When In Doubt, Call Your Dentist

Dental emergencies can be a pain – but knowing what to do when one occurs is what’s most important! Even if the emergency is minor, it’s always a good idea to call your dentist and know what you should do moving forward. Although accidents happen to everyone, there are some precautions you can keep in mind:

• Always wear a mouthguard if you play sports
• Make sure you see your dentist for checkups
• Have your dentist’s emergency number handy
• Don’t eat certain types of food that are tough on your teeth
• Brush everyday and floss regularly

Knocked Out Tooth: Call Your Dentist Immediately

Getting your tooth knocked out is a painful experience, but you can’t dwell on the discomfort -you need to act quickly! First things first, call your dentist ASAP and ask for guidance on what to do. If you still have the tooth, put it in a glass of milk. Try not to touch the roots; pick it up by the top of the tooth or crown if there’s one on it. Don’t try to clean or rinse the tooth off, leave it alone. The longer the tooth stays out of the mouth, the harder it will be to save it so try to be at your dentist within 30 minutes of the accident or you might need a dental implant.

Broken or Cracked Teeth: Get Ready For A Filling, Crown Or Root Canal

As soon as you notice that your tooth is broken or cracked, rinse your mouth out with warm water. Grab an ice pack and keep it on the side of your face where the tooth broke to keep from swelling. Pain is likely, so take an OTC pain relieving medication and call your dentist. Depending on how minor the injury is, your dentist will either use a filling to fix the tooth or you may need a root canal or crown.

Toothache: You’ll (Likely) Be Fine, But Make The Next Available Appointment

Having a toothache is the most common dental emergency. It can be caused from a possible cavity or even teeth grinding. If you happen to have a toothache, rinse your mouth out with warm water and floss the area to see if any food or anything else might be stuck that’s causing irritation. To reduce any swelling, use an ice pack – do not use something warm to press against it. Take pain medication if it worsens and call your dentist to see when you can make the next available appointment.

Loose Or Missing Temporary Dental Crown: Get Your Dentist On The Line

If anything, catch your dental crown before you swallow it. You’ll be able to put vaseline on the tooth to connect the crown for a temporary fix. Whether your lost or have a loose dental crown, make an appointment with your dentist as quickly as possible because your tooth will become more sensitive over time.

Jaw Pain Or Broken Jaw: Don’t Do Anything Before Calling Your Dentist

Depending on what happened, especially if it’s a broken jaw, the best option is to see your dentist immediately. Take pain medication to ease the pain and put ice on your face to avoid swelling. It’s best to stay away from solid food until you see your dentist otherwise you’ll end up being in even more pain. In this dental emergency, it’s best for your dentist to guide you on what to do for a broken jaw or jaw pain.

Magnolia Dental offers emergency dental care to help with all of the above conditions. If you find yourself in a dental emergency, please contact Magnolia Dental today!