emergencies

Dental Emergencies

There are a number of simple precautions you can take to avoid accident and injury to your teeth. One way to reduce the chances of damage to your teeth, lips, cheek and tongue is to wear a mouthguard when participating in sports or recreational activities that may pose a risk. Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth. Cut things using scissors rather than your teeth. Accidents do happen and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. The following tips will tell you what to do in case an emergency happens.

Toothache

Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss around the tooth to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. Take a pain relieving drug to subside the pain but never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact us.

Broken Tooth

Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. Take a painkiller to reduce the pain and contact us immediately.

Bitten Lip or Tongue

Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compression to reduce any swelling. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.

Jaw Possibly Broken

Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Come to us or to a hospital emergency department immediately.

Knocked Out Tooth

Rinse the tooth off very gently in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub or remove any attached tissue or fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, place the tooth in a small container or cup of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Remember to take the tooth with you!

Objects Caught Between Teeth

Try to gently remove the object with dental floss; avoid cutting the gums. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, contact us.

Lost Filling

As a temporary measure, stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity (sugar-filled gum will cause pain). You can also fill it with DenTemp or Tempanol, which are over-the-counter dental products to use in case of emergency. Make sure to see us as soon as possible.

Broken Crown

Apply clove oil on the exposed area. Then coat the inner surface of the crown with over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste or dental adhesive and try to slip it back over the tooth. Do not use super-glue. Make an appointment as soon as possible and bring the crown with you.

Canker Sores

If you get canker sores, avoid foods that can trigger it, which are nuts, chocolate, acidic fruits. Avoid using toothpaste that has Sodium Lauryl Sulfate listed as one of the ingredients. Both Biotene and Rembrandt canker-free toothpastes are free of sodium lauryl sulfate and available over the counter. For relief, cleanse the area with Listerine and apply either Zilactin B or Orabase B. Avoid toothbrushing too hard or cheek biting. If the canker sore persists for more than 14 days, see us.

Broken Wires

If a wire breaks or sticks out of a bracket or band and is poking your cheek, tongue, or gum, try using the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable position. If you can't reposition the wire, cover the end with orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball, or piece of gauze until you can get to your orthodontist's office. Never cut the wire, as you could end up swallowing it or breathing it into your lungs.

Loose Brackets and Bands Emergency

Temporarily reattach loose braces with a small piece of orthodontic wax. Alternatively, place the wax over the braces to provide a cushion. See your orthodontist as soon as possible.

If you’re not sure if a dental problem is an emergency, remember that pain is a signal that something is wrong—a problem that will not disappear even if the pain subsides. Treatment improves the odds of saving injured or damaged teeth. We always reserve time in our schedule for emergency patients. When an emergency occurs, call us immediately.