Toothache. First, rinse your mouth with warm water. Use Dental floss to remove any food. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek if your mouth is swollen. See your dentist as soon as possible.
Chipped or broken teeth. Rinse your mouth with warm water, rinse any broken pieces. If there’s bleeding, apply gauze to the area for about 10 minutes to stem the bleeding. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth/cheek/kip near the broken tooth area to minimize any swelling. See your dentist as soon as possible.
Knocked-out tooth. Retrieve the tooth, holding it by the crown (the part that is usually exposed in the mouth). Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, try to put the tooth back in place. Make sure it’s facing the right way. Never force it into the socket. If it’s not possible to reinsert the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk (if milk is not available, put tooth under your tongue). In all cases, see your dentist as quickly as possible. Knocked out teeth with the highest chances of being saved are those seen by the dentist and returned to their socket within 1 hour of being knocked out.Partially knocked out tooth. See your dentist right away. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth in the affected area until you reach your Dental Practice. Take over the counter pain relief if required.
Objects caught between the teeth. Try using dental floss to very gently and carefully remove the object. If you can’t get the object out, see your dentist. Never use a pin or sharp object to poke at it as they can cut your gums or damage your tooth.
Lost Filling. Use an over the counter temporary dental dressing until you can see your dentist.
Lost Crown. If the crown falls off and you still possess it, make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible, bringing the crown with you. If you can’t get to the dentist right away and you are in pain, use a cotton swab to apply a little clove oil to the sensitive area. If possible, slip the crown back over the tooth, using toothpaste or a denture adhesive to hold it in place until your dental appointment. DO NOT USE SUPER GLUE!
Broken Braces Wires. If a wire breaks or sticks out of a bracket/band and is causing you discomfort, try using the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable position. If you can’t move the wire, cover the end with orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball, or piece of gauze until you can get to your orthodontist. Never cut the wire, as you could end up swallowing it or breathing it into your lungs.
Loose brackets and bands. Temporarily reattach loose braces with a small piece of orthodontic wax. Alternatively, place the wax over the braces to provide a cushion. See your orthodontist as soon as possible. Save any loose bands and call your orthodontist for an appointment to have it recemented or replaced (and to have missing spacers replaced).
Abscess. Abscesses are infections that occur around the root of a tooth or in the space between the teeth and gums. They are a serious condition that can damage tissue and surrounding teeth, with the infection possibly spreading to other parts of the body if left untreated. See your dentist as soon as possible if you discover a pimple-like swelling on your gum that usually is painful. In the meantime, to ease the pain and draw any pus toward the surface, try rinsing your mouth with a mild salt water solution several times a day.
If you need us for any of the above problems, or simply for advice, contact a member of our Client Management Team on 01730 263180 or info@smileabout.co.uk or visit our website, www.smileabout.co.uk.
For further information or advice contact College Street Dental Centre in Petersfield, Hampshire on 01730 263180
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