1. Dental Health: Beautiful Teeth for Life

335. What to Do for Toothaches and Other Dental Emergencies

Any swelling, pain, or bleeding in the mouth or jaw are often signs of serious trouble. A toothache, fractured jaw, broken or knocked out tooth constitutes a dental emergency. You should see a dentist as soon as possible.  Follow these guidelines until you get help.

For a toothache:

1. •Gargle with warm salt water every hour. Hold an ice pack on the jaw. Don’t drink hot or cold liquids. Avoid sweets, soft drinks, and hot or spicy foods. It may be best not to eat at all until you see your dentist.
   

2. •Gently floss around the tooth to remove food particles that could be between the teeth.
   

3. •To reduce discomfort, take aspirin or other mild pain reliever, but don’t place a crushed aspirin on the tooth. Aspirin burns the gums and destroys tooth enamel.
   

4. •See a dentist even if the pain subsides.
   

For an abscess (infection with pain and swelling), take a mild pain reliever, such as regular-strength aspirin or acetaminophen, and contact your dentist immediately so proper treatment can be prescribed.

For a broken, loose, or missing tooth:

1. •To reduce swelling, apply a cold compress to the area.
   

2. •Save any broken tooth fragments, and take them to the dentist.
   

If your tooth has been knocked out:

1. •If you find the tooth, pick it up by the crown. Avoid contact with the root.
   

2. •Rinse off the rest of the tooth with clear water. Don’t scrub the tooth or remove any tissue that is attached to the tooth.
   

3. •If possible (and if you’re alert), gently put it back in the socket or hold it under your tongue. Otherwise, put the tooth in a glass of milk, cool salt water, or a wet cloth.
   

4. •If the gum is bleeding, hold a gauze pad or clean tissue tightly in place over the wound.
   

5. •Try to get to a dentist within 30 minutes of the accident. If the dentist is not available, go to a hospital emergency department. Take the tooth with you.
   

For a fractured jaw:

1. •Gently align the jaws. Do not use force.
   

2. •To secure the jaw, close your mouth and secure the jaw with a necktie, towel, or scarf tied around your head and chin.
   

3. •To reduce pain and swelling, hold an ice pack against the fractured bone.
   

4. •Go to a dentist or hospital emergency room immediately.