How to Deal with a Dental Emergency

Even if you practice proper dental hygiene, accidents can happen. Your teeth, lips, or gums may become inflamed or injured. It is important to know what to do in these situations and when you should visit our dentist.

Chipped Tooth

Save the pieces and rinse them. Rinse your mouth with warm water. If there is bleeding, apply gauze to the area for 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Use a cold compress to control any swelling and discomfort. Schedule an appointment with Dr. [doctor_name] as soon as possible.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse it off. Do not remove any attached tissue fragments. Put the tooth back in place if possible. Make sure it is facing the right way and never force it back into the socket. If the tooth will not reinsert, put it in a container of milk or salt water. You can also place it between your teeth and gums. See our dentist right away. A knocked-out tooth has the highest chances of being saved if it is reinserted by a dentist within one hour.

Abscess

An abscess is an infection around the root of a tooth or in the space between the teeth and the gums. Abscesses can damage tissue and the nearby teeth. Come to our office as soon as possible if you find a pimple-like swelling on the gums. To ease the pain and draw pus towards the surface, rinse your mouth with mild salt water several times a day.

Soft Tissue Injury

Injuries to the tongue, cheeks, gums, and lips, can cause bleeding. To control the bleeding, rinse your mouth with a mild salt-water solution. Apply pressure with a moistened piece of gauze or a tea bag for 5 to 10 minutes. If there is excessive bleeding or the bleeding won’t stop, visit our dentist or the emergency room as soon as possible.