What to do in case of a tooth emergency?

Dental care often seems to wait till the last minute – yet if not taken care of immediately, may result in a health risk or even permanent damage. With that in mind, Affleck Dental would like to offer you some tips on how to treat common dental problems and what you can do while waiting to get dental help.

1)      Toothaches – Rinse your mouth out with warm water. Use dental floss to remove lodged food stuck between teeth. If you mouth is swollen – apply a cold compress to help relieve the swelling.

2)      Chipped or Broken Teeth – Save the pieces, if possible. Rinse your mouth out with warm water and if bleeding, press a piece of gauze against the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress for any swelling and see your dentist as soon as possible.

3)      Knocked out tooth – Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse the tooth with warm water if it dirty. Do not scrub or remove any tissue fragments. If possible, place the tooth back in place. If that is not possible, store the tooth in a small contain or milk or water with a pinch of salt and see you dentist within in hour of the mishap.

4)      Lost filling – Stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity as a temporary measure and see your dentist as soon as possible.

5)      Lost crown – This can be tricky… there are several temporary measurements you can take until you are able to get into the dentist. But, the first step should be to make an appointment as soon as possible and don’t forget to bring the crown with you. If you are feeling comfortable and it may be a while before seeing the dentist, you can try to slip the crown back over the tooth. Use over the counter dental cement or denture adhesive to help hold the crown down. Even toothpaste will work. Do not use super glue though!!!

Naturally, these are just the more common problems that happen in dental emergencies. Regardless the problem, be sure to contact your dentist or a specialist as soon as possible to resolve the issue and keep you from being in permanent pain or danger.