No doubt that accidents happen, having a plan in place when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.
For all Tampa dental emergencies, it’s important to visit your Tampa dentist as soon as the injury occurs. Most Tampa dentists reserve time in their schedules for emergency patients so be sure to call your Tampa dentist and provide as much detail as you can about the accident and your condition. If an accident happens when your Tampa dental office is closed, visit your local emergency room.
In Below Conduction Visit Your Tampa Dentist
Below are some common dental emergencies and how you should react to them.
Dental Emergency #1: What should I do if my tooth is knocked out?
Response: For a knocked out permanent tooth, make sure to keep it damp until you see a Tampa Dentist. Try placing the tooth back in the socket but be sure not to touch the root. If that’s not a possibility, place it in your mouth to keep it moist or in a container of milk. Get to your Tampa dentist’s office right away.
Dental Emergency #2: What should I do if my child knocks out a tooth?
If the lost tooth is a baby tooth, first find the tooth, then keep it moist and get to a Tampa dentist. Your Tampa dentist can determine if the whole tooth, or just a section of it, came out. Your Tampa dentist can also decide if it makes sense to implant it back again.
If your child has knocked out an adult tooth, please follow the above listed steps in the previous question.
Dental Emergency #3: What if my tooth cracks?
In the case of a cracked tooth, first rinse your mouth with warm water to cleanse the area. Next, place a cold compresses on your face to keep the swelling down. Lastly, see your Tampa dentist immediately.
Dental Emergency #4: What if I accidentally bite my tongue or lip?
Much like a cracked tooth if you bite your lip or tongue, clean the affected area gently with water and apply a cold compress. If there is excessive bleeding or you are in a lot of pain, see your Tampa dentist or go to the emergency room.
Dental Emergency #5: Treating a toothache.
First, rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Carefully use dental floss to remove any food that may be caught between your teeth and gums. You can take aspirin or pain reliever but don’t put aspirin on your aching gums or tooth; it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain continues beyond a day, contact your Tampa dentist.
Dental emergency #6: What if my jaw is broken?
In the event you think your jaw may be broken first apply cold compress to the affected area to control the swelling. Go to your hospital emergency department immediately.
Dental Emergency #7: Removing an object that’s stuck in my teeth or mouth.
For small objects stuck in the teeth, first try to carefully remove with floss. Never attempt to remove it using a sharp instrument. A sharp instrument may cause an infection, please see your Tampa dentist if you cannot easily remove it yourself.
How can you avoid a dental emergency?
There are several simple steps you can take to avoid injury to the teeth, mouth and gums:
- Always wear a protective mouthguard when participating in recreational activities or sports.
- If possible avoid chewing on popcorn kernels, ice and hard candy – these can all crack a tooth.
- Always use scissors or a knife, to cut things, NEVER your teeth.
