Facing a Dental Emergency? Tips to Be Prepared

You have to face the facts – accidents happen. This includes dental accidents. Your kids may get a little too rambunctious or you may have just a little too much to drink and wind up hurting yourself. Regardless of the cause, being prepared for a dental emergency and having a dentist in mind to call will help you handle the situation with minimal negative, long-term consequences.

Knocked Out Tooth

If you have a tooth knocked out, get to the dentist right away. Find the tooth first and remove any dirt or debris by rinsing it in water. If possible, reposition the tooth in the socket so it remains moist. If this is impossible, place the tooth in a cup of milk. Most teeth that are knocked out have a good chance of being put back into their original place, but only if you are able to get to the dentist within an hour of the accident.

Broken or Chipped Tooth

Collect as many of the pieces of the tooth as possible and then rinse your mouth with water. This will remove any other pieces that may still be in the mouth. If the tooth starts to bleed, apply pressure to gauze to the affected area. Once the bleeding subsides, use a cold compress to keep the swelling to a minimum. Get to the dentist as quickly as you can. In most cases, bonding can be used to reattach the broken pieces or fix the chip.

For a Never-Ending Toothache

There can be a number of root causes for a toothache, but if the pain does not subside after 24 hours, it is important to get to the dentist. The issue may be more serious, such as a serious infection or abscess. The dentist will be able to identify the issue and provide the most appropriate type of treatment to help get rid of the pain.

Lost Filling or Crown

When you lose a filling or crown, there is no need to panic. You can use a piece of sugarless gum to fill the space or an over-the-counter dental cement. If you use gum with sugar for this, it will cause pain. It is important to get to the dentist as soon as possible for a replacement. For a crown, you can use denture adhesive to hold it in place, buy you should never use super glue.

Knowing what to do in a dental emergency will help you minimize the pain you experience and let you know what to do next. In any situation, getting to the dentist should be at the top of your to-do list.


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