Emergency

Stay calm. Try to stop the bleeding and protect the injured tooth by following the appropriate instructions in this article.

Caution: Don’t take aspirin or ibuprofen for a dental emergency because they are anticoagulants, and they can cause uncontrollable bleeding. Tale cetaminophen as painkiller, according to the packaging label.

Tooth and gum damage can cause infections ? make sure you visit your dentist when required.
Also, if you consider it an emergency, dial 911 as soon as possible to contact the Emergency Medical Services. If possible, visit the hospital emergency room on your own.

Severe pain
Pain is almost always caused by cracked, chipped teeth, lodged food debris, lost fillings or crowns or infections. The cause of the pain must always be determined by your dentist, before any treatment.

To relieve pain, apply ice on the swollen or infected area for 20 minutes every hour. You can take painkillers, like acetaminophen, but make sure you read the packaging label.

Possible broken jaw
If there’s a possibility your jaw is broken, do not move it. Secure it with a handkerchief, a towel or a necktie around the jaw and the top of your head. Use cold compresses to reduce pain or swelling. Visit the emergency room as quickly as possible or call 911.

Teeth
Debris stuck between teeth
Use a piece of dental floss to clean the small space between your teeth. Be as gentle as possible so you don’t damage the gum tissue. If the debris is still stuck, visit your dentist immediately.

Loose teeth
Loose teeth should be fixed by your dentist, with a dental bridge attached to the abutments of your existing teeth.

Chipped and broken teeth
Small pieces of teeth can be reattached by your dentist, so make sure you collect them all. Here’s what you should do in this situation:

for the injured person:

• Rinse your oral cavity with plenty of warm water; use firm pressure to stop the bleeding; look for the missing pieces of teeth immediately;
• As soon as the bleeding stops, apply cold compresses or ice to reduce swelling and pain; if bleeding doesn’t stop, call 911 or visit the emergency room;

for the chipped tooth:

• Save the chipped pieces and wash them thoroughly with lukewarm water
• Use a towel to rinse them
• place the pieces in a small clean container and cover them with milk, salty water or saliva from the injured person

Knocked-out teeth

for children

• Call your dentist immediately; usually, a child’s knocked out tooth cannot be re-implanted;

adult teeth

• If your tooth gets knocked-out, you have a 1 to 2 hour window where it can be re-implanted; your dentist will assess your situation and will determine whether it can be re-implanted;
• If you are the injured person, rinse your mouth area immediately with plenty of lukewarm water; apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding; use a cold compress or ice to minimize the swelling and reduce the pain; call your dentist or visit the emergency room;
• The knocked out tooth: always handle the tooth by its crown (the visible upper portion); gently rinse the tooth on washcloth to remove any dirt or debris; do not scrub the tooth, in any circumstance; place the tooth in a small, clean container for safe transportation; cover the tooth with salty water or saliva;

Lost filling or crown
Call your doctor as soon as possible and schedule a visit. Use clove oil to minimize pain: dip a cotton swab in oil and place it on the damaged area. Also, you can use ice or a cold compress to reduce pain.

Filling

• Look for your filling and put it in a safe place; take it with you when you visit your dentist; use tooth wax or cement, which are available in drug stores, to fill out temporarily the damaged area;

Crowns

• Look for the crown and place it back temporarily; before doing this, make sure you wash it with lukewarm water; apply dental adhesive and place it gently on the damaged tooth;

Toothaches
Clean your mouth with plenty of warm water. Floss around the painful area to remove debris or food particles. If the pain continues, see your dentist as soon as possible.

Gums and soft tissues

Bitten tongue or lip
Small cuts, under ? inch, generally heal by themselves. Make sure you wipe and clean the area with warm water. Apply ice or a cold compress to relieve pain and minimize swelling.

For larger cuts, focus on stopping the bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t stop in 10 minutes, call 911 or visit the emergency room as quickly as possible.

Burned roof of mouth
This happens when you eat or drink exceptionally hot dishes or liquids. The sores and blisters typically heal by themselves. If you don’t notice any improvement after 10 days, visit your dentist.
In the meantime, use salty water to rinse the mouth after meals to keep the area clean. You can use acetaminophen as a painkiller, according to the packaging label.

Mouthsores
These are caused by braces or other foreign objects. Use a topical anesthetic to relieve pain. Also, acetaminophen can be used, according to the packaging label.

Pain, abscess or swelling
Visit your dentist as soon as possible if you experience pain, swelling or abscess in your soft tissues around the oral cavity. He or she will perform an exam of the area to determine the cause. If the abscess breaks, foul-smelling and foul-tasting liquid will accumulate in your mouth. Spit this liquid out and wash your mouth with warm water.

Braces
Braces or retainers cause discomfort, typically for 2 days after being installed. Rinse your mouth with warm salty water or use cold compresses to alleviate pain. You can also take acetaminophen according to the packaging label.

Food trapped between teeth
This is not a medical emergency. However, you could use an interproximal brush or toothpick to clear out the food debris. Also, gently floss the area.

Foreign objects inhaled or swallowed
Call 911 or visit the emergency room as quickly as possible.

Poking wire
Call your dentist and describe your situation and ask for an appointment. Use a q-tip or a pencil eraser to push the wire in a more comfortable position. If this is not possible, use dental wax to cover the wire.

Knocked off bracket
Call your dentist and describe the situation. If the loose bracket turned upside down, try to rotate it back into its normal position. Use dental wax to minimize its movement.

Lost wires or ligatures
Call your dentist and schedule an appointment. Look for the rubber ligature and put it back with tweezers, if possible.