Here are common dental emergencies and tips for stabilizing your condition while waiting for your emergency appointment:

Tooth Pain: Tooth pain can result from an infection, abscess, or deep decay. Use a cold compress to help soothe the area and rinse your mouth with warm water. Tooth pain sometimes results from food stuck between two teeth, so flossing may help alleviate the pain.

Dental Abscess: An abscess is a serious infection that can develop in or around a tooth root. Not only does it cause pain, but the infection can spread to the jawbone, nearby teeth, or even your blood. If you notice a pimple-like bump on a gum, contact our office right away!

Knocked-Out Tooth: Your tooth has the best chance of being saved if treated within an hour of injury. The tooth must remain moist at all times. If it can’t be placed back in the socket, keep it in milk, inside your mouth between your cheek and gums, or in an emergency tooth preservation kit like Save-a-Tooth®— also known as Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS). Avoid using regular tap water, as the root surface cells cannot survive in it for long.

Cracked or Broken Tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm water and place a cold compress against your face to reduce any swelling, which often follows this type of injury.

Oral Injuries: An injury to your mouth that results in heavy, uncontrolled bleeding can be a serious emergency that may require a visit to your nearest emergency room. Meanwhile, place pressure on the wounded area with a cold compress to control the bleeding.