Dental Emergencies
Like any other part of your body, you can also get injuries in your mouth and teeth that need to be taken care of immediately. If you do have pain coming from your teeth, gums, or mouth, make sure to talk to an adult right away about the problem.
Bit Lip or Tongue
Biting your lip or your tongue can be a dental emergency. Rinse out your mouth right away to clean the area and let an adult know. If there is swelling, use an ice pack to help control it. Biting your tongue is common, but it can turn into an emergency if the bleeding does not stop. Be sure to keep your head upright if this happens and get to a doctor.
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Broken Tooth
Chewing on hard objects or playing in contact sports can cause you to break a tooth. Again, rinse out your mouth with warm water to help clean out the area and then contact your dentist right away.
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Cracked Tooth
Small cracks in your teeth are common. Most are found during regular check-ups and are bonded by your dentist. A crack that isn’t fixed right away can grow and can cause you more pain. Your teeth could end up getting so sensitive that the change in temperature of your mouth can be very painful.
If it gets to this point, don’t wait until your next check-up. Talk to an adult about seeing a dentist right away. By letting the problem get worse, the amount of work needed to fix the tooth also gets worse. Instead of just bonding the crack, you could need a minor surgery, called a root canal, or even to have your tooth removed completely. Regular check-ups are key to making sure dental emergencies are kept under control.
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Knocked-out Tooth
Once all your permanent teeth grow in, they need to stay there. If a tooth gets knocked out, try and find the tooth, hold it by the crown (the part furthest away from the gums when the tooth is still attached) and rinse it off. Contact an adult right away and have them place the tooth in a cup of milk to help preserve the tooth until you get to the dentist’s office.
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Toothache
Most of the time, a toothache is simply caused by excess food or debris stuck in your mouth. Rinse out your mouth and have an adult help you floss between all your teeth to remove anything that can be causing harm. You should also seek attention from a dentist, as this is usually a sign that a cavity is forming.
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College student writer