Even if you had thought you had taken care of
everything and are ready for your big ugly Sweater Christmas party, the thought
of a broken veneer probably hadn’t even crossed your path. Unfortunately,
things quickly changed when you decided to open the champagne with your teeth.
Accidents are part of life and invariably
happen at the most inopportune times. A lost filling cracked tooth or other
dental emergency should be taken care of as soon as possible to avoid further
damage. Putting a piece of cotton over that old silver amalgam filling that you
lost when you were having dinner should just be a quick fix until you get to the
dentist.
According to the American Dental Association, a broken bridge, or any
other dental emergency can cause serious problems. Ignoring a dental issue will
increase your risk requiring more expensive and extensive therapy later.
If you’ve got a toothache, skip the
painkillers, including aspirin and get to the dentist. If you are swollen, grab
a cold compress and place it on your cheek or mouth. Rinse your mouth and floss
in order to remove any food particles.
Make sure you save all of the pieces if you
break or chip a tooth. Rinse your mouth and be careful looking for remnants of
the tooth. If you’re bleeding, apply gauze until the bleeding stops. Place a
cold compress on the outside of your mouth, lip, or cheek near the chipped or
broken tooth to help reduce swelling and relieve any pain.
If you have partially dislodged or knocked
out your tooth this is a dental emergency and you need to call your dentist right away. If it has been partially
dislodged, take Advil or Tylenol to help with the pain and apply a cold
compress on the outside of your mouth. If you have knocked it out, gently rinse
being careful not to remove or wash away attached tissue fragments. If you can,
put the tooth back without forcing it into place. If this isn’t possible, place
the tooth in a container of water with a pinch of salt, or milk without the salt.
See your dentist immediately as chances are your tooth can be saved.
Take your time during the holidays and be
sure and brush, floss and see your dentist as needed, especially if you are
experiencing a dental emergency.
