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A tooth that completely falls out of the socket is usually caused by an impact such as a fall or other traumatic injury. If you act quickly, the tooth may be reimplanted and kept alive.

What to do?

• Pick up the tooth by the chewing part but don’t touch the root.
• Rinse it with water if it’s dirty. Do not use soap or any other chemicals.
• Try to place the tooth back into the hole. Push it in gently and hold in place. You can bite down softly.
• If you are bleeding or swollen, keep the tooth moist and just bring it to a dentist.
• Transport the tooth in your cheek, in milk, or in an emergency preservation kit (if you happen to have one). Water can make the cells on the root expand and burst, while milk and dedicated substances contain antimicrobials and keep the correct pH.

Emergency visit:

Visit the nearest dentist, endodontist specialist, or oral surgeon within 30 minutes. They may be able to perform reimplantation.

An abscess or severe infection can be life-threatening. It can spread to other areas of the body. If the infection reaches your throat, you could have trouble breathing or swallowing.

The symptoms you should look for are:

• swelling (sometimes even on your cheek or jaw),
• abcesses on your gums,
• pus, or
• a fever.

Act as quickly as possible if you are in severe pain or have trouble breathing.

What to do?

• Call a dentist’s office to make sure they will accept walk-ins.
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water a few times. This can reduce pain and will bring the pus to the surface.

Emergency visit:

If you can’t reach a dentist, go to the nearest general doctor or an emergency room. The gums might be rinsed with antimicrobial water floss. You will likely get oral antibiotics.

Soft-tissue bleeding is usually a sign of gum disease but can also be the result of trauma or infection. If the second, you should immediately seek medical help. If you are taking blood thinners, that is likely to make the bleeding worse.

What to do?

• Rinse your mouth.
• Try to locate the source of the bleeding or pain. If this is near a tooth that is loose or moving, visit a dentist immediately.
• If your teeth are secure, gently brush them and drink plenty of water.
• You can take OTC painkillers if necessary.

Emergency visit:

If bleeding doesn’t stop within 30 minutes, you should seek help, ideally from a dentist. You will have X-rays that will help determine if all your teeth are intact.

A cracked or chipped tooth is commonly the result of an injury. In order to classify it as an emergency, there must be pain. You may feel:

• erratic pain when chewing, or
• sudden pain when your tooth comes into contact with hot or cold temperatures.

If you act quickly, there is a high chance that your tooth will continue to function as normal for many years.

What to do?

• Immediately rinse your mouth with warm water.
• If you have any swelling, use a cold compress to slow it down.

Emergency visit:

Go and see a dentist or endodontist regardless of how severe the crack is. You will have an X-ray and the tooth will be mended if necessary. If the fracture is more severe, the tooth may require a crown or may need to be extracted.

A tooth loose in its socket is most commonly a sign of gum disease. Other causes include injury and teeth grinding. The second case is when it is considered an emergency.

What to do?

• If you see swelling, gently brush your teeth.
• Rinse your mouth with salt water.

Emergency visit:

Visit a dentist on the day you notice a problem. If you have gum disease you might have an emergency SRP, preceded by an X-ray. If any of your teeth are moving, they will probably be secured with a dental splint temporarily.

Dental work requires care and maintenance, but sometimes even when you do everything right, something goes wrong. Damage tocrowns,bridges, orfillings is common and can negatively affect your health.

What to do?

• Remove the piece from your mouth to prevent you from swallowing it or breathing it in.
• Contact your dentist.
• Try to keep the piece that fell out, it might be used again.
• If your entire crown fell off, you can take advantage of dental glue, available in drug stores. This should be done as an emergency measure. It is not an alternative to a professional fix. You should see a dentist as soon as possible.

Emergency visit:

Your dentist will probably take an X-ray to assess the damage. He or she will put the dental work back in or install a temporary restoration.

Most often, a toothache appears because of decay, fracture, or infection. The pain can make it difficult to chew, concentrate, or even sleep.

What to do?

• Make sure your mouth is clean. Brush, floss, and rinse your mouth to remove any food debris.
• Wash your mouth with saltwater solution or hydrogen peroxide rinse.
• Keep a cold compress on the area that is most painful. Ten minutes on, ten minutes off.
• Take OTC pain relievers. Do not chew aspirin or hold it on your gums, as some online sources instruct to do. This could cause gum issues later, such as chemical burns.

Emergency dental visit:

If the pain does not subside for a few days, visit a dentist or endodontist. In the case of decay, you might need a filling or even a root canal treatment.

Traditional metal and ceramic braces can sometimes behave unexpectedly. The biggest concerns in terms of an emergency are wires that have snapped or become loose, and ones that need to be clipped. Other cases include protruding and poking wires.

What to do?

• If your wire has become loose or if it snapped, contact your orthodontist. You will probably need to make an emergency visit to the office.
• In the case that a wire has slipped out of the bracket and is irritating your gum or cheek, snap the sharp end off with nail clippers or place a cotton swab or orthodontic wax between the metal and tissue.
• If the main problem is that wires are irritating your gums or cheek, you can use dental wax to make edges less sharp. It can be removed in an emergency room if it is causing you serious discomfort.
• Mouth sores caused by such issues can be treated with numbing gel, such as Orasol.

Emergency visit:

Call your orthodontist and schedule the appointment. During the visit your wires will be adjusted or replaced as necessary.

Dentures need to be relined once in a while, but if it is causing you discomfort it is a good idea to contact your dentist. This is especially true if you are undergoing chemotherapy. An ill-fitting denture can lead to an infection or even oral cancer.

What to do?

• Remove your denture and rinse your mouth with chlorhexidine mouthwash if available, otherwise use a salt water rinse.
• If your gums are inflamed, don’t wear your denture for at least 24 hours. You might have to keep a liquid diet.

Emergency visit:

Call your dentist and discuss your problem. Something might be simply trapped in your denture and lead to inflammation. After your gums heal you might be able to wear it again. Your dentist will instruct you on whether you need to make an office visit for an adjustment, a reline, or a new denture fitting.