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Toothache: Very persistent toothache is always a sign that you
need to see a dentist as soon as practicable. In the meantime, you
should try to obtain relief by rinsing the mouth with water and
trying to clean out debris from any obvious cavities. Use dental
floss to remove any food that might be trapped within the cavity
(especially between the teeth). If swelling is present, place a cold
compress to the outside of the cheek (DO NOT HEAT). Take pain relief
if necessary, using pain medicines that you know you are safe with.
Remember, no pain relief tablets will work directly on the tooth.
They must be swallowed as directed. If placed on the tooth, they can
cause more trouble (especially aspirin).
Braces or retainers: If a wire is causing irritation, cover the
end of the wire with a small cotton ball or a piece of gauze or soft
wax. If a wire is embedded in the cheek, tongue or gum tissue, DO
NOT attempt to remove it: Let the dentist do it. If there is a loose
or broken appliance, GO TO THE ORTHODONTIST OR DENTIST.
Knocked out tooth: If dirty, rinse tooth in milk holding it by
the crown (not roots). If not available use water (few seconds only)
or have patient suck it clean, then put the tooth back in the
socket. If the tooth cannot be replanted, wrap in Glad Wrap or place
it in milk or in the patient's mouth inside the cheek. Go to a
dentist within 30 minutes if you can. Time is critical for
successful replanting.
Broken tooth: Try to clean debris from the injured area with warm
water. If caused by a blow, place a cold compress on the face next
to the injured tooth to minimize swelling. Try to find all the bits
that are missing and bring them to the dentist, keeping them moist.
Some broken bits can be bonded back onto the teeth almost invisibly.
Go to the dentist as soon as practicable.
Bitten tongue or lip: Apply direct pressure to bleeding area with
a clean cloth. If swelling is present, apply cold compress. If
bleeding doesn't stop readily or the bite is severe, go to the
dentist or hospital.
Objects wedged between teeth: Try to remove the object with
dental floss. Guide the floss in carefully so as not to cut the
gums. If unsuccessful, go to a dentist.
r more extensive and expensive treatment down the road.
Here's a quick summary of what to do for some common dental
problems.
1. Toothaches. First, thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm
water. Use dental floss to remove any lodged food. If your mouth is
swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or
cheek. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums
near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. See your
dentist as soon as possible.
2. Chipped or broken teeth. Save any pieces. Rinse the mouth
using warm water; rinse any broken pieces. If there's bleeding,
apply a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until the
bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth,
cheek, or lip near the broken/chipped tooth to keep any swelling
down and relieve pain. See your dentist as soon as possible.
3. Knocked-out tooth. Retrieve the tooth, hold it by the
crown (the part that is usually exposed in the mouth), and rinse off
the tooth root with water if it's dirty. Do not scrub it or remove
any attached tissue fragments. If possible, try to put the tooth
back in place. Make sure it's facing the right way. Never force it
into the socket. If it's not possible to reinsert the tooth in the
socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk (or cup of water
that contains a pinch of table salt, if milk is not available) or a
product containing cell growth medium, such as Save-a-Tooth. In all
cases, see your dentist as quickly as possible. Knocked out teeth
with the highest chances of being saved are those seen by the
dentist and returned to their socket within 1 hour of being knocked
out.
4. Extruded (partially dislodged) tooth. See your dentist
right away. Until you reach your dentist's office, to relieve pain,
apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the
affected area. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever (such as
Tylenol or Advil) if needed.
Objects caught between teeth. First, try using dental floss to
very gently and carefully remove the object. If you can't get the
object out, see your dentist. Never use a pin or other sharp object
to poke at the stuck object. These instruments can cut your gums or
scratch your tooth surface.
5. Lost filling. As a temporary measure, stick a piece of
sugarless gum into the cavity (sugar-filled gum will cause pain) or
use an over-the-counter dental cement. See your dentist as soon as
possible.
6. Lost crown. If the crown falls off, make an appointment to
see your dentist as soon as possible and bring the crown with you.
If you can't get to the dentist right away and the tooth is causing
pain, use a cotton swab to apply a little clove oil to the sensitive
area (clove oil can be purchased at your local drug store or in the
spice aisle of your grocery store). If possible, slip the crown back
over the tooth. Before doing so, coat the inner surface with an
over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive, to
help hold the crown in place. Do not use super glue!
7. Broken braces wires. If a wire breaks or sticks out of a
bracket or band and is poking your cheek, tongue or gum, try using
the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable
position. If you can't reposition the wire, cover the end with
orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball, or piece of gauze until you
can get to your orthodontist's office. Never cut the wire, as you
could end up swallowing it or breathing it into your lungs.
8. Loose brackets and bands. Temporarily reattach loose
braces with a small piece of orthodontic wax. Alternatively, place
the wax over the braces to provide a cushion. See your orthodontist
as soon as possible. If the problem is a loose band, save it and
call your orthodontist for an appointment to have it recemented or
replaced (and to have missing spacers replaced).
9. Abscess. Abscesses are infections that occur around the
root of a tooth or in the space between the teeth and gums.
Abscesses are a serious condition that can damage tissue and
surrounding teeth, with the infection possibly spreading to other
parts of the body if left untreated.
Because of the serious oral health and general health problems
that can result from an abscess, see your dentist as soon as
possible if you discover a pimple-like swelling on your gum that
usually is painful. In the meantime, to ease the pain and draw the
pus toward the surface, try rinsing your mouth with a mild salt
water solution (1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water)
several times a day.
10. Soft-tissue injuries. Injuries to the soft tissues, which
include the tongue, cheeks, gums and lips, can result in bleeding.
To control the bleeding, here's what to do:
- Rinse your mouth with a mild salt-water solution.
- Use a moistened piece of gauze or tea bag to apply pressure
to the bleeding site. Hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes.
- To both control bleeding and relieve pain, hold a cold
compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected
area for 5 to 10 minutes.
- If the bleeding doesn't stop, see your dentist right away or
go to a hospital emergency room. Continue to apply pressure on
the bleeding site with the gauze until you can be seen and
treated
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