How To Handle Dental Emergencies

Accidents happen, and knowing how to handle them when one occurs can mean the difference between saving or losing a tooth.

Toothache:

• Rinse mouth out with warm water and remove any food that my be lodged in between the teeth with dental floss.
• Use cold compress on the outside of your mouth, especially if there is swelling.
• DO NOT apply aspirin or pain killers directly to the painful area. 

Broken Tooth:

• Rinse your mouth out, taking care to save any pieces of the tooth.
• Use gauze stop the bleeding.
• Apply a cold compress around the affected area to minimize pain and swelling.

Knocked-Out Tooth:

• Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse with water to remove any dirt.
• Take care not to remove any tissue attached to the tooth.
• Reinsert the tooth in the socket if you can, DO NOT force it. * You can also keep the tooth in a cup of milk*
• Chances of saving the tooth are the highest if you see your dentist within one hour.

Lost Dental Restoration:

• Filling:
• Use sugarless gum or dental cement as a temporary fix.
• Crown:
• Save the crown and bring it with you to the dentist.
• Try to put the crown back in place using toothpaste or dental cement to hold it there.

Abscess:

• If you notice a small, painful, pimple-like bump on your gums, it could be an abscess.
• Can be a sigh of infection that may spread if left untreated.
• Rinse with warm salt water to help reduce pain.
• Alert your dentist immediately if you notice one of these bumps.

For any dental emergency see your dentist right away!

*This information was provided by Park 56 Dental*