Dealing with an emergency is never pleasant, and that includes, of course, an emergency involving your teeth. After such an emergency you should see your dentist as soon as possible – but until then, here are some steps you can take to deal with a dental emergency.
A knocked-out tooth
If your tooth has been knocked out of its socket, pick up the tooth carefully and hold it by its crown (the top of the tooth) only. Rinse the tooth with water only, and don’t rub it to remove debris. Don’t wash any tissue that remains on the roots of the tooth. Rinse your mouth with warm water. If possible, place the tooth back in the socket to preserve it, using a cotton ball, tea bag, or gauze to keep it in place. You can also put the tooth in a cup of milk (even placing it in a cup with some of your own saliva in it will do in a pinch – the idea is to keep the tooth moist at all times). A cold compress to your face can help to alleviate any pain.
A broken, cracked, or chipped tooth
A tooth can get broken on accident, say during a high-contact sport, or it can break after chewing on a hard piece of candy. A chipped or cracked tooth may not seem as serious as a tooth that is knocked out, but it should be attended to by a dentist as soon as possible to limit the amount of bacteria that can get inside the tooth. Rinse and save the pieces of the tooth, if you can. Until you can get to the dentist, rinse the mouth out with warm water and use a cold compress on the outside of the mouth to keep swelling down.
If you do have a tooth knocked out or you have other damage to your teeth, you can rest assured that Lerner & Lemongello can help, with expert treatment, a dental implant, or another restorative option. Call the office in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, at (561) 627-9000, for an appointment!