Dental emergency: know what to do!

Dental emergency: know what to do!

Dealing with a dental emergency can be very tricky and stressful. To make sure you are not overwhelmed the next time something happens, we summarized the main questions dentists usually get about emergencies.

  1. What do I do if I knock out my tooth?
    For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, 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 or in milk. Then, get to your dentist’s office right away.
  1. What do I do if my child knocks out a tooth?
    If the tooth is a baby tooth, the best thing to do is find the tooth, keep it moist and get to a dentist. Your dentist can see whether the entire tooth, or just part of it, came out. Your dentist can also determine whether to implant it again.
  1. What if I crack my tooth?
    For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down. See your dentist as soon as possible.
  1. If I bite my tongue or lip, how do I treat it?
    If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress. See your dentist or go to the emergency room if there is excessive bleeding, the bleeding won’t stop or you are in a lot of pain.
  1. How do I treat a toothache?
    For toothaches, rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between your teeth. Do not put aspirin on your aching tooth or gums; it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact your dentist.

If you have any tooth emergency problems, contact us to schedule an appointment as soon as possible! We are located on 13737 96 Ave #102, Surrey, BC.

This post was based on this article from MouthHealth.org.