Dental Emergencies

The following information should help with caring for some common dental emergencies.

What to do if you have a toothache?
What to do if you have a broken tooth?
What to do for a bitten lip or tongue?
What to do if objects get caught between the teeth?
What to do if a permanent tooth is knocked out?

What to do if you have a toothache?

Rinse the mouth out with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth.

Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact your dentist.

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What to do if you have a broken tooth?

Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. Call your dentist immediately.

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What to do for a bitten lip or tongue?

Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce any swelling. If the bleeding doesn't stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.

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What to do if objects get caught between the teeth?

Try to gently remove the object with dental floss; avoid cutting the gums. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth. If you can't dislodge the object using dental floss, contact your dentist.

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What to do if a permanent tooth is knocked out?

Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the top ( crown), not the root portion. You may rinse the tooth, but do not clean or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Try to reinsert it in its socket. Hold the tooth in place by biting on a clean gauze or cloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing milk or water. See a dentist immediately. Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.

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