To avoid emergency care, there are several things that you can do in order to avoid injury and accident to your teeth. One of the simplest ways to do this is to wear a mouth guard when taking part in sports. This protects your cheek, lips and tongue. You should also make a special effort to avoid chewing things like popcorn kernels, ice and hard candy as all these can cause your teeth to crack. Instead of using your teeth to cut tape, use a pair of scissors.
Accidents are inevitable. Knowing what to do in the event of an accident could be the whole difference between saving your tooth or losing it.
Even though many dentists work on appointments, they usually spare some time for emergency cases. Once an accident to your teeth occurs, contact your dentist immediately and give all the information you can give about the accident. If you are unwilling to visit the dentist due to the fact that you do not have dental insurance, inquire from him or her if there is an outside month payment plan that you can subscribe to.
Tips for Dealing with Dental Emergencies
Bitten Lip or Tongue
Gently clean the bitten area with a piece of cloth. Apply cold compresses as this will help in reducing the swelling. If the bleeding persists, rush to a hospital emergency room.
Thoroughly rinse your mouth using warm water. Use cold compresses to reduce the swelling. Call your dentist as soon as possible.
Again, use cold compresses to reduce the swelling. See your dentist or visit a hospital emergency room immediately.
Knocked Out Tooth
Gently hold the tooth by its crown and thoroughly rinse its root in water in case it is dirty. Avoid scrubbing it or removing any tissue fragments that are attached to it. If you can, try and gently put the tooth back into its socket. If you cannot do this, immerse the tooth in a cup of milk and see your dentist immediately. Don’t forget to carry the tooth with you.
Objects Caught Between Teeth
Use dental floss to try and remove the object. Do not use sharp objects to remove any object that may be struck between your teeth. If you are unsuccessful in dislodging the object through flossing, see your dentist.
Thoroughly rinse your mouth using warm water. Use dental floss or an interproximal cleaner to make sure that there is nothing between your teeth. Putting aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums is not advisable as this is bound to burn the gum tissue. If the pain does not recede, call your dentist.