THE DENTAL EMERGENCY
Through consistent application of a few simple precautions, dental emergencies can be dealt with at the easiest point---before they happen. One way to reduce the chances of damage to teeth, lips, cheeks, and tongue is to wear a mouthguard when playing active sports. Another is to avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels, and hard candy—all of which can crack a tooth. Don’t use your teeth as a cutting tool for tape, thread, or anything else, other than food.
Unfortunately, however, dental emergencies still can and do happen. Knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. Here are a few tips to help you deal with a dental emergency calmly and effectively.
Broken tooth: Rinse the mouth with warm water to keep the area clean. Put cold compresses on the face to reduce swelling. Go to the dentist immediately.
Bitten tongue or lip: Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to keep swelling down. If bleeding is excessive or doesn’t stop in a short time, go to the dentist or a hospital emergency department.
Toothache: Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Use dental floss to remove any food that may be trapped between the teeth. Do not put aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues. See your dentist as soon as possible.
Objects caught between the teeth: Gently try to remove the object with dental floss. If you’re not successful, go to the dentist. Do not try to remove the object with a sharp or pointed instrument.
Knocked-out tooth: Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root of the tooth (if it’s dirty) in water. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Don’t forget to take the tooth with you!
Possible broken jaw: Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Go to your dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.
Denture emergency: If you are a denture wearer and one of your denture teeth becomes dislodged, you can temporarily reattach the tooth with super glue. However, saliva can dissolve this adhesive in a relatively short period of time, so it will ultimately be necessary to see the dentist for a permanent fix.