Dental Emergency? 5 Tips to Save Your Teeth

Dental Emergency? 5 Tips to Save Your Teeth

Dental emergencies can happen in an instant and should never be ignored. One minute you’re kicking around the soccer ball with friends, the next you’re holding a knocked-out tooth in your hand.

When you sustain injuries to your gums or teeth, they can potentially be serious enough to require emergency dental care. Ignoring the injury won’t make it go away, and can only increase the likelihood that damage will be permanent, leading to much more extensive and expensive treatments later on.

It’s very likely that you already know what to do in case of other emergencies. If someone is having a heart attack you know to call an ambulance right away. When dental injuries occur, however, you may be left wondering what to do next. If the dental emergency is severe, don’t wait – get to the ER right away. If the injury is less severe, like a lost filling or cracked tooth, you can probably wait until the dentist office is open. Keep in mind though, the longer you wait to have the injury repaired, the more damage can occur and the more it will cost to get it repaired.

Types of Dental Emergencies

There are several types of dental emergencies. Here are the most common ones and what to do when you have a dental emergency in Montreal:

– Broken teeth

A mouth injury can sometimes result in one or more broken teeth. If you notice exposed dental pulp (reddish flesh) or if there is a crack going up through the tooth, you need to see your dentist as soon as possible. Try and collect any tooth fragments you can find and take them with you to the dentist in Montreal.

Rinse the area and any tooth fragments with warm water and place a cold washcloth over the injury site. If the area is bleeding, apply clean gauze for several minutes until the bleeding stops.

– Chipped or cracked tooth

Use warm water to rinse your mouth and clean the affected area. You can also use a cold compress placed against your face to reduce any swelling in the area. It’s important that you see your dentist as soon as possible because a chipped or cracked tooth can quickly develop into a much bigger problem.

– Dental abscess

When an infection occurs around the root of a tooth or in the space between the gums and teeth, it is known as a dental abscess. This infection can damage the tissue surrounding your teeth and gums and is severe. If left untreated, it can spread to other areas of your body and make you quite ill. It’s urgent to see your dentist right away if you notice a pimple like swelling in your gums that is causing a good deal of pain. It’s important that you see the dentist as soon as possible to prevent serious issues to your general and oral health.

You can rinse your mouth several times a day with warm salt water to help draw pus to the surface and relieve pain until you can get to the dentist’s office.

What to Do When Dental Emergencies Occur

Dental emergencies are pretty common, and it’s important to know what you need to do in the event one happens to you. Below are 5 tips that can help control the situation until you can see your dentist for emergency treatment.

1. Don’t panic
The first reaction to a dental injury can be absolute panic, especially if a permanent tooth is knocked out. Slow down, take a deep breath, and call the dentist right away. If it’s after hours, the dentist will have an answering service that will direct you in what to do.

2. Reinsert the tooth
If a tooth has been knocked out of its socket, rinse it off immediately with warm water. Hold the tooth by the crown (the part of the tooth you see when you smile), avoiding touching the root. If possible, gently put it back into the socket with the tooth facing the correct way. Do not try to force it back into place. If you cannot reinsert it, place the tooth in a small cup of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as possible.

3. Collect tooth fragments
In the event the tooth was chipped, try to gather as many chipped pieces and rinse them with warm water. You should also rinse your mouth and apply a cold compress against the face in the injured area to help reduce swelling.

4. Don’t wait
If you are experiencing an abscess or serious pain, see your dentist immediately. The abscess is a sign of serious infection, and will typically be filled with pus. Ignoring it will cause the infection to spread to other parts of the body and create a serious health situation.

5. Bleeding
There are various reasons why your mouth may bleed, like injuries to the mouth, biting the tongue, etc. Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply pressure to the area with a clean cloth. If this does not stop the bleeding you need to see your dentist. You should also consider seeing the dentist even if you can stop the bleeding to ensure there is no damage to the roots of your teeth.

You should never delay seeing a dentist when a dental emergency occurs. At Alpha Clinique Dentaire Montreal, we provide urgent dental care for those who need it. We will always have a professional and compassionate emergency walk-in dentist to deal with your emergency.

Call our clinic at (514) 934-0404. We are open 7 days a week, and a dentist will always be available.