Emergencies

It's a fact of life - emergencies happen and often when your dentist office is closed. We have composed a list of do's and dont's for some dental emergencies. In all cases you should get to a dentist or your dentist as soon as possible, but the following tips should keep you going until you can get there.

Toothache

Do brush and rinse your teeth with warm water to keep it as clean as possible.
Do use dental floss to remove any trapped food between the teeth.
Don't place an aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissue.
See your dentist as soon as possible.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Do rinse the tooth in running water if it's dirty.
Don't scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments.
Do gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket or place it in a cup of milk or cool water.
Do go straight to your dentist-if you get there within 30 minutes or less, there's a good chance that the tooth can be put back in its proper place.

Broken tooth

Do gently clean dirt from the injured area with warm water.
Do place cold compresses on the face in the injured area to decrease swelling
Do go to your dentist immediately.

Bitten Tongue or Lip

Do apply direct pressure to the bleeding area with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding
Do apply cold to the injured area to decrease swelling and bleeding.
Do go to the emergency room if the bleeding doesn't stop.

Possible Broken Jaw

Don't move your jaw
Do secure it in place by tying a handkerchief, necktie or towel around the jaw and over the top of your head.
Do apply cold compressed if swelling is present.
Do go immediately to a hospital emergency room for further evaluation.

For additional information on resources on key dental health questions; i.e. canker/cold sores, etc. visit the American Dental Association website.