What to do in a dental emergency

If you manage to get your tooth knocked out, here’s what you need to do. In an emergency situation, it is important to keep calm and take steps to ease pain and prevent further damage. Familiarize yourself with what to do in the following common dental emergency scenarios:

Knocked out tooth

The best thing to do is place the tooth back in the socket while on your way to the dentist’s office. If the tooth doesn’t stay in its place, put it between the cheek and gum, in milk, or in your saliva. To help with any bleeding from the tooth socket, apply a cold compress.

Chipped or broken tooth

Collect any pieces you can from the chipped or broken tooth. Rinse the pieces in warm water and rinse your mouth as well. Apply something cold to the outside of the mouth to reduce swelling and pain. See your dentist as soon as possible for minor chips and fractures. If you suspect any nerve damage or if the break is severe, seek medical attention immediately.

Object stuck in teeth

If you have something stuck in your teeth that you can’t handle with some floss, see your dentist as soon as possible. Don’t try to remove whatever’s stuck in your teeth with any sharp or pointed tools. Doing so may cause pain, cut your gums, scratch the tooth surface, or even cause an infection.

Prolonged toothache

If a toothache lasts a while or causes a lot of pain, it should be considered a dental emergency. Try flossing, rinsing with warm water, or applying a cold compress to the outside. If the pain does not subside, contact your dentist for professional help.

For dental emergencies, there is no substitute for seeking immediate dental care. However, you can take action to ease the pain and prevent further damage. Consider adding an emergency tooth preservation kit to your first aid supplies in case of unexpected tooth loss. Always remember to keep calm and act quickly in a dental emergency. Your smile and dental health may depend on it.