11 Ways to Deal with Dental Emergencies

15 Mar 2024

Have you had a dental emergency? If you have an injury to your teeth or gums, then this can be serious. If you ignore a dental issue, then you increase the chances of permanent damage and the need for more extensive treatment. A dental emergency can occur at any time and any place. Read on to know how best to deal with a dental emergencies.

1. Toothache – Rinse your mouth with warm water. Use dental floss, to remove food particles inside your mouth. If your mouth is swollen, then try applying a cold compress to your cheek or mouth. Don’t put aspirin tablets or other pain relievers against the gums or near your aching tooth it may damage the gum tissue. Visit a dentist as soon as you can.
2. Broken or chipped teeth – Save any pieces of your chipped or broken tooth and rinse them with warm water. If your teeth bleed, try putting a piece of gauze on the area for 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. You can apply a cold compress to your cheek, lips or mouth near your chipped or broken teeth to lessen the swelling and ease the pain. See your dentist as soon as possible.
3. Knocked out tooth – You can restore your tooth by holding the crown and rinsing the root of the tooth with water if it is not clean. Make sure you do not scrub or remove the attached tissue fragments. If possible, try to put the tooth back in its place. see your dentist. Your knocked-out tooth will have a greater chance of being saved by the dentist if it can be returned to the socket within one hour.
4. Partially dislodged or extruded tooth – You need to contact an emergency dentist who is open now to treat the pain. In the meantime, apply a cold compress to the cheek or mouth in the affected area. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if required.
5. Small objects stuck between the tooth – You can try using dental floss to get rid of the object. if you cannot get the object out, visit your dentist right away. Do not use a pin or sharp object to remove the object as they can scratch your tooth surface.
6. Lost filling – You should stick sugarless gum into your cavity or use over-the counter dental cement. See your dentist as soon as you can.
7. Lost crown – If the crown falls out, fix an appointment with your dentist so that you can have the dental crown replaced. If you cannot visit the dentist immediately and the tooth is causing extreme pain, take pain medication, If you can, slip the crown back over the tooth. Coat the inner surface with toothpaste, over-the-counter dental cement or denture adhesive, to hold crown in place.
8. Broken wires and brackets – If the wire breaks and is irritating your tongue, gums or cheeks, use the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable place. If you cannot reposition your wire, try to cover the end with cotton ball, orthodontic wax or piece of gauze until you can see your dentist. Do not cut the wire as you might end up swallowing or breathing it in.
9. Loose bands and brackets – You may reattach loose braces temporarily with a small piece of orthodontic wax. Visit your orthodontist as soon as you can. If it is a loose band, save it and call your dentist to get it recemented or replaced.
10. Dental abscess – Abscess are infections around the tooth root or in the space between your teeth and gums. They are a serious condition that might cause damage to the tissue and your surrounding teeth with infection spreading to other body parts, if left untreated. Due to serious problems that might occur due to an abscess, you should visit a dentist if you find a pimple-like swelling on the gum which is extremely painful. Rinse the mouth with a mild saltwater solution or a medicated anti bacterial mouthwash several times a day.
11. Soft-tissue injuries – If there is injury to the soft tissue - cheeks, lips, gums and tongue, this can cause bleeding. To stop the bleeding:

• Rinse mouth by using mild salt-water solution.
• Use a moistened piece of gauze or a tea bag to apply pressure to the area of bleeding. Make sure you hold it in place for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
• To ease bleeding and pain, try holding a cold compress on the outside of the mouth or cheek for at least 5 to 10 minutes.

If the bleeding does not stop, you need to visit your dentist without delay or go to a hospital emergency. Apply pressure on the site of the bleeding.

Visit www.emergencydentistinlondon.co.uk to book your appointment online and get treatment in an emergency.