Dental Emergency? Here’s How to Be Prepared

Wednesday - August 10th, 2016

Let’s face it, accidents and holidays tend to go hand in hand. In case the kids get too rambunctious, or a little too much eggnog is consumed, here’s how to handle a dental emergency.

If a tooth gets knocked out…

You’ll need to see a dentist immediately. Find the stray tooth and rinse it with water. If possible, try to reposition it in the mouth where it belongs. If you can’t do that, keep the tooth moist in a glass of milk. Most knocked-out teeth have a chance of being saved if you see the dentist within one hour.

If a tooth gets chipped or broken…

Collect as many pieces of the tooth as you can. Then, rinse the mouth with warm water to clear away any other pieces that may still be there. If there’s bleeding, use gauze and apply to the site until the bleeding stops, then apply a cold compress to keep the swelling down. Visit the dentist as soon as possible.

If someone has a toothache…

There are many potential underlying causes of a toothache. It’s best to go to the dentist as soon as you can, but in the meantime you can try to ease the pain. Brush and floss your teeth to remove any stuck food, apply a cold compress, and take an over-the-counter painkiller.

Hopefully your holidays will be accident-free, but it’s a great idea to be prepared just in case!

Sources:

Orthodontics may be provided by general dentists.