Accidents do happen from time to time which involve your teeth and knowing what action to take when an accident takes place could mean the difference between keeping and losing your tooth.

There are several situations that may take place involving your teeth that should be treated immediately and the majority of dentists set aside time throughout the day to handle such emergencies.

The following are examples of just some of the possible dental emergencies which need immediate treatment:

• If you have knocked out a tooth, you should attempt to place the tooth back into its socket without it coming in contact with the root. If that is too difficult to do, put it between your gums and cheek or immerse it in milk and then immediately make your way to an Emergency Dentist.
• If you crack a tooth, rinse out your mouth immediately with tepid water which will clean the affected area. Place on the face, on top of the area, cold compresses so as to prevent any swelling occurring.
• If you experience a toothache use some warm water to clean the affected area and by using dental floss loosen any food that has become trapped between your teeth. Do not place an aspirin tablet on top of the affected tooth or in the region of the gum as this could cause burning to the gum tissue. If the pain persists, you should immediately make an appointment to see your dentist.
• If you have managed to get an object stuck between your teeth, you should firstly attempt to dislodge it with dental floss. What you must not do is use a sharp implement to solve the problem. If the floss cannot move the object then you should pay a visit to your dentist as soon as possible, who will have an immediate solution which will save any damage to your teeth.

Avoidance of a dental emergency

There are some simple precautions that can be taken to avoid teeth damage which include:

• Wearing a mouth guard when involved in activities, either at work or on a sports field, which could damage teeth.
• Avoiding the chewing of nuts and hard candy varieties that could cause the cracking of a tooth.
• Avoiding the use of your teeth to cut open things such as packets or the cracking open of nuts. The appropriate tools should be used for these tasks such as scissors or nut crackers.

If you have had an unfortunate accident with your teeth and need to see a dentist for emergency treatment, then you should not hesitate to contact the dental offices of Dr. VanderMolen, Advanced Dental Care, at (217) 546-3333 right away.  We will get you the emergency care you need.