Dental emergencies can happen to anyone, young or old, including those who faithfully visit their dentist twice yearly for teeth cleaning. So, what exactly should you do if you are confronted by a significant dental problem? These situations vary, but listed below are two common dental emergencies and the way to handle them should they happen to you:
1. A Cracked Tooth
This is probably the most frequent dental emergency we treat in our Charlotte, NC dental office. If you’ve fallen and have cracked a tooth or injured it by various other means, you should do the following:
- rinse your mouth with the water, and
- place the broken off piece of tooth in a cup of milk.
Furthermore, if your mouth is starting to swell, because of the injury, place a cold compress on the area. Then call your dentist immediately for an emergency appointment.
2. Knocked Out Tooth
This is another situation that numerous people face. In the event you knocked out one of your teeth, locate the tooth and rinse it with warm water to completely clean it if it’s dirty. Do not use soap or any chemicals on the tooth. Tepid water is all that is required.
Do not let the tooth to dry up. It must remain moist. If you can, reposition the tooth within the socket and hold it there by biting down on it or pressing down on it with your fingers. If you are unable to achieve that, position the tooth in a tooth preservation kit, should you own one, or in some milk. Do not put it in water.
Make an emergency appointment with a dentist immediately. The tooth could be saved, if you get to a dentist quickly, within an hour.
Dental emergencies happen to children and adults. However with the proper attention, seeing a qualified professional, there are many solutions for these problems and emergencies.