Whether you have a toothache or cracked tooth, the last thing you want is to have to wait weeks to see the dentist. At Sensitive Care Dentistry in Milford, CT, we always try to see emergency patients the same day whenever possible. Accidents do happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.

Preventing Accidents

There are a number of simple precautions you can take to avoid accident and injury to your teeth. One way to reduce the chances of damage to your teeth, lips, cheek and tongue is to wear a mouthguard when participating in sports or recreational activities that may pose a risk. Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, all of which can easily crack a tooth.

Bitten Lip or Tongue

Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce any swelling. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, go to your dentist or the hospital emergency room immediately.

Broken Tooth

Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. Immediately get to your dentist, who will determine treatment based on how badly the tooth is broken.

Knocked Out Tooth

If a tooth is displaced (loose), push the tooth back into its original position, bite down so the tooth does not move. Your dentist may splint the tooth in place to the two healthy teeth next to the loose tooth. For an avulsed (knocked out) tooth, hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in your cheek or in a cup of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as possible. The longer the tooth is out of the mouth, the less likely the tooth will be able to be saved.

Toothache

Causes of toothache can include tooth decay, dental abscess, gum disease, bruxism, or grinding, and previous tooth trauma as well as sinus and ear infections. If you have a toothache, rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. A dentist will take x-rays to determine the cause of the discomfort. He will be looking for evidence of tooth decay, a cracked or impacted tooth or a disorder of the underlying bone as well as look for signs of swelling, redness and tooth damage in order to assess the problem. Problems rarely go away by themselves, therefore see your Sensitive Care Cosmetic and Family dentist as soon as possible.

To schedule an appointment with a Sensitive Care dentist in our Milford, CT office, contact us today at 203-878-6699.