Dental emergencies can happen anytime, so it makes sense to be prepared. That’s why we’ve prepared this guide. This cheat sheet covers what to do in a dental emergency to provide temporary relief until you can see the dentist. Let’s look at some common emergencies and how you can treat them.

How to relieve a toothache

Toothache is a common dental emergency and may be caused by injury, decay, a broken filling, or many other reasons. Here’s what you should do:

• Rinse your mouth with warm water and remove any food particles with a toothpick or floss.
• If you have swelling, use a cold compress outside your cheek.
• Use over-the-counter medication to relieve pain.

How to reduce swelling

Swelling in the mouth area may be caused by a dental abscess, which is a build-up of pus in the tooth or gums caused by an infection. Here’s how you can relieve discomfort until you can see your emergency dentist:

• Apply a cold compress on the outside of your cheek.
• Use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to relieve pain.

What to do if you chip or crack your tooth

If you chip or crack your tooth:

• Rinse your mouth out with warm water.
• If you have a small chip, you can apply dental wax to stop the sharp edge from hurting your mouth.
• Place a cold compress on the outside of the area to reduce swelling.
• Take over-the-counter medication to relieve pain.

What to do if your tooth is knocked out

If your tooth is knocked out, you will need to act quickly to have a chance of saving it. You need to do these for a permanent (adult) tooth:

• Look for the knocked-out tooth.
• Only touch the white part that you see above the gum line. Don’t touch the roots.
• Do not remove any tissue from the tooth.
• Clean the tooth by rinsing it with milk or saline solution for contact lenses.
• Place the tooth back into the socket until it is level with the other teeth or you hear a click.
• If you can’t do this, store it in a closed container of milk or contact lens saline solution or place it inside the mouth next to the cheek or cover it with saliva and place it in clean plastic wrap.

For a deciduous (baby) tooth:

• Do not replace it in the mouth.
• Take the tooth with you to the dentist.

What to do if a filling comes out

If your filling comes out:

• Rinse your mouth out with warm water to remove any small pieces of filling.
• Use dental wax to create a temporary filling and protect your tooth and nerves.
• Avoid chewing on the affected tooth.
• Use over-the-counter medication for pain relief.

What to do if a crown falls off

If your crown falls off:

• Rinse the crown with warm water.
• Place it in a plastic bag.
• Mould some dental wax or cement around the tooth to protect it.
• Avoid hard or chewy foods and anything particularly hot or cold, like hot drinks or ice cream, as your affected tooth may feel sensitive.

Your emergency dentist for Somerville, Mornington, and Frankston

At Somersmiles Dental, we are here to help you. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please contact us straight away. We reserve appointments for emergency cases daily to make sure we’re available to help.

We’re your emergency dentist for the Somerville, Mornington, and Frankston areas and are here to turn a challenging experience into a manageable one!

We’re also on hand to provide a full range of routine dental services for all the family in a calm and supportive environment.