In pain? Call us first.

Toothache

• Rinse with warm salt water and gently floss around the tooth; trapped food is sometimes the cause.
• Take a painkiller you normally take safely, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, following the dose on the pack.
• Don’t hold an aspirin against the gum. It burns the skin rather than easing the pain.
• A cold compress on the cheek, 15 minutes on and off, helps with swelling.

Knocked-out adult tooth

Come in straight away. The sooner the tooth is back in, the better its chance.

• Pick it up by the white crown, never the root.
• If it’s dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or clean water. Don’t scrub it.
• If you can, push it gently back into the socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it.
• If you can’t, keep it in a cup of milk and bring it with you.
• Don’t put a baby tooth back in. Just call us so we can check the area.

Broken or chipped tooth

• Rinse your mouth with warm water and keep any pieces you find.
• Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free chewing gum so it doesn’t cut your tongue.
• Avoid chewing on that side and avoid very hot or cold drinks.

Swelling or an abscess

• Call us the same day. Swelling usually means infection, and it needs treatment, not just antibiotics.
• Rinse with warm salt water. Don’t put heat on the outside of your face.
• If the swelling spreads towards your eye or neck, or you have a fever, go to hospital now (see below).

Bleeding after an extraction

• Fold a clean gauze or cotton cloth, place it over the socket and bite firmly for 20 minutes without checking.
• Sit upright, and don’t rinse or spit.
• If it’s still bleeding heavily after two rounds of pressure, call us.

Lost filling or crown

• Keep the crown safe and bring it with you. It can often be cemented back.
• Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can cover the gap for a day or two.
• Never use household glue.