EMERGENCIES

Don't Let a Dental Emergency Spoil Your Summer Fun

Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving or losing a tooth. The American Dental Association (ADA) says whether you're headed for summer vacation or just enjoying the great outdoors, it's smart to be prepared for any kind of dental emergency.

"Time is really of the essence in saving teeth. If your tooth or your child's tooth has been fractured, or especially if the tooth has been knocked out, you need to get to the dentist's office as quickly as possible," advises Matthew Messina, D.D.S., an ADA consumer advisor spokesperson.

The ADA offers the following tips for how to handle some common dental emergencies:

Saving a Tooth

Rinse in tap water.
Don't scrub it.
Insert in socket.
Call dentist.
Place in milk or water.

Knocked-Out Tooth: It's important to retrieve the tooth, hold it by the crown, and rinse off the root of the tooth if it's dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, put the tooth back in its socket. If that isn't possible, put it in a container with milk or water and then get to the dentist as soon as possible.

Broken Tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm water to keep the area clean. Use cold compresses on the area to keep the swelling down and get to your dentist's office quickly.

Bitten Tongue or Lip: Clean the area gently with a cloth and then apply cold compresses to reduce the swelling. If the bleeding doesn't stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.

Objects Caught Between the Teeth: Try to gently remove the object with dental floss and avoid cutting the gums. Do not use a sharp instrument. If you're not successful in removing the object, go to the dentist.

Toothache: Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Make sure food or foreign objects aren't lodged around the tooth by using dental floss.

"Don't ever put aspirin or any painkiller on the gums or around the aching tooth because it can cause a burn on the mouth and do more harm than good," Dr. Messina warns.

Dr. Messina recommends that when away from home his patients carry his business card. If they have a problem, they can call for a telephone consultation and he can help them decide whether they need to seek immediate dental care. You can also look in the Yellow Pages under "dentist" to find the local or state dental society's number to get a referral or ask the hospital emergency room to recommend a dentist. If you're out of the country, contact the U.S. Embassy or ask hotel personnel to refer you to a dentist.