Any injury to the teeth or gums can be
potentially serious. Ignoring a dental problem can lead to delays
in treatment, which can increase the risk of permanent damage as
well as the need for more extensive and expensive treatment down
the road.
Can you offer any advice on what immediate
steps to take in the event a dental emergency
occurs?
Certainly. Here's a
quick summary of what to do for some common dental
problems.
Toothaches. First, thoroughly rinse your
mouth with warm water. Use dental floss to remove any lodged food.
If your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of
your mouth or cheek. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller
against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum
tissue. See your dentist as soon as possible.
Chipped or broken teeth. Save any pieces.
Rinse the mouth using warm water; rinse any broken pieces. If
there's bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for
about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress
to the outside of the mouth, cheek or lip near the broken/chipped
tooth to keep any swelling down and relieve pain. See your dentist
as soon as possible.
Knocked out tooth. Retrieve the tooth,
hold it by the crown (the part that is usually exposed in the
mouth), and rinse off the tooth root with water if it's
dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If
possible, try to put the tooth back in place. Make sure it's
facing the right way. Never force it into the socket. If it's
not possible to reinsert the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in
a small container of milk (or cup of water that contains a pinch of
table salt, if milk is not available) or a product containing cell
growth medium, such as Save-a-Tooth. In all cases, see your dentist
as quickly as possible. Knocked out teeth with the highest chances
of being saved are those seen by the dentist and returned to their
socket within 1 hour of being knocked out.
Extruded (partially dislodged) tooth. See
your dentist right away. Until you reach your dentist's
office, to relieve pain, apply a cold compress to the outside of
the mouth or cheek in the affected area. Take an over-the-counter
analgesic (such as Tylenol or Advil) if needed.