Dental health
Dental emergencies: what to do before you reach the dentist
A broken tooth, sudden pain or a knocked-out tooth - what you do in the first minutes can save the tooth.
A knocked-out permanent tooth
Hold it by the crown, not the root, rinse briefly without scrubbing, try to place it back or keep it in milk or saline, and go to the dentist immediately - the first hour is decisive. Important: replanting is for permanent teeth only. A knocked-out baby tooth must never be put back, to protect the developing permanent tooth beneath - still see the dentist right away.
A break or severe pain
Keep any broken piece, rinse with warm water, and use a cold compress on the cheek for swelling. A simple painkiller eases pain temporarily but is not treatment.
When it is a real emergency
- Bleeding that does not stop with pressure.
- Swelling spreading to the eye or neck, or difficulty swallowing.
- A tooth knocked out or loosened after an injury.