Common Dental Emergencies and How to Avoid Panic

You can be diligent about your oral health, even follow a healthy routine. And a dental emergency can still happen.

Healthy teeth and gums remain a priority. Even so, you can encounter an unfortunate circumstance that creates a panic situation for you and your family’s oral health.

Millions of dental emergencies occur annually. That frequency means odds are you, your child, or another family member will have one.

Frequent “flyers”

No one is immune. A child’s first tooth, fully developed adult teeth, and teeth that have received treatment are vulnerable.

It’s not like you plan to experience dental trauma. Your risks increase due to your lifestyle, your activities, or the quality of your daily oral health care.

Falls, sports related injuries, or even dietary choices can add to your risk of specific dental emergencies.

What’s important to know is that treatment is available. Your first step is to contact our Roswell dental office.

In the meantime, some dental emergencies can be handled prior to your arrival for care.

This happened…now what?

A knocked-out tooth

• Avoid touching the intact root of the tooth.
• Rinse the tooth gently with milk (if available) and gently wipe it with a clean, soft cloth.
• If possible and if the root is intact, place the tooth into the gum socket. Gently bite down on a clean, soft cloth for a few minutes.
• If the tooth is not replaceable, place it in milk or warm water and bring it with you to our dental office as soon as possible.
• Contact our dental office to inform us of your circumstance and request an appointment.

A broken tooth

• Gently rinse your mouth with warm water focusing on the area that’s damaged.
• Contact our dental office and schedule an appointment.

A toothache that’s not getting better

• Consistent tooth or mouth pain can indicate a deeper issue. Swelling and sensitive gums are also a sign to seek treatment.
• Contact our dental office and request an appointment as soon as possible.
• If necessary, reduce your pain with your preferred over-the-counter pain reliever. Or ask us about your options prior to your appointment.

It’s good to know you have solutions for moments of panic caused by a dental emergency. Contact your Roswell dentist with any questions about a dental emergency or to schedule a related examination.