Los Alamitos, CA

Chipped, Cracked, or Knocked-Out Tooth? Here’s What to Do
Whether you are playing sports, eating meals, or simply going about your day, accidents can happen anytime. You must take the right steps immediately to handle these dental injuries. This can make the difference between saving your tooth or losing it permanently. Acting quickly and can help you alleviate severe pain and bleeding as well.
Read this blog to learn about the prompt actions that you can take to handle unforeseen injuries to your teeth and mouth.
What Exactly Are Dental Injuries?
These injuries can vary in severity, and each kind of damage requires a different response. Here are the three most common types:
- A chipped tooth refers to the minor damage to your enamel. You might feel minimal pain because of this.
- Excessive force and trauma may completely knock out your tooth from its socket. This might cause some bleeding.
- Is your tooth cracked? The fracture can range from a small one to a very deep crack that affects the tooth’s structure.
How Should You Handle A Chipped Tooth?
Worried about your chipped tooth? Take these prompt actions to minimize discomfort and avoid any potential complications. Follow these steps:
- Use warm water to rinse your mouth and remove any debris lingering in it.
- Try to gather the broken pieces and fragments of your tooth. Store them in a clean container.
- You can place a cold compress on your affected area to reduce the inflammation and get some relief from the pain.
- Avoid chewing on the affected side of your mouth and stick to soft foods until you see an emergency dentist Long Beach.
Steps To Take For A Fractured Tooth
Looking for ways to handle your fractured tooth? Take these steps to prevent your condition from worsening:
- Clean your mouth with some warm saline water to remove any bacteria. They might reach your tooth-pulp through the crack.
- Try not to consume excessively hot or cold foods as they can intensify your existing pain and worsen the crack.
- If possible cover the sharp edges with dental wax or sugar free chewing gum to avoid injuries to your inner cheeks.
How To Save A Knocked Out Tooth?
You should never ignore something as urgent as a knocked-out tooth. Acting fast might help you void complete tooth loss. Here is what you can do:
- Hold your lost tooth by the crown while avoiding the root to prevent any damage. Once the root is damaged, reimplantation is impossible.
- Store the tooth in saline solution or milk to rinse away any dirt. Do not scrub the tooth at any cost.
- Try to gently reinsert the tooth back into its socket and hold it in place by biting on a clean piece of gauze.
- In this case, timing is critical. Try to see a dentist within the next 30 minutes for successful reinsertion.
Can A Dentist Help You?
No matter how simple the issue is, you must see a dentist for emergency care as soon as possible. For simple cracks and chips, they can use bonding, dental cement, and other such procedures to save you from tooth decay.
For more serious issues like tooth loss and bleeding they can prescribe your medications and suggest ways to protect your overall health from damage.
A dental emergency can severely stress you out. Knowing when and how to respond can help you stay calm in those situations. Your prompt actions can help you preserve your smile. Keep the contact of your emergency dentist handy for these sudden accidents.
Are you ready to safeguard your mouth? Contact us today!
