5 Common Dental Emergencies & How to Handle Them

No one plans to have a dental emergency but it’s important you know what to do just in case there is one. However, keep in mind these tips are simply what to do in the meantime until you get to the dentist. You’ll want to notify our office right away if you are experiencing any dental emergencies – and any injury to your teeth and gums or severe dental pain is an emergency! 

You’ve knocked out a tooth.

First thing you’ll want to do is find the tooth! If you act fast enough, there is a chance that we can save it and return it to the tooth socket. Once you have found it, rinse it off and try to put it back in place. If that isn’t possible, place it in a container of milk or salt water until you can get to our office. We offer same-day emergency appointments and even have an after-hours emergency pager so you can get in touch with us right away.

You’ve chipped a tooth.

If you have chipped or broken a tooth, you’ll want to rinse out your tooth with warm water and make sure to save any tooth fragments you find. If you are experiencing any bleeding, place gauze around the area and apply pressure for at least 10 minutes or until you have stopped bleeding. Get a cold compress and place it near your mouth or jaw to reduce the swelling. Get to our office right away and we can restore your chipped tooth and stop the pain.

You have a toothache.

If you are dealing with a severe toothache, that could be a sign of gum disease or some type of infection in your teeth or gums. It’s important you see us right away as the infection can spread to other teeth. Until you can come into our office, rinse out your mouth with warm water and use dental floss to remove any food particles out of your teeth and gums. Avoid placing aspirin near the area because that can actually burn your gums.

You’ve lost a filling or dental crown.

If you have lost a filling, place a piece of sugarless gum or dental cement purchasable in stores on the cavity directly. If you’ve lost a dental crown, put gauze around the area to stop the pain and visit us right away so we can repair your tooth. 

You have broken your braces or wires.

If one of the wires from your braces has broken, and it’s jabbing at other areas of your mouth, try to gently put the wire back into place until we can properly repair your braces. If you are unable to, cover the area with orthodontic wax or a small piece of gauze in the meantime. Avoid cutting the wire because you may accidentally swallow it.

Dental emergencies can be scary, however knowing what you should do if one does happen will help you relax. Most importantly, make sure you visit our office right away if you are experiencing an emergency. 

Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule an appointment in Charlotte, NC.