Health & Fitness
Dental Emergencies
Accidents and emergencies are a part of life. So are dental emergencies. Here are some common dental ermencies, what to do and some tips on how to avoid them.
Dental Emergency
Just like the everything else in our lives dental accidents/emergencies happen. Knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.
Common Dental Emergencies
If you knocked-out a permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. The best thing to do is try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it in between your cheek and gums, in milk, distilled water or a tooth preservation kit from the pharmacy. Then, get to your dentist’s office right away. The sooner you do the more likely the tooth can be reimplanted and saved ·
For a cracked or fractured tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down. These teeth can usually be saved. Sometimes they will need root canal treatment is the fracture has exposed the nerve. Almost always a crown/cap will be placed over the tooth to keep it from breaking more.
If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress. Usually you will develop a “white sore” that becomes progressively more painful over the next 3-5 days. Warm salt water rinses will help to clean the sore. Acidic foods will cause pain, so stay away from citrus fruits, tomatoes and so on.
For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between the teeth. Take ibuprofen. Avoid sudden temperature changes, very hot or cold foods/drinks until you can get to the dentist. Do not put aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues.
For objects stuck in the mouth, try to gently remove with floss but do not try to remove it with sharp or pointed instruments.
When you have a dental emergency, it’s important to visit your dentist or an emergency room as soon as possible. Precautions to avoid dental injuries and emergencies
Wear a mouthguard when participating in sports or recreational activities. It is really important! Check out this humorous video on the subject: Moms for Mouth Guards
Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth.
Use scissors, NEVER your teeth, to cut things.
See your dentist regularly and follow their recommendations
