There are many situations where a dental emergency will need to be treated but the dental office isn't open. You can choose to go to the hospital for help, but if you can wait until the next morning, you can get in to see a dentist. Here are some tips for taking care of dental emergencies until you can get into the office.
Treating a Chipped or Broken Tooth
A chipped or broken tooth can be one of the most painful dental emergencies. To treat it until you can seek help, apply a piece of gauze to the gums if there is bleeding. If there is no bleeding but the tooth is sore, consider placing the gauze around the tooth to prevent air from hitting the nerve.
To reduce swelling and pain until you can see the dentist, use anti-inflammatory drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen and apply ice to your face and gums. If you have the pieces of the chipped tooth, remember to keep them to give them to the dentist.
Treating a Knocked Out Tooth: Adults
For an adult, losing a tooth is not something that should be happening. If a tooth is knocked out, make sure you rinse it off and try to place it back into the socket. It's possible you won't be able to place it back inside your mouth. If that's the case, put it into a glass of milk or cup of salt water and call an emergency dentist. If you can see a dentist within an hour, it's possible to save your tooth.
In the case that your tooth is only partially dislodged, use ice to reduce swelling and take a pain reliever. It should heal on its own, much like a broken bone in any other part of the body, but make sure to see a dentist soon.
Treating a Toothache At Home
Toothaches can be emergencies, but not all dentists will fit you in to see them right away. To treat this at home, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater. This helps kill bacteria and keeps the gums more comfortable. Apply an ice pack to reduce swelling. If you've lost a filling, you can purchase a temporary filling kit at any local drug store, or you can pack it with gauze to help prevent air from hitting the nerve.
These are just a few things you can do to treat dental emergencies at home; it's important to see a dentist as soon as possible. Contact a clinic like Family Dental Care for more help.
Share18 October 2016
Toddlers should see a dentist for the first time by the age of twelve months or by the time their first tooth comes in. But if you are a parent with toddlers anything like mine, the prospect of going to the dentist (let alone anywhere!) can be pretty intimidating. My kids were a handful growing up. They had tantrums any time we would have to sit in a waiting room, and they refused to get in the dentist's chair during their first few visits. So, I had to employ a professional to help me make the transition to finally getting them in that dental chair without all the screaming and crying. I know I'm not the only parent in this situation, so I decided to share the information I've learned with others who can use a little help. You can find all my advice right here on these pages!