Toothache

A number of things can cause toothaches. You may have tooth decay that has gone untreated or perhaps an inflamed, infected nerve root that may require a root canal. Maybe a sports injury or some sort of blunt-force impact has caused your tooth or teeth to ache. Rinse your mouth with warm water and floss to remove any loose debris. If there is swelling, apply a cold compress to the area.

Broken tooth

You can break a tooth if it already has a fracture and you bite into an apple or something hard that causes it to break. Also, old, large fillings can compromise a tooth’s structure and your tooth can break when you bite into something hard. The best thing is to rinse your mouth with warm water. Save all the pieces of your tooth if you can. Apply a cold compress to the area.

Knocked-out tooth

Car accidents, falling off a bicycle, sports injuries, or any other type of blunt-force trauma to the face can knock-out a person’s teeth. You have a couple of options here: place the tooth back in place where it fell out and bite down gently on gauze or a wet tea bag to hold it in place. Be careful not to swallow it! If putting the tooth back in place is not possible, then place the tooth in a container with a small amount of whole milk. You can also transport your tooth in your mouth, next to your cheek.

Lost dental filling

This can occur especially when the filling is old and you may lose it when you bite into a piece of food. You can temporarily seal the exposed cavity with a piece of sugarless gum or over-the-counter dental cement.

Loose crown

If your crown feels loose or becomes detached, carefully try to slip it back on. If you can, prepare the inside of the crown with an over-the-counter dental cement, denture adhesive, or even toothpaste. Otherwise, bring the crown with you to our office.