Dental emergencies can be very unpleasant and also extremely painful. Even at their best they are very inconvenient and stressful. The first thing you should do in any dental emergency is to make an appointment to see your dentist. They will be able to see you almost immediately if the problem is a genuine emergency. If it is out of hours, your dentist’s answering service will provide you with information about what to do and how to contact the on-call dentist.

However, it is still important that you know what to do in case of a dental emergency, so here is some advice about a few common problems.

Toothaches – Rinse you mouth with warm water and floss to remove lodged food. You can also apply a cold compress to the area to offer some relief. Over-the-counter pain relief may work but never put aspirin or painkillers next tot the painful area as this may burn the tissue. Contact a dentist as soon as possible.

Chipped, cracked or broken tooth – Save any broken pieces as they could be reattached. Rinse your mouth and apply gauze to any bleeding until it stops. Apply a cold compress and contact a dentist.

Knocked out tooth – Find the tooth as soon as possible and try to replace it. If won’t slot back in easily, don’t force it. Cover the tooth in saliva or milk and get to a dentist as soon as possible. This could preserve the tooth long enough for it to be replaced. The highest chance of saving your tooth comes in the first hour of it being knocked out.

Lost crown or filling – Keep hold of the crown or filling and try to see a Central Leeds dentist straight away. A swab with some olive oil applied to the area will give you some relief in the short term.

There are many other dental emergencies that can occur so it is worthwhile knowing what is the best course of action to protect your teeth from any further damage.