Emergency Dental Care, Santa Monica
Emergency dental problems such as toothaches or injuries to the teeth or gums, can be serious and should not be ignored. Ignoring an injury to the teeth or gums often allows the condition to worsen and can sometimes become permanent.
What to Do:
Toothache
Thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Then gently use dental floss or to clean out any food left between your teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. Contact your dentist if the pain continues.
Broken or Chipped Tooth
Save any of the pieces. Rinse your mouth with warm water. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. It's important to call us immediately and we can often see you the same day.
Knocked Out Tooth
Hold the tooth by the crown (the normally visible end) and wash off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Remember to bring the tooth with you!
Objects Caught Between Teeth
First attempt to gently remove the object with dental floss. Do not use a sharp object to remove anything stuck between your teeth, it can easily lead to further injury. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, call us. We have special instruments that can be used to dislodge the object with damaging your teeth or surrounding gums.
