Dental Emergencies and Helpful Tips

At some point in their life everyone is bound to be the victim of a dental emergency. In that case, what on earth are you supposed to do? First off keep calm, and second off think about the incident you have had occur to you. That often tells you how to respond most appropriately.

If you have knocked out a permanent adult tooth due to trauma what you do next can decide if you are going to keep the tooth or not. If possible place the tooth loosely back into its socket. If you cannot do that, keep the tooth most by sucking on it, putting it in milk, or using a tooth preservation product recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA). Get to your dentist’s office soon as possible to provide a permanent fix to the situation.

For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on your face to keep swelling from increasing.

If your tongue is bit, clean the area gently and apply cold compresses.

For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the cavity out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food stuck in and around the tooth. Do not put medications, especially aspirin on the tooth to keep the pain down. This is not good for the tooth or aching gum tissue.

If an object gets stuck in your mouth, then try to remove it with a toothbrush or dental floss. If that fails, do not use sharp objects to remove the object. Instead, contact your dentist or local emergency room. They will be able to remove the object more safely than you can, with less risk of permanent damage that may be caused.

Avoid these various dental mishaps by following the common-sense rules that you were always told. Wear a mouth guard when playing contact or recreational sports. Avoid chewing on things that may cause teeth to crack like jawbreakers, ice, or popcorn kernels. Always use scissors to cut objects into the pieces you need, and NOT your teeth. Always know you can visit your dentist if an emergency arises. Call the office and request to have an immediate appointment scheduled. Most dentists have someone built in at the office each day that has time in their schedule for emergencies just like these described here.

If you have any questions regarding this article contact us or call 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”