Accidents happen, so knowing what to do when one does can seriously mean the difference between a saved tooth or a lost tooth.
If you have a dental emergency, it’s critical to get to see your dentist as quickly as possible. Many dentists block time in their daily schedules for emergency patients so do not hesitate to call your dentist and provide as much information as you can about your dental emergency. If your dental office is not open when the accident occurs, make sure you go to the emergency room.
Here’s how to deal with common dental emergencies:
Question: What do I do if I knocked my tooth out?
Answer: If you accidentally lose a permanent tooth or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. Use a tooth preservation product, with an American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance and schedule an appointment with your dentist right away.
Question: My child knocked out their tooth. What should I do?
Answer: If your child knocks out their baby tooth, keep it moist, if you still have it, and schedule an appointment with your dentist. Your dentist can see whether the entire tooth or just part of it, came out. If they knocked out their adult tooth, follow the steps in the previous question.
Question: What should I do if I cracked my tooth?
Answer: If you crack your tooth, immediately rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area and put a cold compress on your face to keep any swelling down. Call your dental office right away and get the soonest available appointment with your dentist.
Question: I bit my tongue/lip. How do I treat it?
Answer: Clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress. Depending on the severity of your bite, and if there is excessive bleeding or the bleeding won’t stop, go to the emergency room.
Question: How do I treat a toothache?
Answer: If you have a toothache, take acetaminophen or an NSAID for the pain. Avoid hard foods and if the pain persists, contact your dentist and set up an appointment to be seen as soon as possible.
Question: What should I do if I think I broke my jaw?
Answer: If you think you may have broken your jaw, get to a hospital right away and apply ice to control the swelling on your way.
Question: I got something stuck in my teeth. What should I do?
Answer: If something is stuck in between your teeth, try to remove with floss gently but do not try to remove it with a sharp or pointed instrument. The item might cause pain or an infection, so see your dentist if you cannot remove it.
Question: Is there anything I should add to my first aid kit specifically for teeth?
Answer: It’s a good idea to have floss on hand in case something gets caught in your teeth. The Save-a-Tooth emergency tooth preservation kit is also a smart addition to your first aid kit in case you lose a tooth unexpectedly
Question: What happens if I need to see a dentist when I’m traveling?
Answer: Keep your dentist’s contact information in an easy to find a place in your cell phone or their business card in an easy to find place in your wallet. “Don’t second guess yourself. If you think even for a moment you need to contact your dentist; you probably do,” Dr. Aller says. Believe it or not, many dental emergencies can be resolved over the phone (especially if you keep up regular visits). “As a patient, it’s difficult to judge when something needs to be treated immediately or if it can wait until you get home,” she says. ” That’s what my dental practice and I are here for.”
What should I do if I have a dental emergency and I’m traveling outside of the country?
If you are vacationing outside of the country and unquestionably need a dentist, Dr. Aller recommends contacting the local consulate or U.S. embassy. “The recommendation will not be that of someone who may be driving business because of a contract, friend, or relative.”
Question: How can I avoid a dental emergency?
Answer: Some precautions you can take to avoid a dental emergency include:
Wearing a mouthguard while participating in vigorous sports and recreational activities.
Avoid chewing foods like ice, popcorn kernels, and hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth.
Don’t ever use your teeth to open something – get scissors!
At Miracle Smile Dentistry our office is available 24/7, and you can call us at 305-569-9966 or text 786-682-4872 any time. If you are experiencing a severe dental emergency and you are unable to get a hold of someone in our office, leave a message and head to your local emergency room right away.