Dental Emergencies

Anything neglected can fester to create more complications.

A problem of gums or teeth should be attended immediately, to minimize the damage and to prevent its escalation into something that would demand more exacting and expensive treatment.

Given below are certain instant measures to bring a dental problem under control.

• Toothache. For a toothache, first of all remove any food particles that could be remaining between the teeth. Then rinse the mouth using warm water. If there is swelling, a cold compress on the outside will help. Analgesics like aspirin can damage gum tissue. So they should not be bought into contact with the gum area around the aching tooth. A dentist should be consulted at the earliest.
• A broken tooth. Mouth should be rinsed with warm water and the broken pieces of the tooth should be salvaged. Applying gauze to the spot for ten minutes or more would stop the bleeding, if any. If there is swelling or pain, a cold compress can be applied outside on the cheek or mouth around the area of the broken tooth. And consult your dentist at the earliest.
• Knocked-out tooth. Going to a dentist is the immediate need when a tooth is knocked out. If a tooth can be sutured back into its socket within an hour of the damage, its chances of being saved are pretty high. Meanwhile, the damage can be minimized by cleaning the tooth, preferably with warm water, taking care not to remove any bit of tissue that may remain attached to it.

  You can also try to put it back into the socket without forcing it down. If it is not possible to re-insert it, save the tooth inside a vial of milk, till you can get in touch with the doctor. Instead of milk it can be stored in lightly salted water, or in the Save-a-Tooth solution for protecting teeth. While washing or re-inserting, remember to hold the tooth by the crown, which is the edge we see in the mouth.

• Partially dislodged tooth. Again, getting to the dentist immediately is the main requirement. A cold compress can be applied to the area outside, as a temporary pain control measure. There is no harm in taking over-the-counter painkillers like Advil or Tylenol.
• An object trapped between teeth. Sometimes the object may come off by gently removing it with dental floss. It is not safe to use sharper objects like a pin to remove objects wedged between teeth, as they may wound the teeth or gum. If it can’t be removed by dental floss, a dentist’s immediate help will be necessary for removal.
• Loss of filling. Solution for this is also with the dentist only. As a temporary stop gap arrangement, you can fill it up with dental cement that will be available over the counter. A piece of sugarless gum can also be stuck into the cavity as a pro tem measure. Use of sugary gum will be counterproductive as it will cause pain.
• Fallen crown. If the crown of the tooth falls off, a little clove oil can be applied to the exposed area with a cotton swab. It can even be stuck back to the tooth. For the crown to stick, the inner surface will have to be coated with a little dental cement, denture adhesive, and toothpaste. These are temporary measures and the fallen crown has to be taken to the dentist at the earliest. The dental cement for sticking is anyway available over the counter and clove oil is available in drug stores and grocery stores.
• Breaking of braces wires. Braces, bands, or wires that are affixed to a tooth may sometimes break and poke anywhere in the interior of the mouth. Pushing it back with the eraser portion of a pencil may solve the problem. Or the end of the wire can be covered with a small ball of cotton, or a bit of gauze or orthodontic wax. Again, these are temporary solutions, and the orthodontist has to be consulted at the earliest. Never try to cut the wire on your own. The piece may go down to your lungs or stomach.
• Loose braces. Bands or brackets that come loose can be re-fixed using orthodontic wax. Or braces can be given a little cushioning effect by placing some wax over it. An orthodontist is required here also for complete solution. The missing portions will have to be replaced and the portions that have come loose will have to be re-cemented by the orthodontist.
• Abscess. A tooth abscess is an infection on a tooth or its root or in-between the gum and the teeth. A dentist has to be consulted immediately as the infection can spread to other organs also if it is left unattended. An abscess can cause lots of damage to the teeth and gum itself.

  A small swelling in the form of a pimple on the gums can be abscess, especially if it is painful. Rinsing the mouth frequently with salt water may give temporary relief. Half a teaspoon of salt to an 8 ounces glass of water will be the right proportion. A dentist at the earliest is a must because of its serious implications on general health and oral health.

• Injury to soft tissue. Any part of the mouth like tongue, gums, lips, or cheeck can sustain injuries and lead to bleeding. Temporary relief measures are the following:

1. Rinsing the mouth with water to which a little salt should be added.

2. When there is bleeding, a tea bag, or a slightly wet bit of gauze can be applied at the bleeding sport. Holding it there for about 20 minutes will give some relief.

3. Putting a cold compress to the outside of the bleeding area on cheek or lip for about 10 minutes will lessen bleeding and pain.

4. The above are first aids, and if the bleeding continues, either the dentist or a regular physician has to be consulted immediately. A bit of gauze, or a tea bag, or cold compress can be continued to be applied till proper medical aid becomes available.