When a child loses a baby tooth, parents sometimes like to keep it as a memento. Within a short time, these teeth often break into pieces. Since this happens even when the tooth is cushioned, I presume that some other natural force is at work. Kim Loos Dr. Kimberly A. Loos practices general dentistry in San Jose, California. She is also a clinical instructor at University of Pacific School of Dentistry and an editor for Dentistry On-Line.
Teeth become brittle as they dehydrate.
They are more brittle and prone to fracture. This is why it is usually recommended to put a crown on a tooth after a root canal. During dental school, I found that a mixture of about 75 percent water and about 25 percent glycerine serves as a good medium for storing lost baby teeth. See if your dentist will sterilize the teeth before you preserve them. Accidentally lost permanent teeth should be stored in the victim's saliva or milk until the teeth can be replanted by a dentist.