How to Handle Dental Emergencies?

What is the first thing you do when you chip a corner of your tooth while eating? Rush to an emergency dental care center, right? But often, visiting your dentist isn’t possible, especially when you are traveling or in the middle of an important event. Some dental emergencies can be first dealt with at home or even while you are traveling. Here are some of the dental emergencies that you may experience, and some simple ways to handle them.

Toothaches

Rinse your mouth with warm salt water without applying much pressure. Try to gently remove any trapped food from the interdental space using a dental floss or toothpick. Apply 2-3 drops of clove oil directly on the affected tooth using a cotton swab. Don’t apply pressure on that area. You can also put an ice pack around the affected area. Avoid putting aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums as painkillers may burn the gum tissue.

Chipped Tooth

Firstly, rinse your mouth with warm water to wash out any pieces of chipped tooth. If the area is hurting, you can rinse the mouth with warm salt water. If it’s bleeding due to the chipped tooth, apply a piece of gauze to the area until the bleeding stops. Apply an ice pack to the outside of the mouth.

Partially Dislodged Tooth

If possible, try to put the tooth back in place in the correct position. Apply an ice pack on your cheek near the dislodged tooth to soothe the pain and swelling. Don’t fidget with the tooth or keep touching the area with your tongue as it will only add up to the pain. Doing so may even lead to nerve damages.

Knocked Filling

If your tooth filling falls off, you must first visit your emergency dental care clinic. But when it isn’t possible, you can stick a piece of sugarless chewing gum in the cavity and prevent any pain. You can also use an over-the-counter dental cement to fill the hollow space.

Lost Dental Crown

Use a cotton swab to apply a little clove oil to the sensitive area. You can also coat the inner surface of the crown with an over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive, and slip the crown back in place.

Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries including tongue, cheeks, gums, and lips, can result in bleeding. In order to handle the excruciating pain and bleeding from the injury, rinse your mouth with salt water first. Doing so will not only clean the injury but will also help in subsiding the pain. You can then use a moistened piece of gauze or tea bag to apply pressure to the bleeding injury. Or simply hold an ice pack on the cheek near the injury.

So, next time when you encounter a dental emergency, you know that you can follow these tips and not panic. The next best thing to do is visit an emergency dental care clinic whenever it is possible. Your dentists will know the best way to handle such situations.