Memorial Day Weekend Dental Emergency Care

Memorial Day is a day of observance for all the fallen American soldiers in all wars and conflicts. It is a long celebrated three-day holiday weekend with the official day of honor being on Monday. Memorial Day also marks the unofficial beginning of summer with most schools letting out for summer around this time.

We hope everyone can have a nice, relaxing holiday weekend without any worries or concerns. However, there are times when unexpected things arise while you are out at the lake or wherever you may be spending your holiday weekend. For instance, you may find yourself with a sudden emergency dental crisis from one of your adventurous outdoor activities.

If you happen to find yourself in a Memorial Day weekend dental emergency, there are a few things you can do until you can get to the dentist: 

• Toothache –If you get a toothache brush and floss your teeth gently and rinse with warm water. It could simply be a food particle has gotten lodged somewhere and causing pain or discomfort. If there is still some discomfort, take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Never apply directly to your gums or teeth. This could cause and chemical burn and more pain.
• Broken Tooth, Crown or Filling –If there’s any bleeding, apply gauze and a bit of light pressure. The bleeding should stop within 10 minutes. If not, try a moist tea bag. If your injury is painful, try over-the-counter pain relievers and stick to soft foods. You can use dental wax for hard edges of chipped teeth that may be cutting your gums. If it is a crown or filling that broke off, try to save it and bring it to your dentist. Denture adhesive is a good temporary way to reattach the crown or filling until you can get to the dentist.
• Knocked-Out Tooth –If you have knocked a tooth out, the first step is to find the tooth. Once you locate your missing tooth, pick it up by the crown, not the root. Rinse the tooth gently with cool water. Do not use soap or scrub the tooth. You can try to put permanent teeth back in the socket and hold it there with gauze or a washcloth, but do not try to replace baby teeth. If replacing the tooth back into the socket isn’t possible, place it in a clean container with milk, saline or cool water. You may place the tooth under your tongue to keep it moist as a last resort. Get to the dentist quickly. Less than 30 minutes out of the mouth is optimal for saving the tooth. Seek emergency care if it is after hours..
• Mouth Injury and Bleeding –If you’ve injured your mouth and there is bleeding, rinse gently to find where the blood is coming from. Next, apply pressure on that area or use the gauze/tea bag method mentioned for broken teeth. The bleeding should stop within 10 minutes. If the bleeding still persists, contact a dentist. Seek emergency care if it is after hours or you are unable to get to a dentist. Even if the bleeding stops, make a point to visit the dentist to make certain you don’t need stitches or have an injured tooth.

Westchase Premier Dental wishes everyone a happy and safe Memorial Day. However, keep these dental emergency tips in mind in the event you or a loved one is in need of urgent dental care. Give us a call at (813) 475 – 4528 if you have a dental emergency or for your next checkup. Our friendly staff is ready to help.