Knowing what to do in an emergency is key. Although you can’t anticipate every issue that may arise, knowing some helpful tips for handling dental emergencies in the moment can potentially avoid tooth loss, pain, and worry.
Here are some common dental emergencies and how to deal with them.
Cracked Tooth
Immediately clean your mouth by rinsing it with warm water. Then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Make certain to see your dentist as soon as possible.
Knocked Out Tooth
Permanent Teeth – It’s important to keep a tooth moist if it has been knocked out. Ideally, place the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that is not possible, take the tooth and place it in between your cheek and gums, in milk, or use an ADA-approved tooth preservation product.
Baby Teeth – Same as for permanent teeth, do your best to keep the tooth moist as you head to the dentist who will determine if it needs to be re-implanted or not.
Toothache Pain
Try flossing to remove any food particles that may be lodged in your teeth and causing irritation. Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Contact your dentist to get direction on appropriate pain relief options until you can get in to see your dental team.
Avoiding Dental Emergencies
Remember, prevention is important in avoiding some dental emergencies. Wearing a mouthguard when appropriate, not using your teeth to open bags or that stubborn container, and choosing to skip crunching on ice, hard candy, and popcorn kernels are all helpful in avoiding cracked, damaged teeth too.
If you do expereince a dental emergency, make certain to visit your dentist as soon as possible. They often have time built into their daily schedules to provide care for such situations. If your dentist office is closed, you can call their after hours service if available for direction or visit your local emergency room.