discuss whether a space maintainer is needed so neighboring teeth don’t drift before the permanent tooth comes in.
Myth 4: Mouthguards are only for contact sports like football and hockey.
Fact: The ADA recommends mouthguards for any sport with a risk of falls or collisions — including basketball, soccer, and gymnastics.
The American Dental Association (ADA) estimates athletes who don’t wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to suffer dental injury than those who do. That number holds across a surprisingly wide range of sports. Basketball actually causes more dental injuries than you might expect — elbows to the face happen constantly. Soccer, skateboarding, mountain biking, and martial arts all land on the recommended list too.
Custom-fitted mouthguards from a dentist offer far better protection than boil-and-bite versions from a sporting goods store — they fit more precisely, stay in place better, and are easier to breathe in. Ask our team at Vaksman Dental Group about a custom dental mouth guard before the next season starts.
Myth 5: Playing through a chipped or cracked tooth is no big deal as long as it doesn’t hurt.
Fact: A crack that doesn’t hurt today can become a serious, expensive problem quickly.
Pain is not always an immediate signal with cracked teeth. A crack can extend toward the nerve over time, especially under the repeated pressure of biting and grinding. What starts as a simple chip that could be fixed with dental bonding or a dental crown can become a cracked tooth that needs a root canal — or, if the crack reaches below the gumline, an extraction. The sooner a crack is assessed, the more options remain on the table.
Myth 6: A missing tooth from a sports injury doesn’t need replacing if it’s a back tooth nobody sees.
Fact: Any missing tooth — visible or not — can trigger a chain reaction that affects your whole bite.
When a tooth is missing, the teeth on either side slowly drift toward the gap, and the tooth above or below “super-erupts” (moves down or up to fill the empty space). Over months and years this changes your bite, creates new hard-to-clean angles where plaque builds up, and can contribute to jaw joint problems. Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant, bridge, or partial denture isn’t just cosmetic — it preserves the alignment and health of the surrounding teeth.
Myth 7: Pro athletes like Jack Hughes can just get implants or veneers and be done with it immediately.
Fact: Tooth replacement — even for pros — follows a biological timeline that can’t be rushed.
A dental implant requires the jawbone to heal and fuse to the implant post (a process called osseointegration) before a permanent crown can be placed. That typically takes several months. A veneer requires the underlying tooth structure to be stable. There is also a practical sports medicine reason some players stay gap-toothed during a season: replanting or implant placement at a jaw that is still at risk for another hit can complicate healing. Timing treatment around the off-season is often the smarter call, as the NJ Devils’ oral surgeon commentary confirmed.
No judgment on the gap-tooth look — plenty of hockey players wear it as a badge of honor. But if you lose a tooth outside of a professional sports context, the sooner you start the replacement conversation, the better your long-term outcome.
Myth 8: There is nothing dentists can do to prevent sports-related jaw injuries beyond mouthguards.
Fact: Dentists are part of a broader sports medicine picture that includes jaw joint health, bite assessment, and concussion-related oral symptoms.
A well-fitted mouthguard can help cushion impact to the jaw and may reduce force transmitted to the skull. Dentists also play a role in identifying and treating jaw joint problems (TMJ issues) that can develop or worsen after a sports trauma. And dental check-ups can catch early signs of tooth wear, cracking, or root damage from prior injuries before they escalate.
If you or your athlete has taken a hit to the face — even a “minor” one — a dental check is a smart precaution, not an overreaction.
The Bottom Line
- A knocked-out permanent tooth can often be saved — but only if you act within 30 to 60 minutes and keep the tooth moist (milk, not water).
- Baby teeth are NOT replanted; see a dentist anyway to check for damage to the permanent tooth below.
- Custom mouthguards from a dentist offer significantly better protection than store-bought versions, and any sport with collision or fall risk qualifies.
- Cracks and chips that don’t hurt right now can become expensive problems later — get them checked early.
- Missing teeth (even the ones no one sees) cause drift, bite changes, and long-term bone loss if not replaced.
Jack Hughes’s gap-toothed grin is charming on an NHL star. On the rest of us, a missing tooth is a dental health issue worth addressing. If you’ve had a sports injury, a tooth that feels “off,” or you’ve been putting off replacing something for years, our team in South San Francisco is a good place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my child’s permanent tooth gets knocked out at a game?
Stay calm and act fast. Pick up the tooth by the crown (never the root), rinse it gently with milk if it is dirty, and try to place it back in the socket. If that’s not possible, put it in a small cup of cold milk. Call a dentist or head to an emergency room immediately — every minute matters. Do not store it in water, wrap it in a tissue, or let it dry out.
Is a knocked-out baby tooth a dental emergency?
It is worth an urgent call and same-day visit, yes, but baby teeth are typically not replanted (doing so can harm the permanent tooth below). Your dentist needs to confirm the tooth came out cleanly, rule out other injuries, and discuss whether a space maintainer is needed.
How much better is a custom mouthguard compared to a store-bought one?
Custom mouthguards made by a dentist fit your exact bite, cover the right teeth fully, and stay in place without you biting down to hold them. That means better protection and easier breathing — two things that matter a lot in competition. Store-bought boil-and-bite guards are better than nothing, but they are a distant second option.
If I have a chipped tooth from sports and it doesn’t hurt, can I wait to see a dentist?
A short wait (a few days) may be fine for a minor chip, but don’t ignore it indefinitely. A crack that seems harmless can deepen with normal biting forces, potentially requiring more extensive treatment. Getting it checked early keeps your options open and usually keeps the cost lower too.
Schedule a Visit at Vaksman Dental Group
Written by the Vaksman Dental Group team and medically reviewed by Dr. Irena Vaksman, DDS — South San Francisco. Last reviewed August 2026.