What to do in a Dental Emergency

Dr. Newman, DDS, Emergency Dentist, Boca Raton

I bit my Tongue (lips, cheek, etc.)

Be Gentle! Rinse the injury with tepid (not cold not hot) water or blot (do not wipe) with a cloth or damp gauze from a

first aid kit. To minimize swelling use a cold pack or crushed ice in a

Ziploc (if you are too sensitive to the cold, wrap the ice bag in paper

towels). If bleeding does not stop, apply pressure with cool wet

gauze or teabag. Take appropriate pain medication.

I Have Canker Sores Help Me!

Keeping the area clean is very important. Rinse with salt water, and use gentle tooth

brushing. Healing should occur in about 2 weeks. Avoid acidic, hot and spicy foods and drink. If needed, take pain medications and give us a

call for an assessment. Do not apply any pain medication to the area.

MY TOOTH BROKE!

Gently rinse area with water (salt water if possible).

Get any bleeding under control with a cool wet gauze or teabag (apply pressure to the bleeding gums, not the tooth).

Do not remove fractured pieces and save all fragments.

Take the appropriate pain medication and see your emergency dentist right away.

OH NO! I’ve got a Gum Boil:

Don’t Panic! Keep the area clean just like a canker sore

gentle tooth brushing and salt water rinse. Consider cool compresses and pain

medications. NEVER EVER EVER try to pop the boil. You may need to be put on antibiotics. Contact Your Emergency Dentist as soon as

possible.

That @)$(*_)# Knocked out My Tooth! Save the tooth even if in pieces in a saline solution (salt water), or

use a contact lens solution, you can even use milk or water. Follow the same instructions as a broken tooth, using pressure with

cool wet gauze or teabag. Take pain medication. Do not clean the area as the tissue fragments will help the healing

process if the tooth can be reinserted. Be gentle with the developing clot, no spitting, smoking don’t drink

out of a straw. You must get to a dentist within 60 minutes to have any real chance

of saving the tooth.

My Baby’s loosing a tooth!

If the child can wiggle the tooth out...great! Tell her or him to move the tooth in all directions,

but do not use large forces (no string on a door knob PLEASE).

Slow and steady is the way. If both the adult tooth and baby tooth are visible

you need to see your dentist for an assessment.

Baby Has Teething Pains:

Freeze or chill some baby carrots and apply them to the area.

Ice chips in a Ziploc or cloth is also good. Some mild pain relievers and teeth gel

(follow the instructions closely, do not overuse) can help.

OWWWWWW MY TOOTH HURTS! I Got A Toothache: Don’t Use The Tooth

at least as much as possible. That means no biting, or food items in the area,

avoid hot and cold drinks. If pain increases and swelling occurs, use a cold

compress. Take pain medications as needed, and come to

see us as soon as possible. You will likely have to take antibiotics.

My Wisdom Teeth are killing me!

Keep the area as clean as possible by simply brushing your teeth and rinsing with warm salt water.

If there’s swelling, or if the pain increases, a cool compress and pain medications will help.

You may need to be put on antibiotics and the tooth/teeth will likely need to come out.

Call your Dentist immediately

What Exactly do you Mean by Pain Medication In general, Advil (Motrin/Ibuprofen) 200mg every 4-6

hours should help pain and inflammation. Tylenol (Acetaminophen) 325mg every 4-6 hours is a

good secondary alternative. These are ADULT dosages – check with your pharmacy

for children’s equivalents. Please review any allergies with your physician/dentist to

these medications before using them. Your Dentist can prescribe higher doses and different

pain medications once an assessment of your situation is completed.