Know What to Do Next Time You Experience a Dental Emergency

If you have a chipped or broken tooth, you need to save the pieces of the tooth and rinse it off. If your chipped tooth is bleeding, hold gauze to it till the bleeding stops. Place any pieces of the tooth in a cup of water with a pinch of salt to preserve it and call your dentist immediately. If you have any swelling, using an ice pack to the outside of your mouth to help keep the swelling down.

Sports injuries can take many forms. However, one of those comes in the form of dental injuries. Dental injuries in sports generally result from the force of an object to the mouth. Whether it's a contact sport like hockey or football or a sport that may not get considered "contact" such as baseball, there is a risk of having dental injuries to your mouth. Wearing an American Dental Association (ADA) certified mouth guard could help ensure that you are protecting your teeth as much as possible.

If you do suffer a sports injury, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth to help reduce swelling. If you taste blood in your mouth, then rinse your mouth out with warm salt water and apply gauze where appropriate to stop the bleeding.

If you do sustain a dental injury through sports, visit your dentist as soon as possible. If it's severe (i.e., several teeth knocked out) or during "off hours" for the dentist's office, then you may consider visiting the ER if you feel your injury is severe enough.

Failed prior dental work is another common reason for an emergency. Having a lost crown or a filling that pops out from failed dental work can be a huge reason for dental emergencies. In these cases, you will usually not have a dental emergency. It may be inconvenient and uncomfortable, but calling your dentist during their next available office hours should be suitable.

Safety/Prevention is key to helping avoid dental emergencies. Wearing mouth guards while participating in sports is key to prevent sports injuries. Prevention such as using good oral hygiene (brushing/flossing daily), visiting the dentist on a routine basis (at least twice per year for cleanings), and eating a healthy diet can help you avoid dental emergencies.