Dental emergencies are stressful, painful, and sometimes frightening. Whether you accidentally chip a tooth in the middle of a game, experience unexpected swelling, or are dealing with pain in the middle of the night, it pays to have an idea of what steps you should take to protect your smile. If you find yourself in an emergency, a dentist in Coquitlam will help you get the care you need quickly.
As referenced in this guide, you will learn how to respond to different types of dental emergencies, when to look for professional treatment, and some simple ways to protect your teeth before you have a chance to go to your dentist.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
Not every toothache means you need urgent care, but there are situations you should never ignore. Severe pain, bleeding, swelling, or damage to the teeth or gums are common dental emergencies.
Common examples of dental emergencies might include:
- A knocked-out tooth
- Severe or continuous tooth pain
- Broken, cracked or chipped teeth
- Uncontrolled bleeding coming from the mouth
- Large swelling in the face or jaw
- Injury to the gums, lips, or tongue
If you are unsure if you are facing a dental emergency, reach out to an emergency dentist in Coquitlam and make the call. It is better to be safe and get treated as soon as possible rather than wait for the situation to worsen.
What Should You Do Before Seeing a Dentist?
Prompt action can help to save a tooth, slow the increasing pain, and reduce the chance of infection. Here are some urgent dental treatment tips to follow while you wait for professional help:
- Stay calm – Your thinking will become unclear as a result of panic. Breathe deeply before moving on.
- Control any bleeding – Apply gentle pressure for 10-15 minutes with clean gauze.
- Control swelling—For 10 minutes at a time, apply a cold compress to the face surrounding the mouth area.
- Keep knocked-out teeth wet – Place the tooth in milk or between your cheek and gums.
- Stay away from – Anything hard, sticky, or extremely hot or cold.
How Can You Handle a Tooth Injury at Home?
Accidents happen, but knowing how to manage a tooth injury at home can temper the situation until your dentist sees you.
- Chipped tooth—Rinse your mouth with warm water. Keep any fragments.
- Loose tooth—do not wiggle it. It will be beneficial to gently bite down on clean gauze.
- Knocked-out tooth—hold the tooth by the crown (top part), rinse gently and try to put the tooth back into the socket. If that isn’t possible, keep the tooth in either milk or saliva.
- Cracked tooth—do not bite on that side; rinse with warm water to clean.
What Are the Signs You Should Never Ignore?
Certain dental emergencies can wait a bit since they might not hurt immediately. If you notice the signs of a serious dental emergency, you will be able to react quickly:
- Sudden, severe toothache
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- A loose tooth or a tooth that has fallen out
- Significant swelling around the face or jaw
- Signs of an infection, like pus or fever
- Severe trauma to the mouth or jaw
If you notice any of these signs, please see a dentist quickly to avoid any long-term problems.
How to Give Dental First Aid for Adults and Kids?
It is helpful to know dental first aid for adults and kids since emergencies happen to everyone at some point or another. Here is a quick reference table to help you:
| Situation | Adults – First Aid | Kids – First Aid |
| Knocked-out tooth | Avoid touching the tooth’s root and keep it moist. | Same as adults, but have them bite gently on gauze |
| Severe toothache | Rinse with warm saltwater, and use a cold compress | Rinse mouth gently; avoid pain medication without advice |
| Bleeding gums | Apply clean gauze and keep pressure | Apply clean gauze, use gentle pressure |
| Lip/tongue injury | Clean with water, apply ice | Clean with water, apply ice |
What Can Help With Swelling and Pain at Home?
Mouth swelling and tooth pain can occur for all sorts of reasons—injury, gum disease, or infection. Such understanding of swollen gums and tooth pain remedies can serve to assist you until you make it to the dentist for treatment:
- To kill bacteria, rinse your mouth with warm saline water.
- Do apply an ice compress over the cheek.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Avoid sugary, acidic, or hot foods.
- Use over-the-counter pain relief if your dentist recommends it.
Protect Your Smile with Lafarge Dental
Dental emergencies can happen out of the blue, but the right action and care can make a difference. At Lafarge Dental, our friendly team is available to help you through any dental emergency—whether it’s a new injury, severe tooth pain, or swelling. We will provide you with timely care, explain everything clearly, and provide you with the treatment that will make you very comfortable again.
Do not wait until things get worse. If you or your loved one is facing a dental emergency, please contact Lafarge Dental today, and let us help you protect your smile, because every tooth counts.