A tooth has been knocked out

This is the one true race against the clock. Pick the tooth up by the white crown, never by the root. If it is dirty, rinse it for a few seconds in milk or saline — do not scrub it, do not use soap, do not wrap it in tissue. If you can, push it gently back into its own socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it. If you cannot, drop it into a cup of milk (or hold it inside the cheek). Never store it in plain water. Then get to the clinic immediately — the first 30 to 60 minutes decide whether the tooth can be saved. Milk teeth in children are not put back; bring the child in anyway.

Severe toothache

Take the painkiller you would normally take, at your normal dose. Hold a cold compress against the cheek from the outside, twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off. Keep your head raised, even while sleeping. Never place an aspirin or any tablet directly on the gum — it burns the tissue and makes things worse. Avoid very hot, very cold and very sweet food on that side. Pain that wakes you at night usually means the nerve is involved and a root canal is likely — that is treatable, and it is the pain, not the treatment, that is the bad part.

Broken or chipped tooth

Rinse your mouth with warm water. If you have the broken piece, keep it in milk and bring it. Cold compress on the outside for the swelling. If a sharp edge is cutting your tongue or cheek, cover it with a small piece of sugar-free chewing gum until you reach us.

Face or gum is swollen

Swelling means infection, and infection does not settle on its own. Come in the same day. If the swelling is spreading towards the eye or down the neck, or you are finding it difficult to swallow, open your mouth, or breathe — do not wait for a dental appointment. Go to a hospital emergency department immediately. That is a medical emergency, not just a dental one.

Bleeding after an extraction

Roll a clean piece of gauze or a folded handkerchief, place it over the socket, and bite down firmly for a full 20 to 30 minutes without checking. Do not rinse, do not spit, do not use a straw and do not smoke — all of these dislodge the clot and restart the bleeding. If it is still flowing heavily after 30 minutes of firm pressure, call us.

A crown or cap has come off

Keep it — most crowns can be re-cemented. Clean it gently and bring it with you. Never stick it back with superglue or any household adhesive; that usually destroys both the crown and the tooth underneath. Chew on the other side until you are seen.

Something is stuck between the teeth

Try dental floss gently, once. If it does not come out, stop. Do not use a pin, a needle, a knife point or a safety pin — every year we see gums cut and teeth cracked that way.

हिंदी में — अभी क्या करें

दांत बाहर गिर गया: दांत को ऊपर वाले सफ़ेद हिस्से से पकड़िए, जड़ को हाथ मत लगाइए। गंदा हो तो दूध से हल्का धो लीजिए — रगड़िए मत। हो सके तो उसी जगह वापस बैठा दीजिए, वरना दूध के गिलास में डालकर तुरंत क्लिनिक आइए। पानी में मत रखिए। पहला आधा-एक घंटा ही सबसे ज़रूरी होता है।

तेज़ दर्द: जो दर्द की दवा आप हमेशा लेते हैं, वही सामान्य मात्रा में लीजिए। गाल पर बाहर से ठंडी सिकाई कीजिए। गोली को सीधे मसूड़े पर मत रखिए — इससे मसूड़ा जल जाता है।

चेहरे पर सूजन: सूजन का मतलब है संक्रमण — यह अपने आप ठीक नहीं होता, उसी दिन दिखाइए। अगर सूजन आँख की तरफ़ या गले की तरफ़ बढ़ रही हो, या निगलने या साँस लेने में तकलीफ़ हो, तो दांत के डॉक्टर का इंतज़ार मत कीजिए — सीधे अस्पताल के इमरजेंसी विभाग जाइए।

दांत निकलवाने के बाद खून: साफ़ रुई या रुमाल मोड़कर उस जगह पर रखिए और 20–30 मिनट लगातार दबाकर काटे रहिए। बीच में देखिए मत, कुल्ला मत कीजिए, थूकिए मत।

कैप निकल गई: उसे सँभालकर रखिए और साथ लाइए। फ़ेवीक्विक या किसी भी गोंद से चिपकाने की कोशिश बिल्कुल मत कीजिए।

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