It’s the weekend, and you just cracked a tooth while eating. Your active youngster falls during a soccer game and knocks out a permanent tooth. You wake in the middle of the night with a raging toothache. Any of these, and similar, scenarios can happen, and usually won’t wait for the dentist’s office to open. You have your dentist’s emergency number, but that doesn’t guarantee immediate relief, and you need to know what to do now in order to avoid disaster or further difficulties down the road. The following advice will help you to handle dental emergencies quickly and efficiently.
Problem: Cracked or broken tooth
What to do: Rinse your mouth with warm water to remove any food particles. Avoid swelling with cold compresses applied externally. Make arrangements to see the dentist as soon as possible. If a piece has broken right off, place it in a small container of milk or water and take it with you.
Problem: Tooth knocked out
What to do: Find the tooth, if at all possible. Holding it carefully by the crown, gently rinse off the root, if dirty. Use a washcloth or other barrier over the sink drain while rinsing to keep the tooth from washing away. Do not scrub or remove any tissue still clinging to the root, as it can help with a successful reattachment. Do NOT handle the root. If you can, place the tooth gently back into the empty socket. If not, place it in a small container of milk or water to take along with you. See the dentist as soon as you can.
Problem: Object lodged between teeth
What to do: Swish a mouthful of warm water around first, to attempt to dislodge the object. If not, try to remove it by flossing gently, being careful not to damage or irritate the gum. If this does not work, you can try to remove the object with an instrument such as a plastic toothpick with a blunted tip, but NEVER use a sharp instrument. If all attempts are unsuccessful, see your dentist as soon as possible.
Problem: Toothache
What to do: There can be many causes for a toothache, but the result is always the same—exquisite pain. No matter what you think is causing the pain, the first step is to rinse with warm (not hot or cold) water. With a mirror or someone’s help, check for an object that may be lodged between the teeth in the affected area. Remove it gently, if possible, using no sharp instruments. Floss thoroughly, being careful not to damage or irritate the gum. Until you can see your dentist, take an anti-inflammatory pain medicine, such as aspirin, Ibuprofen, Advil, or Tylenol, as directed on the package. A numbing agent designed for infants’ teething pain (like Oragel) can be applied directly, according to the product’s instructions, but never allow a tablet of aspirin or other painkiller to dissolve directly over or next to the affected area, as this can burn the gum, causing even more discomfort. Visit your dentist, even if the pain lessens or disappears, in order to find the cause before the pain returns.
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