KNOCKED-OUT ADULT TOOTH

If the knocked-out tooth is an adult tooth, please call us right away to see a Dunwin Dental dentist preferably within 20 minutes. Bring the tooth and any tooth pieces you can find with you. We may be able to put it back. The chances of the knocked-out taking root again go down as the time taken to see your dentist goes up.

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In the meantime, keep the knocked-out tooth moist – don’t let it dry. Hold the tooth by the crown (the part that is visible when you smile), not the root (the part that is in your gums), clean the tooth if it is dirty, and gently rinse it in slightly warm water. Be careful not to remove any attached tissue. Do not scrub the tooth or use soap.

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If possible, gently insert the tooth back in its socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth. If not, see if you can hold the tooth under your tongue or between the cheek and gums.

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If not, put the knocked-out tooth in a container with milk, or salt (saline) solution. Use clean water if any of the other options are not available.

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KNOCKED-OUT BABY TOOTH

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If the baby tooth is completely out, do not try to insert the tooth back into its socket. Inserting the knocked-out baby tooth back into its socket may damage the permanent adult tooth growing underneath. Knocked-out baby tooth is not replanted - only adult tooth can be. It is normal for a child to lose baby teeth.

 

Keep you child calm.

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If there is bleeding, rinse the child’s mouth with water and place a gauze in the opening. If there’s swelling, you can apply cold (ice) on the outside of the mouth to reduce swelling.

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Contact Dunwin Dental as soon as possible to bring the child to see a dentist.

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LOOSE TOOTH

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A loose tooth is a serious problem. You should contact Dunwin Dental to book an appointment. Our dentist will identify the problem and address it accordingly. ​

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BADLY BITTEN CHEEK, LIP OR TONGUE

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If your cheek, lip or tongue is bleeding, clean the bleeding area and apply pressure to it with a clean cloth. If possible, place a cold compress like an ice pack or ice wrapped inside a cloth on the area to keep swelling down. This should control/stop the bleeding.

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If the bleeding does not stop, see a dentist at Dunwin Dental or call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital right away.

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BROKEN JAW

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Place a cold compress like an ice pack or ice wrapped inside a cloth on the area to keep swelling down.

See a dentist at Dunwin Dental or go the nearest emergency.

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LOST TOOTH FILLING

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If you lose a filling, contact us for an appointment to see one of our dentists as soon as possible. In the meantime, use a soft piece of sugarless chewing gum in the spot of the lost filling.

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TOOTH ABSCESS

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Tooth Abscess is a sac filled with pus caused by a bacterial infection (sounds gross and it is). Severe, constant throbbing toothache, pain or discomfort with chewing/biting, hot/cold temperature, foul smell in your mouth, swelling of your mouth/neck/cheek, sudden flow of foul smelling or salty fluid or a lesion on your gum may indicate a tooth abscess.

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If you have any signs or symptoms of tooth abscess, call Dunwin Dental right away to see a dentist. Leaving the tooth abscess untreated can lead to serious or even life-threatening complications.

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SOMETHING STUCK BETWEEN TEETH

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Use a dental floss to gently remove the stuck object. Do not use a pin or a sharp, pointy instrument to remove the object because you may cut your gums or scratch your tooth. If you are not able to remove the object, call Dunwin Dental to see a dentist.

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SWOLLEN GUM OR FACE

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Swelling of the face or gum can be a sign of infection. If you face or gums are swollen, see a dentist at Dunwin Dental.

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In the meantime, rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it. Take what you normally take for pain. Do not put aspirin directly on the swollen gums.

 

It’s never a good time for a dental emergency. The good news is that you can prevent many dental emergencies by not using your teeth as tools, not biting on hard items such as ice, not eating hard foods (hard candy, pop corn, shelled nuts etc.) very fast and wearing a mouthguard when playing sports.

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