Your Expert Guide to Handling Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can strike at any time, whether it’s a chipped tooth or a sudden toothache. Knowing what to do before you reach the dentist can make a huge difference. 

Courtney S. Nowicki, DDS, MS, FICOI, and Robert Christ, DMD, FAGD, FICOI of Center for Dental Excellence East Lake, in Tarpon Springs, Florida, offer the following guide to handling common dental emergencies before you reach our office. Following their advice can be the difference between saving and losing a tooth. 

Knocked out tooth

A permanent tooth knocked out in an accident or sports injury must always stay moist. Ideally, you brush any dirt off the tooth gently, handling it as little as possible. You want to keep the root intact and hold it back in its socket until you reach the dentist. 

You can bite down on a piece of moist gauze or a wet tea bag to keep it in place. Do not remove any of the roots. If you can’t put it in its original socket, hold it in your mouth between your cheek and gum, or place it in a cup of milk as you travel to get care.

If you can get treatment within an hour of the accident, you can save the tooth.

Partially dislodged tooth

Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth where the affected tooth is and get to the office immediately for the best chance of saving the tooth.

Cracked tooth

A cracked tooth can cause pain and swelling. Get care as soon as possible to prevent further damage. However, you can use cold compresses against your face to reduce swelling and rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area and reduce the bacteria infiltrating the crack.

Chipped tooth

A minor chip can usually wait for the next appointment, but call the office if you have pain or concerns. If you’re bleeding, swelling, or have a lot of pain, use a cold compress to relieve these symptoms. Save any pieces of your tooth that you can find, as they may be repairable.

Toothaches

Toothaches often come on suddenly. Floss the area exceptionally well in case some food is caught and causing the issue. Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply ice to reduce pain. Avoid putting a painkiller or aspirin at the site of pain – these agents can burn the gums.

Objects stuck in the mouth

If an object gets stuck between your teeth, try using floss to remove it. Do not use another pointed tool to pry it out; you might do more damage.

Lost filling or crown

You should see a dentist immediately for a lost filling or crown, but you can temporarily fill the space with sugar-free gum. Sugared gum causes pain and encourages the spread of bacteria. Alternatively, you can use over-the-counter dental cement.

Save the crown and bring it to your dentist as soon as you can get in for an appointment. If you have pain in the meantime, apply a dab of clove oil to the sensitive tooth. You can temporarily hold the crown in place with toothpaste or denture adhesive.

Broken brackets or wires

Gently bend the wires of your braces back into place and temporarily cover them with dental wax. Make an appointment to see your orthodontist as soon as possible to repair the braces so you avoid irritation.

Abscesses

An abscess may feel and look like a pimple-sized, intensely painful swelling on your gum. It may also cause swelling of the surrounding soft tissue. An abscess indicates a severe condition; you must see a dentist immediately. To alleviate the immediate pain, rinse your mouth with warm water and a pinch of table salt.

Soft tissue injury

If you’ve bitten your cheek or tongue or have another injury to the soft tissue in your mouth, you may experience quite a bit of bleeding. Rinse your mouth with salt water and apply moist gauze to the injured site for 15 to 20 minutes; the pressure can slow bleeding.

If the bleeding won’t stop, get to your dentist as soon as possible. The injury may also cause some swelling. Cold compresses help alleviate the pain and swelling.

Call the office whenever you have a dental emergency, and we’ll book a same-day appointment for you. For non-emergency visits, you can also use the online tool.