What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is any situation that requires immediate attention to save a tooth, stop ongoing tissue bleeding, or alleviate severe pain. Common dental emergencies include knocked-out teeth, cracked or broken teeth, severe toothache, lost filling or crown, and abscess or infection.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Time is critical when a tooth is knocked out. Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white part), never the root. If dirty, rinse gently with milk or saline — not water. Try to place it back in the socket. If you can't, keep it moist in milk or between your cheek and gums. See a dentist within 30 minutes for the best chance of saving the tooth.
Severe Toothache
Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Use dental floss to remove any food trapped between teeth. Take over-the-counter pain relief. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek. Call your dentist as soon as possible — a severe toothache often indicates infection.
Broken or Cracked Tooth
Save any pieces of the tooth. Rinse your mouth and the broken pieces with warm water. Apply gauze to any bleeding areas for 10 minutes. Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek to reduce swelling, and see your dentist immediately.
Prevention Tips
While not all dental emergencies can be prevented, you can reduce your risk by wearing a mouthguard during sports, avoiding chewing hard foods and ice, never using your teeth as tools, and maintaining regular dental checkups to catch problems early.