How to Handle Dental Emergencies During the Holidays

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From Tammy Davenport, About.com

The holidays are a time for fun, festivities and family ... not dental emergencies! Unfortunately, a dental emergency can happen any time, regardless of the season.

Imagine breaking a tooth on a bone during Christmas dinner or waking up on Christmas morning with a toothache! Would you be prepared if a family member got a tooth knocked out while playing with a new football during the holidays?

It is a good idea to make dental appointments for your whole family to have check ups and cleanings before the holidays to make sure that there are no immediate problems present.

If you or your family members have cavities, go ahead and get them filled. A cavity left untreated can become painful and could also cause your tooth to need a root canal once the decay reaches the pulp of the tooth.

The following tips can help you during a dental emergency until you can get to the dentist:

KNOCKED OUT TOOTH
Call your dentist immediately.
Place a wash cloth in the sink (so the tooth doesn’t go down the drain) and rinse it very gently handling only the top of the tooth. Do not scrub any tissue that may be attached to the tooth.
Gently place the tooth back into the socket. If this is not possible, place the tooth in a small container of milk. It’s very important to keep the tooth moist, and you will need to take the tooth to your dentist.

BROKEN TOOTH
Call your dentist immediately.
Clean your mouth out by rinsing thoroughly with warm water.
Apply a cold compress to the area to minimize any swelling.

POSSIBLE BROKEN JAW
If you think that your jaw might be broken, apply a cold compress to the area to minimize any swelling.
Call your dentist immediately or go to the emergency room of a nearby hospital.

TOOTHACHE
Do not put any pain killers, including aspirin, on the gum because it can burn the gum tissue.
Clean your mouth out by rinsing thoroughly with warm water.
Gently floss around the tooth to remove any food particles that may be caught there.
Call your dentist.
(For homeopathic-related remedies, check out 18 Tips 4 Relief of Painful, Temporary Toothaches)

BITTEN TONGUE OR LIP
Gently wipe the area clean with a cloth.
Apply a cold compress to the area to minimize any swelling.
Go to the emergency room of a nearby hospital if bleeding does not stop.

SOMETHING CAUGHT BETWEEN YOUR TEETH
Gently insert a piece of dental floss or a dental flosser.
Be very careful not to cut the gum tissue.
Never use a sharp object to try and remove something that is stuck in between your teeth
Be sure to talk with your dentist to find out if he/she will be available after hours during the holidays. If not, ask them to refer you to a dentist that will be handling their emergencies.

If you experience any pain from a dental problem, try taking ibuprofen. Aspirin should be avoided because it is an anticoagulant, which can cause too much bleeding during a dental emergency.

Sources: American Dental Association Dental Emergencies & Injuries.