What NOT to Do in a Dental Emergency

If you’ve ever chipped your tooth or had teeth knocked out in an accident, you’ll know how scary dental emergencies can be. While many people have experienced the classic nightmare of a teeth falling out in their dreams, it’s even more terrifying if it happens in real life!

 

Sometimes a dental emergency can occur with no accident or warning, when you awake with a sore jaw or sudden pain in your teeth or gums. These symptoms are generally due to an underlying dental-related issue and will also need to be resolved by a professional dentist as soon as possible.

 

 

While there’s plenty of advice for what to do in case of tooth dramas, here are 5 things NOT to do in the event of a dental emergency.

 

Don’t Delay in Seeking Dental Treatment

The most important thing to do in a dental emergency is to seek professional treatment immediately – don’t delay or assume everything will be okay!

 

If you’ve knocked your teeth or mouth during an accident or playing sport, you must have it looked at by a qualified dentist, even if you can’t see any noticeable damage.

 

Similarly, sore or swollen gums could be caused by either a mouth or gum abscess, tooth infection or gingivitis. Mouth and gum abscesses are responsible for the classic ‘toothache’ found in the centre of a tooth. They are a result of bacterial infection in the root of the teeth or between the gums, which can spread rapidly, causing swelling and inflammation.

 

If you wake with any of these symptoms, treat them as a dental emergency and book an appointment with your dentist ASAP.

 

Be Careful How You Handle a Knocked Out Tooth

If your tooth has been knocked out, you’ll want to insert the tooth back into place as soon as possible.

However, there are some vital things you need to know before you handle a knocked out tooth.

 

Follow these 5 key steps during a dental emergency to know what NOT to do:

• Don't hold the tooth by the root
• Don't scrub or rub the root surface
• Don't let the tooth dry out
• Don't store the tooth in water

If the tooth is dirty, rinse it with some milk or tap water but only for a second or two. Taking the correct steps when handling a tooth that’s been knocked out will go a long way in making sure the tooth will survive.

 

Special Care for Children’s Dental Emergencies

 There are also some important things you need to know if your baby or child has a dental emergency.

We know this is the opposite advice we just provided for adult teeth, but if there’s only one thing you remember during a child’s dental emergency, make it this:

 

If a baby tooth has been knocked out – do NOT attempt to put the tooth back in!

 

Seek an immediate dental examination for your baby or child to make sure no long-lasting damage has occurred. Your dentist will assess whether the baby tooth should be put back in.

Emergency Dentist in Liverpool, Sydney

If you’re experiencing a dental emergency in Sydney, Perfect Dental Care can take care of all your emergency dental needs, from chipped teeth to severe toothaches.