What to do right now, by situation
Every one of these is treated by Dr. Malik here at Unit 6. If you are not sure which line you are on, call and we will sort it out on the phone.
Adult tooth knocked out
- Pick it up by the white top, never the root.
- If it is dirty, dip it in milk for a second or two. Do not scrub it.
- Push it gently back into the socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it there.
- If that is not possible, put it in a small cup of milk and bring it with you.
Avoid: Do not wrap the tooth in tissue or let it dry out. Do not push a baby tooth back in. Call us anyway.
Broken or chipped tooth
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Save any piece you find in a bag with a little milk or saliva.
- Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or dental wax from a pharmacy.
- Hold something cold against the outside of your cheek if it is sore.
Avoid: Do not chew on that side. Do not file or glue the tooth yourself.
Severe toothache
- Floss gently around the tooth — trapped food is a common cause.
- Rinse with warm salt water.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief exactly as the package says.
- Sleep with your head raised on an extra pillow.
Avoid: Do not hold aspirin or any pill against the gum. It burns the tissue. Do not put heat on the outside of your face.
Swelling in the face or gums
- Cold compress on the outside, fifteen minutes on and fifteen off.
- Rinse with warm salt water a few times a day.
- Note whether you have a fever and tell us when you call.
- Go to a hospital if it becomes hard to breathe, swallow or open your mouth.
Avoid: Do not put heat on it. Heat can push infection further. Do not squeeze or pop a gum boil.
When to go to a hospital instead
Go to an emergency department, not a dental office, if there is difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling that is closing an eye or spreading down the neck, a jaw that will not open or close, bleeding that will not stop after twenty minutes of firm pressure, or a head injury alongside the dental one.
What counts as a dental emergency
- A tooth knocked out, pushed out of position or loosened by a knock.
- Pain that stops you sleeping, eating or working.
- Swelling in the gum, jaw or face, with or without a fever.
- A broken tooth with a sharp edge, or one that is bleeding.
- A crown, filling or bridge that has come out and left the tooth sensitive.
- Something stuck between teeth that will not come out with floss.
Call before you come
A two-minute phone call tells us what to prepare and gets you seen faster.