Even the most careful among us suffer accidents from time to time. Oral injuries can be incredibly painful, and if left untreated can go on to cause further problems – decay, disease and eventually loss of speech function or the ability to eat normally. It goes without saying that damage to teeth must be treated quickly and effectively.
Evulsed teeth
Serious damage can result in a tooth being completed knocked out. This is called evulsion. The first thing to do is to make a dental appointment as soon as possible, preferably immediately. If you can find the tooth that has been evulsed, gently clean it by rinsing it, but do not remove dirt by scrubbing it. When you are cleaning the tooth, hold it by the crown. Never hold the root of the tooth, as this may damage the delicate cells still attached, which are needed to re-implant the tooth. After the tooth has been cleaned, put it in your mouth between the cheek and gum. If the tooth cannot be stored in the patient’s mouth – for example, as would be the case with a small child, store it in some milk. If you are able to see the dentist within half an hour of the damage being done, it is possible that the tooth could be re-implanted, which is why you should endeavour to see the dentist as quickly as possible.
Extruded teeth
When a tooth has suffered slightly less severe damage and merely been knocked out of place, so it is protruding inward or outwards, try to re-position it to normal position using very gentle pressure. Above all, do not force the tooth into position. Attempt to hold the tooth in position with dampened tissue and again, try to see a dentist as soon as possible, ideally within thirty minutes.
