First Aid for Dental Emergencies

When to Contact Your Regular Dentist

Most people arrive at their dental checkup with a few questions about their teeth. However, some issues shouldn't wait. Chipped or broken teeth require a visit to the dentist, as do lost fillings or crowns. People wearing orthodontia need to visit their medical provider if they break any part of their braces.

• 12 Signs You Need to See a Dentist
• Going to the Dentist
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When to Contact an Emergency Dentist

Some issues can't wait until the dentist's office opens or they can work a patient in. These issues require an immediate trip to the emergency dentist. Bleeding and swelling require immediate medical attention. Knocked out teeth shouldn't wait because if they are treated in time, there's a chance they can be reattached. Sudden, severe jaw pain is another reason to seek help. It can be a sign of dangerous infection and needs to be evaluated as soon as possible.

• When to Make an Emergency Dental Visit
• What to Do in a Dental Emergency
• Make a Dental Appointment
• You Asked: What Qualifies As a Dental Emergency?

Severe Toothaches

Start by using warm water to rinse out the mouth. Floss the teeth to remove any debris. If swelling is present, use a cold compress applied to the affected side of the mouth or cheek. If the toothache doesn't ease, contact a dentist.

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• Toothache

Chipped and Broken Teeth

Gather the pieces of the tooth, if any. Next, gargle with warm water. Put gauze over any bleeding. Let that sit for about ten minutes so that the wound has a chance to clot. Put a cold compress on the outside of the face near the broken tooth to reduce swelling and inflammation. It's important to go to the dentist as quickly as possible.

• Fractured Tooth (Cracked Tooth)
• Cracked or Broken Tooth Pain Relief
• Chipped, Broken, or Cracked Tooth

Knocked-out Tooth

It's important to find the knocked-out tooth as quickly as possible. Pick the tooth up by the outside of the tooth, not by the root. Rinse the root if needed but do not scrub. The tooth needs to be kept moist. Place the tooth back in the mouth if possible. If it doesn't easily fit into the socket, place the tooth in the person's mouth for the trip to the dentist. If that seems unsafe, put the tooth into milk to preserve it. This is an injury that requires immediate treatment by a dentist.

• First Aid for Common Tooth Injuries
• Knocked Out Teeth
• Broken or Knocked Out Tooth
• Dental Care for Children
• First Aid for a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

Abscess or Infection

Infections that are based in the area between the gums and teeth or around the roots of teeth are known as abscesses. They are a dental emergency and require immediate treatment. Abscesses usually appear as a bump that resembles a pimple on the person's gum line. If not treated, the infection can spread through the face and into the body, causing major damage to the soft tissues of the mouth and other teeth. A quick at-home treatment is to gargle with warm, salty water.

• 10 Natural Remedies for a Tooth Infection
• Tooth Abscess
• Tooth Infection: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and More
• Dental Abscess

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums are usually caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth near the gum line, which requires removal by a dentist. Brushing and flossing sometimes remove the irritant causing the bleeding gums. If that doesn't work, try gargling with hydrogen peroxide but don't swallow it. Rinsing the mouth out with salt water also sometimes helps with the pain of bleeding gums. If the bleeding occurs along with inflammation, try a cold compress on the outside of the face. A dentist needs to access the situation if the bleeding continues.

• Home Remedies For Bleeding Gums; Natural Ways To Keep Your Gums Healthy
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• 20 Home Remedies For Bleeding Gums | Causes & Prevention Tips
• 5 DIY Home Remedies for Gum Infections

Lost Filling or Crown

Both lost fillings and crowns need to be treated by a person's regular dentist as soon as possible. For a temporary fix, try putting sugar-free gum into the spot that lost the filling. There's also dental cement available in drug stores designed for this purpose. When a crown falls out, the first thing to do is find it. Take the crown to the dentist. If it's not possible to get to the dentist right away, it's okay to put clove oil on the sensitive area to help with pain, before sliding the crown back into place.

• How to Glue a Crown Back On: Fix for Broken Tooth
• How to Cement a Dental Crown Without the Dentist
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Broken or Loose Orthodontics

When an orthodontia wire breaks or comes loose, it usually starts poking into the wearer's gums, cheeks, or teeth. Use an eraser to try and move the wire into a better position that is less painful. If that doesn't work, apply orthodontic wax to the end of the wire. Never cut the wire yourself. Go to the orthodontist as soon as possible.

• Broken Tooth or Dental Appliance: First Aid
• Handling An Orthodontic Emergency: Lost Module or Broken Power Chain
• What to Do if Your Braces Wire Broke and Is Poking You