{"id":845,"date":"2016-06-13T17:03:29","date_gmt":"2016-06-13T17:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/your-complete-guide-to-dental-emergencies\/"},"modified":"2023-10-16T07:57:31","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T07:57:31","slug":"your-complete-guide-to-dental-emergencies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/dental-blog\/guide-to-dental-emergencies\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Complete Guide to Dental Emergencies"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dental<\/p>\n

Your Complete Guide to Dental Emergencies:<\/strong> If your child participates on a school sports team, we know you\u2019re busy taking them to soccer or baseball practice. We\u2019re also sure that you\u2019re cheering them on from the sidelines \u2014 we do the same thing! Several members of our Dental Express family have children actively involved in all kinds of sports. This means we know firsthand the importance of being prepared in case of a dental emergency. We\u2019ve seen it all in our offices — broken teeth, cracked teeth, even teeth that have been completely knocked out. Sadly, many dental emergencies are the result of sports injuries. So, while we hope you\u2019ll never need it, we\u2019ve compiled this handy guide on what to do in case of a dental emergency just in case you do.<\/p>\n

What to do for a cracked or broken tooth<\/h2>\n

Cracked, broken or chipped tooth<\/a> are the most common dental injuries, according to the American Association of Endodontic Practice<\/a>. If you\u2019ve broken or cracked a tooth:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area.<\/li>\n
  2. Apply a cold compress to your face to reduce swelling.<\/li>\n
  3. If the tooth is broken, cover it with sterile gauze. This will keep it clean and keep bacteria away.<\/li>\n
  4. Get to your dentist as soon as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It\u2019s so important to get to a dentist immediately \u2014 even the smallest crack in a tooth can allow bacteria to seep into the tooth\u2019s pulp. The pulp is the soft tissue inside your tooth. When the pulp is inflamed, it can cause a nasty infection. If it\u2019s not treated, you may need a\u00a0root canal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    What to do in case a tooth is knocked out<\/h2>\n

    There are many ways a tooth can be knocked out. Maybe a baseball hits your daughter in the mouth, or your son takes a tumble on the playground. Often, we are able to save the tooth. Just be sure you follow these step-by-step instructions:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. First, assess the injury and try to stop the bleeding.<\/li>\n
    2. Find the missing tooth. It\u2019s important to find the tooth and bring it to us as soon as possible so that we can attempt to save it.<\/li>\n
    3. When you find the tooth, be sure to touch only the white, \u201ctop\u201d part of the tooth, called the crown. Do not touch the roots of the tooth. This can damage them.<\/li>\n
    4. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it briefly with cold water.<\/li>\n
    5. Can you place the tooth back in the socket? If so, carefully place it there and bite on a handkerchief in order to keep it in position.<\/li>\n
    6. If you can\u2019t put the tooth in the socket, you can transport it in a glass of milk. If you don\u2019t have milk, do NOT put the tooth in water. Instead, hold it in the cheek or in a container of your saliva. Make sure the tooth isn\u2019t accidentally swallowed.<\/li>\n
    7. Get to your dentist as soon as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      What to do if a dental crown comes off<\/h2>\n

      Just as a tooth may be damaged by accident or injuries,\u00a0dental crowns<\/a>\u00a0can come loose and fall out. If you realize you\u2019ve lost a crown:<\/p>\n

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      1. If it\u2019s in your mouth, immediately remove it. It\u2019s far too easy for it to accidentally go down your windpipe and choke you.<\/li>\n
      2. Gently rinse your mouth and the crown with water.<\/li>\n
      3. Do NOT use any type of glue or paste to replace the tooth.\u00a0The crown should be fixed by a dentist.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        We know it\u2019s tempting to try to replace the crown yourself with some over-the-counter dental paste. However, it\u2019s extremely important that you let a dentist make the repair. If not, you may accidentally cause more damage.<\/p>\n

        What to do if you bite your tongue or lip<\/h2>\n

        Sometimes, you can bite your tongue or lip so hard that it becomes an emergency. If so, remember:<\/p>\n

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        1. Gently clean the area with water.<\/li>\n
        2. Apply a cold compress.<\/li>\n
        3. Get to your dentist as soon as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          What NOT to do in case of a dental emergency<\/h2>\n

          We understand that a dental emergency is upsetting and stressful. If someone in your family does experience a one, we want you to be aware of some things to avoid:<\/p>\n