Any dental emergency can be potentially serious and should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem, like an injury to the teeth or gums, can increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and expensive treatment later. Below you will find some common dental problems and a summary of advice for what you should do. In all cases, please book an emergency appointment or contact us as quickly as possible.
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First, thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water. Use dental floss to remove any lodged food. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek if your mouth is swollen. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. See your dentist as soon as possible.
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Knocked out teeth with the highest chances of being saved are those seen by the dentist and returned to their socket within 1 hour of being knocked out. In order to save your tooth you must retrieve the tooth, hold it by the crown (the part that is usually exposed in the mouth) and rinse off the tooth root with water. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, try to put the tooth back in place. Make sure it's facing the right way. Never force it into the socket. If it's not possible to reinsert the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk (or cup of water that contains a pinch of table salt, if milk is not available) or a product such as Save-a-Tooth.
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First, try using dental floss to remove the object very gently and carefully. If you cannot get the object out, see your dentist. Never use a pin or other sharp object to poke at the stuck object. These instruments can cut your gums or scratch your tooth surface.
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If a crown falls off, make an appointment to see us as soon as possible and bring the crown with you. If you are unable to get to us right away and the tooth is causing pain, use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of clove oil to the sensitive area (clove oil can be purchased at your local chemist or in the spice aisle of your supermarket). As a temporary measure you can also stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity (sugar-filled gum will cause pain) or use an over-the-counter dental cement. If possible, slip the crown back over the tooth. Before doing so, coat the inner surface with an over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive, to help hold the crown in place. Do not use super glue!
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If a wire breaks, cover the end with orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball, or piece of gauze until you can get to the Practice. Never cut the wire, as you could end up breathing it into your lungs or swallowing it.
If a bracket comes away from your tooth during treatment, please contact your orthodontist. Usually, the bracket will stay attached to the wire and can be left until your next appointment unless causing irritation. If the bracket does come away from the wire please keep it safe and bring it with you to your next appointment.
Injuries to the soft tissues, which include the tongue, cheeks, gums, and lips, can result in bleeding. Here's what to do to control the bleeding:
Rinse your mouth with a mild salt-water solution.
Use a wet piece of gauze or tea bag to apply pressure to the bleeding site. Hold for 15 to 20 minutes.
To both control the bleeding and relieve any pain, hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes.
If the bleeding will not stop, contact us right away or go to a hospital emergency department. Continue to apply pressure on the bleeding site with the gauze until you can be seen and treated.
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