An Unexpected Broken Tooth or Toothache Needs Immediate Attention
If your tooth suddenly got broken, or if you have an unexpected toothache, you risk suffering permanent damage to your teeth if you don’t take action soon. Here’s what you can do to make sure that you stay well and safe.
Emergency Dentistry
Dental emergencies need to be handled carefully and as soon as possible. If you delay treatment, you risk further injury. For instance, if you’ve lost or chipped your tooth because of an injury it’s crucial that you go straight away to the dentist nearest to you for immediate treatment. Toothaches are a sign that your body is suffering from hidden damage as well. The sooner you can get your dental health taken care of, the better. The main factor is time. It’s often the difference between saving your tooth or losing it.
What should I know about dental emergencies?
When you experience a dental emergency, it’s very common to panic. An important part of your body has suffered an injury. It’s a part of you that doesn’t grow back. So don’t worry, it’s completely normal to become anxious. The good news is that most dental emergencies rarely reach the level of a medical emergency if you follow some of the advice we have for you below. Our dentists are trained in a wide range of techniques that restore and repair your natural teeth, so there’s no need to panic. All you need to do is schedule an appointment with us and follow the advice that we provide to you.
What should I do if I have a dental emergency?
While dental emergencies may cause you stress and anxiety, luckily they aren't life-threatening. Even so, it’s a good idea to take action quickly so that you can improve your chances for a quick recovery.
If you’re experiencing pain in your teeth, an over-the-counter medication can help with pain relief. We recommend Orajel or acetaminophen, which are ideal choices. They’re fast-acting, and you can conveniently find them in most pharmacies. When you get Orajel or any other oral local anesthetic, you’ll apply it directly to the painful area for immediate relief. And when you take acetaminophen, which is also known as Tylenol, you can reduce your pain as well.
If you have a toothache, use a warm water rinse to wash away any debris that might be present.
If your child loses a tooth, it can be stressful, but there’s usually no cause for alarm. It’s completely natural for children to lose their teeth. Don’t worry, they will not suffer any long-term effects or negative impacts from losing their teeth. Called baby teeth, this set of teeth aren’t permanent. They’ll be growing adult teeth to replace them. If you happen to notice blood where the tooth fell out, you can simply apply a little bit of pressure with a sterile cloth to control the bleeding. Once you’ve taken care of your child’s oral hygeine, call our office and we’ll schedule an appointment for an exam and a follow-up consultation.
If you have a cracked tooth, it’s very important to rinse your mouth clean and apply a cold compress until you see our dentist for treatment. For adult tooth loss due to injury, keep it moist. You can try to push the tooth back in place gently. If that does not work, place your tooth in milk or an approved product that preserves it. You need to seek treatment for this type of dental emergency immediately. We can’t stress enough that time is critical to usability. The sooner you can get treatment, the greater the chances that we can reimplant your tooth without complication.
In the case that you’re experiencing any swelling in your mouth or jaw, or in an open wound, we recommend that you use a cold compress. Take a look in the mirror to see if your gums are free from food. If there is any food, you should try to remove it carefully. Absolutely do not use any pointed or sharp objects to remove the debris. Instead, try to use floss or a soft toothbrush to try to gently loosen the food so that you can spit it out. If you use a rough or hard object, you may cause more severe injuries or complications.
If you bit your lip or tongue and there’s an open wound, clean it with room temperature water. Then apply a cold compress to the affected area.
When you have any dental emergencies, you need to contact us as soon as you can so that you can receive important treatment that will prevent your dental health from getting worse. The sooner you let us treat your emergency, the lower the likelihood that there will be any complications. We encourage you to set an appointment right now. Contact our office so you can get the treatment you need.
What can I do to avoid dental emergencies?
Precaution is typically the most common way to avoid injury or accidents. Here are a few simple things you can do to prevent the type of circumstances that require emergency treatment.
When engaged in any sport, wear a mouthguard.
Avoid using your teeth to cut or open things.
Avoid biting down on hard surfaces like ice, candy, or popcorn.