Steps to Take During a Dental Emergency

There are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of suffering a dental emergency in the Westlake area. For example, you can wear a mouthguard while playing sports and wear your seatbelt at all times in a moving car. Avoid chewing on ice, popcorn kernels, and similar hard objects, since these can easily crack your teeth. But even if you do take precautions, a dental emergency may still arise from time to time. It’s a good idea to keep the number of your emergency dentist in your phone, just in case you experience a problem.

Treating a Toothache

Minor toothaches can be caused by food debris trapped between your teeth. Swish some warm water around your mouth to loosen food debris and then gently work dental floss between your teeth. If you are unable to remove the troublesome object or your toothache appears to be caused by some other problem, call your emergency dentist for a same-day appointment.

Handling a Broken Tooth

If you suffer a severely chipped or broken tooth, you should save the broken pieces if at all possible. Rinse these pieces with water and swish warm water around your mouth. While you’re on your way to the dentist’s office, you can apply a cold compress to the exterior of your mouth to reduce the swelling and pain. If you’re bleeding, hold a piece of sterile gauze to the area to stop the bleeding.

Dealing with a Knocked-Out Tooth

A tooth that has been completely knocked out of your mouth might still be salvageable if you get to your dentist’s office inside of an hour. First, retrieve the tooth. Only pick up and hold the tooth by the crown; never touch the tooth root. Rinse the tooth, but do not scrub it. You could try to place the tooth back in your mouth, but do not force it into the socket. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, place it in a small cup and cover it with milk or a cell growth medium product, if available. If you do not have either of these, cover the tooth with your own saliva. Then, get to the clinic right away.