Proactive Strategies for Preventing Dental Emergencies

Orion Dental Specialties shines with services such as prompt care of emergency or urgent conditions and needs. Our team is proud to be able to give peace of mind to patients from across the Cypress, Texas, area. “True” dental emergencies are rare. But they do happen. And even if your concern is not a true emergency, we know it is distressing to you. So, we want to hear from you right away. We can discuss ways to get you out of any discomfort quickly and advise on things to do before you get to us. For some situations, what you do in the meantime – before you can get to our office – can help to increase the odds of, for instance, preserving a dislodged or avulsed (knocked-out) tooth. We are happy to share some of these “action steps” with you.

What to do: Severe toothache

As needed, carefully remove any food particles, threads of broken floss, and other substances that could be irritating the tooth. Saltwater has antiseptic and inflammation-fighting properties. So, it may be recommended to rinse with warm (not hot) water and about half a teaspoon of table salt (per cup of this DIY rinse). Ibuprofen and other OTC products like Orajel™ can be helpful and should be used as directed. Do not apply any products made for external use to the teeth or inside the cheeks and gums. Doing so can damage delicate oral tissues. Bags of frozen viggies can even become makeshift cold compresses. The application of such cooling helps to ease swelling and discomfort.

What to do: Avulsed tooth

If a tooth becomes fully dislodged, we can still save it! If you do not have a dental first-aid kit with products like Save-A-Tooth™, simply place the dislodged tooth in a common household item: milk! The milk acts as a preservative to help keep the surfaces of the tooth roots alive. It is also essential to handle the tooth with utmost care. You do not want to disturb any of the tissues attached to the tooth. If possible, and it doesn’t pose a swallowing risk, reinsert the tooth into its socket. This is a true dental emergency. The sooner we can reattach the tooth, the better the odds of it being saved. You avoid the need for tooth replacement with bridges or implants.

What to do: Broken teeth/restorations

Here again, take great care in collecting and storing pieces of natural tooth structure and restorations such as fillings and crowns. You may be able to use specialized dental cement or even sugar-free gum to stabilize the restoration temporarily in your mouth. Depending on the nature and extent of the fracture or other damage, we may be able to rebuild the tooth or re-cement and “save” the crown, too. 

A note on prevention

We can’t anticipate or prevent all accidents. However, some dental emergencies can be significantly minimized by routine visits or check-ups at Orion Dental Specialties and by using professional services like custom-made sports mouthguards. To find out more and to schedule your check-up, call our team in Cypress, TX today at (832) 906-8313.