Dealing With Dental Emergencies: Do’s & Don’ts

A dental emergency can be frightening but staying calm and taking a few preventive measures can help you overcome this obstacle and ensure your overall dental health is not affected. 

In this article, our team at Allure Dental in Fulton, Maryland, has put together some guidelines to help you deal with dental emergencies when they occur. 

What to Do?

Staying calm is the first and most important step in handling any sort of emergency. No matter how alarmed you are, do not panic. If the emergency concerns a child, encourage the child to breathe slowly and deeply. 

Below are the most common dental emergencies and ways to handle them:

Knocked-Out Tooth

If the emergency is that a child’s baby tooth has fallen out, simply rinse their mouth with cool water and use a cold compress for any swelling. A visit to the dentist is needed only if there is any additional injury.

In case it is an adult tooth that has been knocked out, handle it carefully to facilitate reattachment. Hold it only by the crown and rinse it gently. Do not touch the roots of the tooth. If you manage to get to a dentist within an hour of the accident, the tooth can most likely be reattached.

Severe Bleeding 

Stop the flow of blood using a clean, damp cloth to put pressure on the area. Lean forward to avoid getting blood down the throat. Use gentle movements and stand or lie down to avoid fainting.

Broken Tooth

If a tooth has broken into parts, collect all the bits and place them in a cup of milk until you reach the dentist.

What Not to Do?

• Avoid taking aspirin for any acute tooth pain. It can temporarily thin down blood, which can be dangerous if an invasive dental procedure needs to be performed.
• Do not throw away any part of a tooth that has chipped or broken off.
• You shouldn’t put off seeking help and go to the nearest dental clinic for acute pain, swelling, or bleeding.

Call Allure Dental at (240) 456 -0717 to learn more about ways to deal with dental emergencies. You can also visit us at 8170 Maple Lawn Blvd Suite 150, Fulton, MD 20759 for any queries relating to your dental health.