In a dental emergency, what you do in the first hour often decides whether a tooth can be saved. Here is what helps for the most common situations, before you reach the clinic.
A knocked-out permanent tooth
This is the most time-critical emergency.
- Pick the tooth up by the crown, never the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or clean water. Do not scrub it or remove any tissue attached to it.
- If you can, place it back in the socket and hold it gently in place.
- If you cannot, keep it in milk — not water, and not dry in tissue.
- Get to a dentist immediately. Time matters more than anything else here.
A knocked-out baby tooth should not be replaced in the socket; see a dentist to check the area.
A broken or chipped tooth
Save any pieces. Rinse your mouth with warm water, and use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek for swelling. Avoid chewing on that side until it is assessed.
Severe toothache
Rinse with warm water and clean gently around the tooth — food trapped between teeth is a common cause. Take pain relief you normally tolerate. Do not place aspirin against the gum, which burns the tissue. Pain that keeps you awake or throbs on its own needs prompt assessment; it usually means the nerve is involved.
Swelling of the face or gum
Facial swelling, particularly with fever or difficulty swallowing or breathing, is urgent. Do not wait for it to settle. Infections that spread are serious.
A lost filling or crown
Keep the crown if you have it. Avoid chewing on that side and see a dentist soon — an exposed tooth is vulnerable to damage and sensitivity.
Bleeding after an extraction
Bite firmly on clean gauze for 20 to 30 minutes without checking repeatedly. Avoid rinsing, spitting and smoking. If bleeding continues heavily, contact the clinic.
Contact us
Lifedent Dental Hospital, Rajkot — call or WhatsApp +91 88663 83383. We are open Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Thursday evening from 3:30 PM). For anything involving facial swelling with fever or difficulty breathing, seek medical care immediately.
Read more about root canal treatment and wisdom tooth extraction, or contact us.