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Dental emergency

About dental emergencies

Injuries to teeth, gums and the tongue are generally very painful and should be treated by a dentist as soon as possible. You will hereby find a list of the most frequent injuries and treatment advice.

Knocked-out tooth

Tooth loss represents around 15% of dental emergencies in children.

You must find the tooth, rinse it under cold water to remove dirt and impurities. Do not rub the tooth or remove tissue. If possible, set the teeth back in its socket and keep it in place with your finger. If it is not possible, put it in milk, a saline solution, fresh water or, even better, in your mouth, between the cheek and gum. Do not let it dry up as it could affect chances of taking root.

It is recommended to drive the injured person to a dental office as quickly as possible.

Broken tooth

Rinse your mouth with water to clean the affected area. Apply a cold pack on your cheek near the fracture to reduce the swelling. Book an appointment with us.

Cut on the lip, gum, tongue or cheek

Clear up the wound with a clean cloth, then apply pressure on the affected area to stop the bleeding. If it stops, apply a cold pack to reduce the swelling. If the bleeding continues, talk to a health care professional.

Lost filling

Softly clean the affected area. Book an appointment with us.

Toothache

Rinse your teeth with lukewarm water. Floss to make sure that there is no food or other remnants around the affected tooth. Do not put aspirin or other painkillers directly on the tooth or the gum around it. Book an appointment with us.

Something stuck between the teeth

Try to dislodge the object with dental floss by guiding it between your teeth. Be careful not to cut into the gum. Do not try to remove the object with a pointed instrument or a toothpick because part of it could get stuck in the gum. If dental floss does not work, book an appointment with us.

Broken jaw

Do not try to move your jaw. Secure it by tying a scarf, cloth, tie or towel under the chin to the top of the head. Apply a cold pack on the swelling and go straight to the emergency room.

In case of a dental emergency, always remember to stay calm. Talk to a dentist or dental care professional as soon as the incident happens.

See also the section on children emergencies.