Generally, dental injuries are unlikely to cause anything more than pain, but there is the risk of permanent damage to your teeth or jaw line. You will have to visit the dentist, but what do you do till you get there? Few people know how to handle the situation and they even end up making mistakes sometimes which exacerbate the damage. This is why it is important that you know how to deal with a dental emergency when it arises:
- If you have a debilitating toothache, rinse your mouth with a mixture of salt and warm water. You can also floss your teeth to ensure there is no food residue or any other debris there. One thing you shouldn’t do is putting aspirin in the affected area. The pain may go away after you rinse or floss but if it doesn’t, head over to the dentist.
- In case of a bitten lip, clean the area using a clean cloth or a napkin. Apply pressure on the lip till the bleeding stops and the swelling subsides. If bleeding continues, head to ER without delay.
- If something is caught or stuck between your teeth, don’t exert too much pressure in trying to get it out. Try to remove it but gently. Also, avoid using sharp objects. You can try flossing but if even that fails, call your dentist.
- In case of a broken or chipped tooth, don’t delay calling a dentist. First, rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water to remove the blood. If the tooth comes off, keep rinsing and applying pressure till the bleeding stops. If the tooth is still in place, use a cold compress to keep the swelling in check.
These are some ways you can handle dental emergencies and keep the problem from worsening.
